- Apr 10, 2013
- 5
- 0
- 7
Hello,
A couple of months ago our flock was exposed to some type of respiratory illness from meat chickens we were hoping to raise. We have 6 grown laying hens and 2 young ones a few months old. We culled the meat birds, but their sickness still spread despite the efforts we made to keep everyone separated.
I have naturally nursed the hens back to health somewhat, even the little ones seem to be doing well. They still aren't laying as well as they were, but all signs of a "cold" are gone. They appear chipper and healthy otherwise.
My question is what to do with these birds...to keep or to cull. We would like to add some more to our flock, particularly some bantams as my kids are very interested in them. Would I be perpetuating the illness by keeping our hens? Would any newcomer get sick even if the current hens show no signs of illness?
Thank you very much, this sight has been so very helpful.
A couple of months ago our flock was exposed to some type of respiratory illness from meat chickens we were hoping to raise. We have 6 grown laying hens and 2 young ones a few months old. We culled the meat birds, but their sickness still spread despite the efforts we made to keep everyone separated.
I have naturally nursed the hens back to health somewhat, even the little ones seem to be doing well. They still aren't laying as well as they were, but all signs of a "cold" are gone. They appear chipper and healthy otherwise.
My question is what to do with these birds...to keep or to cull. We would like to add some more to our flock, particularly some bantams as my kids are very interested in them. Would I be perpetuating the illness by keeping our hens? Would any newcomer get sick even if the current hens show no signs of illness?
Thank you very much, this sight has been so very helpful.