need advice-ASAP-

[aldridgechicken]

A week ago, I purchases 6 5-wk old hens who are all happy and doing great. Yesterday, I bought a year old lavender silkie from a woman with lots of birds. She said she was selling it b/c she liked the big birds better. I asked her is the bird was ok-wasn't sick and was ok to put in with my other chickens, and she said yes the bird was well. Anyway, she was dirty, so I brought her home and gave her a bath, dried her off, and immediately took her down and put her in the run with all my other chickens. She immediately pooped. A few minutes later, we decided to take her back inside to sleep in a dog crate with pine shavings, food, water, because I didn't feel good about leaving her alone there and it was almost getting dark. Last night, when I checked on her, she was making a rattling noise when she was breathing. I assumed I maybe got some water in her nose? SHe has made the noise off and on today, but seems alert.I still have her in the dog crate . I realized later that I should have quarantined her-if I had remembered, I wouldn't have bought her. I have 4 yr. old twins and 2 (old) Jack Russell Terrriers in my house and would not have taken that on. My question is, since she went in the run with my other chickens and pooped, if she has a disease, has it already spread to them? Is there any time when chickens breathe with a rattle and it's normal. I'm assuming she was under lots of stress last night with the move and bath. HELP!

 

[fishnet1971]

watch them very closely. both existing and new. How long was she in with your flock? any contact? What was the condition of the poop?

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

watch them very closely. both existing and new. How long was she in with your flock? any contact? What was the condition of the poop?

I agree with this. Is she still making the noise?

 

[fishnet1971]

definitely keep her seperated or 'quarantined' from the rest of the flock until you know for sure.

 

[aldridgechicken]

i think they got within 2 ft. - the poop looked like diarrhea . I got it up this morning. SHe doesn't seem to be making the noise anymore, but I think I heard her do something like a sneeze-very soft. How do I know for sure if she's sick? She was in for only a minute. How far away from my other chickens do I quarantine her? THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR RESPONSES!!!

 

[fishnet1971]

you said you had her in a crate in your house correct? total separate building? that's what i did for the first week or so. let her in her own 'pen' outside the opposite side of the house from my girls. I made a temp. run for her. Once i knew she had nothing respiratory, l put her in the henhouse that i blocked off a section for her but could still see each other. But mine had no even inkling of being sick. I would watch them all like i said very closely for anything respiratory. If cost wasnt an issue, i would say take to a vet to know for sure. I couldnt do that though. If you know she has a cold or upper respiratory I would get her started on something for it.

search the site for others - how they did the separation and how long. goodluck with her! how about a photo?

This one looked pretty informative.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/529300/why-quarantine