North Carolina

[dutchbunny83]

Quote:
You can add to a closed flock........you do NOT sell or give away any birds
when keeping a closed flock. If you did not practice bio-security before entering
your brooder area then most likely the chicks have been exposed to some
extent. Bio-security means you change clothes and shoes and thoroughly
scrub all exposed skin with antibacterial soap, you sanitize all footwear and
make sure your hair is free of any bird dander or feathers. Carriers can be silent
carriers. They may never show signs or they may only show signs when they get
stressed. You could have had a carrier in your original flock and not known it
until they was stressed with the addition of new birds or changes in their housing
area. Many diseases can be given to your birds through contact with wildlife or
from wildlife simply flying or passing through. The best thing we can do to protect
our flocks is to be careful when adding new birds and use quarantines. Keep a
healthy flock with regular worming and good food. You can get new birds from
many sources to include flock swaps and auctions just make sure to thoroughly
check over the new birds before buying and then quarantine for 30 days minimum
well away from your coop areas. Good luck and keep trying.

Thank you so much for explaining that, I knew with closed I couldn't give any away, but I thought I couldn't add any either.
Well this really made my day because I thought I had to choose between the 2.
If I keep my 4 hens that never got sick, the 4 hatchlings I still have (some I was hatching for a friend without an incubator, she took them right away), and add 2 barred rocks then I will have my 10.
I was very very careful with the new chicks that hatched-- never went in the room without a shower right before and clean clothes-- so I know they have not been exposed.
Is there anything I need to do when they are old enough to add to my 4 hens to prevent them from getting sick?

And what do I clean with, bleach & water?
I have a small coop/run for chicks that was never around the other hens, it's empty on the side of my house. I moved it out of the backyard when I built the new pen. I can put the chicks in there at first when I bring them out. Is there a time period after that to wait before introducing them?

 

[my little peeps]

That was the hardest thing I've had to do in awhile. This morning we had to return our beloved roo (that was supposed to be a pullet). As we left Max our roo was screaming for us our new pullet seems small for 5 weeks but I'm hoping she will survive and get along with our 11 week old ones (after the slow introduction). I would deff not be cut out to be a farmer, I already miss my roo. Stupid Town of Cary!!

 

[Radar687]

Sophia NC here. Moved from Los Angeles about a year and half ago and love it, I wouldn't go back to Cali

 

[TarheelBirdy]

Hi, I haven't been on for a long time, but I need to share what I am going through.

My flock has been diagnosed with ILT. I have no idea where they got it from, haven't brought new birds in for about a year, have never vaccinated with a live vaccine and have never purchased vaccinated birds. I have heard from a poultry vet who tells me that my property will probably be put on a 45 day quarantine. In the meantime, I need to vaccinate my flock with a non-shedding, recombinant, ILT-Mareks vaccine. I have only lost three. I used to work at Charles River and I have a degree in Molecular biology, plus I have been a vet tech for many years, so I am good at sterile procedure. I have all symptomatic birds isolated in my laundry room (because it has a vent).

I already have a brooder with five birds and their mother who have recovered. Luckily, my turkeys are safe and my muscovies will never become symptomatic.

I don't know where I got this, so it could happen to you too. Here are some of the symptoms: clear or crusty eye exudate, clear nasal exudate, rales, neck stretching and wheazing breathing, sneazing, coughing or sneazing up blood. Bringing them into the AC seems to help.

Wow, so sorry to hear you are going through this. You're right - it could happen to any of our birds, thanks for sharing the info. Keep us posted, and good luck.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

Happy Saturday, everyone!

I've got 9 Swedish Flower Hen chicks ready to go, I wanted to give my BYC peeps a chance at them first. They are 5 days old. PM me if you're interested.

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

 

[my little peeps]

Ok so I hope I didn't just mess up. My chicks are 11 weeks and one 5 week old. I just purchased Dumar starter/grower is this ok? I originally thought you gave them chick starter until 16 weeks, but is the new feed ok?

 

[greenchickenman]

Okay thank you guys.  That makes me happier that I don't have to choose between the 2.  That would get me a decent size backyard flock even if I keep it closed.  If I am adding the chicks from inside after the others are healthy, can I add 2 barred rock chicks (newly hatched not adults)?  My kids are devastated over losing their barred rocks, and just want 2 more to raise instead but I know closed flock means you can't add anything.  As long as they had their rocks, I wouldn't have to add or get rid of any for the duration of the flock then start from scratch in 5-10 years or so when they are all gone.

What should I use to clean, bleach?
I am thinking about just getting rid of the coop that's in there since the chickens don't seem to like it and building a larger one I can walk into.
I will add the duramycin 10 to the waterers for my few hens I still have.
What about the chicks I've kept totally quarantined in their brooder room, should I add antibiotics to their water?
Is there a chance they will get sick from the adult hens who never got sick or showed symptoms but could be carriers?

I've never lived in a rural area or even been on a farm until recently.  Like 8 months ago I randomly decided I wanted a chicken (how hard could it be i thought) so I ordered a coop and ordered some day old chicks and went from there.  Definitely a lot more difficult than I imagined, so grateful for this site it is an awesome resource.  I feel like I have learned so much, so thank you to everyone for putting up with my endless questions and helping me learn how to care for chickens!

Keep the orignial coop, its fine. Wipe everything down with clorox wipes or use a light bleach and water solution. Clean feeders, waters, everything. Lightly mist the ground around and in the chickens coop. I would do this once a week until the treatment is over. Then do it one final time.

I wouldn't worry to much about the babies and duramycin if you have been careful, and I don't mean stripping naked inbetween visits, but washing your hands all the way up your arms before handling them type of clean. it will not hurt to treat them if you are super worried. I would not introduce anything new right now into your sick flock. Do the basics first and in a month we will see what kind of progress you have made. Keep everything seperate for now. If you have or get new chicks keep them in the sanitized brooder room with the other babies but me personally I would stop buying for now and get your flock now back up to par.

You really don't have much to lose at this point if you were going to kill them anyway. See what you can do for them, it will be good expierence for you to pass onto another newbie one day.

 

[dutchbunny83]

Hi, I haven't been on for a long time, but I need to share what I am going through.

My flock has been diagnosed with ILT. I have no idea where they got it from, haven't brought new birds in for about a year, have never vaccinated with a live vaccine and have never purchased vaccinated birds. I have heard from a poultry vet who tells me that my property will probably be put on a 45 day quarantine. In the meantime, I need to vaccinate my flock with a non-shedding, recombinant, ILT-Mareks vaccine. I have only lost three. I used to work at Charles River and I have a degree in Molecular biology, plus I have been a vet tech for many years, so I am good at sterile procedure. I have all symptomatic birds isolated in my laundry room (because it has a vent).

I already have a brooder with five birds and their mother who have recovered. Luckily, my turkeys are safe and my muscovies will never become symptomatic.

I don't know where I got this, so it could happen to you too. Here are some of the symptoms: clear or crusty eye exudate, clear nasal exudate, rales, neck stretching and wheazing breathing, sneazing, coughing or sneazing up blood. Bringing them into the AC seems to help.

I am SO sorry you went through this. By the symptoms this sounds like what mine had that I thought was coryza. I REALLY hope you can get them back to health. I ended up losing my flock besides a couple hens & chicks that were in the brooder. Sending prayers for you and your chickens!!!!

 

[dutchbunny83]

So I spent my morning framing out a new chicken coop!

Not too bad for a city girl that almost failed shop class!!! I have a frame for the roof, but need another pair of hands to get them installed. It was no joke building this thing without help or blue prints. Made me feel productive though, hope the chickens like it!

 

[chris4kdz]

nice coop