Not sure what to do :-( need advice

[RyRe2010]

So, I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this or not. I am needing some guidance. About 1.5 months ago, I sold two cockerels, 14 weeks and 11 weeks old and gave away two week old black laced wyandottes.
About a week after I sold them, I had some baby birds pass. I originally thought they had been smothered by my larger birds because my husband was running an auger to put fence posts in. Birds do weird things when they are frightened. Well, the next day, I had more die. Right before one did, it passed bloody stool. So I knew then what I was dealing with.
I contacted her and let her know that i had an outbreak of Coccidia and it got 10 of my babies.
She then told me the two chicks she had died and the cockerels were fine. I advised her to go ahead and treat them. I'm not sure that she did...and she immediately put the cockerels in with her other chickens and ducks.
With new birds, even if healthy, we all know we should quarantine for at least 30 days...
I saved my remaining chicks and treated my adults. I've never had this happen before. I felt terrible her chicks passed and I asked if there was anything I could do. She said no.
I asked her today about the cockerels because I was curious about their health. She told me that they didnt make it and they lost 3 more of their chickens and 1 duck...
I am extremely saddened by this and sick to my stomach. I want to be a good breeder/seller...I don't want to sell sick birds and do this to someone...what do I offer her? I know coccidia is found outside, and I'm sure can happen to anyone...
Before I sold, everyone was fine! No one was acting sickly. All doing what little chicks should be doing...
I'm just at a loss. I want to fix this for them :-( Any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry, I want to be a good seller to... but you are not responsible for her actions.

"Gave away"... two chicks.... what is there to make right if they were GIVEN away?

Possible those two cockerels had Marek's? Or that she has her own flock issues and her deaths have nothing to do with your birds? Ducks don't really suffer much from coccidiosis or Marek's that I know of.

Bloody stool is pretty telling and it isn't always deadly.

Before I sold, everyone was fine! No one was acting sickly. All doing what little chicks should be doing...

Hence the reason for quarantine... symptoms take time to develop after exposure... 3 weeks (up to maybe a lifetime) for Marek's and 6 days for coccidia, I believe.

If there is anymore death, I might consider getting a necropsy, and suggest she do the same...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

You MADE contact to ask how the cockerels were doing. YOU offered to try and remedy... People who don't care won't make contact. Without knowing anything about her flock... I would NOT be willing to take ANY responsibility for her deaths. Maybe she won't add random birds in with hers next time... did she learn anything?

Good for you for caring!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Well said EggSighted!
You did the right thing, RyRe! Concern for your buyers and give-away’ers makes you a wonderful breeder, IMO! Good luck with the rest of your flock!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I agree! When we sell/give away chicks I meet people out. You never know what they could be carrying on their shoes from their own flock. You did the responsible thing by warning her about the outbreak, a lot of sellers wouldn't have done that!

Sorry, I want to be a good seller to... but you are not responsible for her actions.

Without knowing anything about her flock... I would NOT be willing to take ANY responsibility for her deaths. Maybe she won't add random birds in with hers next time... did she learn anything?

Good for you for caring!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I would have kept quiet, changed my phone number...... and like a ninja master, disappeared without a trace!! J/K.

 

[RyRe2010]

Thank you everyone. It's just eating at me :-( like you said, nothing I can do about what she does with her own flock.
I have siblings to the cockerels that passed and they are all alive and well. I realize they could still be carriers and stress could bring things out as well.
Just trying to do the right thing!

 

[townchicks]

You did the right thing. When you knew you had a problem, and what it was, you contacted her. That is the right thing. You asked her if there was anything you could do. Again, the right thing. She said no. It's her choice. You then contacted her about the cockerels, and again, the right, or at least nice thing to do. Seems to me, it's all on her. She did not quarantine, she did not contact you, either when the chicks died, or the cockerels. She said no, when asked if you could do something for her. You don't know if they were even treated.When you sell or give away birds, you lose control over them. It is sad for those birds, yes. You did what you could. Don't beat yourself up, if it is still bothering you, you may not be cut out for selling live animals. That's ok, I found that out with a brief stint raising and selling parakeets. If you want to go ahead, maybe a care sheet, recommending quarantine, and contacting you if problems arise would make you more comfortable. If you do this, though, it must be worded that you are not responsible for losses if care recommendations are not followed, or you will soon be out of business.