Sick auction chicken

[jen413]

What state do you live in? If possible, get some testing before you make any decisions.
Some state labs will send you a swab kit and testing is a nominal fee (depends on the state).

You can also get testing through a private lab. I think the last I saw it was around $90
https://www.zoologix.com/avian/index.htm

I can understand not wanting to cull. IF her symptoms are from respiratory disease, then it can be passed on to your existing flock - this is why I was asking about all the other things trying to see if something in her environment may be causing symptoms.

I understood why you were asking. I appreciate the thorough questions to help me try to sort it out. I guess I just haven’t found any sources or respiratory issues not being something serious that could infect my entire flock and that is what has me considering culling. I will look into getting her lab tested. Auburn University may do it. I truly appreciate the advice. If it wasn’t for all of the reading I’ve done about it, I would think she’s improving and it isn’t a big deal.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Any bird with a respiratory issue here gets culled as they are carriers for life and stress bring it back out as there is no cure. And I havent had an issue since I stopped buying other peoples birds. auctions are one of the worst places for sick animals then again its actually meant for people buying birds to eat not keep. Same with craigslist gotten birds from people there and they also had mg and was culled. Never had an issue with hatcheries I will take the time to raise them up instead of taking chances with peoples adult old birds

 

[jen413]

I have varying ages. Most will be a year at the end of March. Then I let two broody hens hatch a few babies in October and 2 in December. I enjoy letting the broody hens hatch babies. But if this is something contagious and makes them life carriers I wouldn’t be able to continue to do that and be able to rehome the roosters if I kept her. I think I just need to figure out how to get her tested. I’d rather pay to get peace of mind in whatever decision I have to make. But I read that having given her antibiotics might affect the results. I truly appreciate each and every one of you commenting and giving me advice.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I have varying ages. Most will be a year at the end of March. Then I let two broody hens hatch a few babies in October and 2 in December. I enjoy letting the broody hens hatch babies. But if this is something contagious and makes them life carriers I wouldn’t be able to continue to do that and be able to rehome the roosters if I kept her. I think I just need to figure out how to get her tested. I’d rather pay to get peace of mind in whatever decision I have to make. But I read that having given her antibiotics might affect the results. I truly appreciate each and every one of you commenting and giving me advice.

Be aware some places if a bird comes back with mg will you will have to culled the entire flock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have varying ages. Most will be a year at the end of March. Then I let two broody hens hatch a few babies in October and 2 in December. I enjoy letting the broody hens hatch babies. But if this is something contagious and makes them life carriers I wouldn’t be able to continue to do that and be able to rehome the roosters if I kept her. I think I just need to figure out how to get her tested. I’d rather pay to get peace of mind in whatever decision I have to make. But I read that having given her antibiotics might affect the results. I truly appreciate each and every one of you commenting and giving me advice.

Call your state lab and ask if giving the abx will affect testing, they should be able to answer that.

 

[Banana01]

What are the others ages of your chickens and how many in your flock? Are they all adultsor do you also have new hatches and plan to have a lot of babies? I know its a tough decision you want to provide for the new hen, but at the same time protect your others from being chronically ill.

On one hand adult chickens are fairly hardy and once the illness goes dormant, they should lay eggs, stay healthy, and not be contagious. On the other hand, cold weather and other stress can make the illness chronic, contagious, and affect their laying and require more time for care. But adults are pretty strong immune systems and disease resistent compared to babies.

I would 100% consider the illness as stress induced because of the moving and new environment, but that doesn't mean it isnt a chronic condition from an illness that may be contagious. In my experience raising 100 birds a year, the illness I see only passes on to babies and they grow out of it. I dont see any sick adults, but your conditions will vary from mine.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I agree with Wyorp it's very kind of you to "rescue" a chicken but is it worth placing your " pet" flock in Jeopardy? For me the answer is no. I've read of so many that integrate then whole flock gets sick. I'm like Eggcessive only buy from hatcheries( guaranteed) it's their business to raise healthy ones.
Good luck whatever you decide, it's a tough call.

 

[Sara S]

I got a chicken from auction. I realize now this was probably a mistake. She was quarantined 9 days before she went from fine to sick. Rattled/congested breathing. No foamy eye, no facial swelling. She’s still active and eating and drinking fine. I went and got Tylan after reading through the forums and started treating her. She has improved but still not 100%. She doesn’t sound rattled/congested like she did but is still doing some open mouthed breathing. My question is, should I cull her? I just have a small flock. They are pets. I’m fairly new to raising birds and while I’ve lost a few, I’ve never had a sick one and never had to cull. Is there a chance she recovers and isn’t a lifelong carrier of something that will infect my entire flock? I don’t know what to do!

I’m not an expert but I had 3 baby chicks that died of a respiratory infection with exact symptoms as you. I used tetracycline and my other 3 are doing great. I could only find the injectable one but I put it into a nebulizer. Good luck with your flock! I’ll be praying!