Need Help to decided what to do

[babyriver]

I had bought some chicks off of Craigs list in May, 2 days after I got them home they started getting sick. Eyes shut, labored breathing & chest wheezing. I emailed her to to see if she had any problems with the ones she still had & she said that she did. She would replace chicks .So I got a couple more & still lost some. I bought some polish chicks on july 4 ,never had a problem with them .They have been in house until a week ago .I put them outside in a pen .Decided to put 2 of the cochins in with them that I had got in May. Know 1 of the polish has come down with the same signs .So what do they have . Do I need to cull all of my birds because they seem to be carriers of something.

 

[detali]

I had a hen that displayed all the symptoms you are describing. She died.

I guess the safe thing to do is to keep your new chicks separate from the fist batch and see how things turn out.

You might try feeding them yogurt. Chickens love it and who knows it might heal them.

 

[mrbstephens]

This may be a stupid question, but do you use cedar shavings in the coop? It causes respiratory infection.

 

[mypicklebird]

Here is your Florida poultry extension- they may be able to help you more directly than online.
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/extension/poultry/
Several things jump out from your post:
1) Purchase from someone who has lots of birds and goes to swaps- this can be dangerous due to mixing of different ages & different sources. Not always, but often a mixing pot for disease.
2) If you are not quarantining birds when you get them, you should start. 2 weeks minimum, longer if possible. It sounds like you did quarantine.
3) Getting more birds from someplace that sold you sick birds. Get your money back next time, not more sick or carrier birds.

There are many chronic infections- bacterial and viral, with carrier states. You should have a lab ID the bug (ie poultry extension), and only then can you best decide whether you should cull, treat or let it run it's course. IB and ILT are possibilities (viral). CRD (mycoplasma) also possible, or coryza (bacteria)


Make sure you let the CL lady know what is happening- sometimes you can find out info that way, if others have experienced problems prior to you- and already had testing done. She may share results with you- if she is ethical and honest- she will.


Quote:

 

[babyriver]

No cedar shavings for bedding. These birds Have not come in contact til 4 days a go .May birds have been outside since june. Polish July birds have been outside for 6 days. She knows about them being sick. I was a newbie had only raised chicks I had gotten a the feed store before these & never had a sick bird.

 

[babyriver]

thanks for the ideas