Sick Chicks Rant

[Noah Way Farm]

Seriously! I started keeping chickens almost exactly when she did. My experience is skewed by many, many years as a vet tech. I am really familiar with ignorance, and have developed almost a certain tolerance for it, but yeah, most of these chicks were pretty obviously I'll. The 2nd bigger silkie only looked marginally better than the first, though that one looked almost normal the next day.

Omg. They look (and sound) like she found them in a wet soggy box.. in the bottom of a dumpster in some back alley somewhere.

It sounds like you're doing all that you can. I completely understand your frustration. I would be too! Poor things. Even a new keeper should be able to look at those and know they aren't okay. They look like death.

 

[azygous]

It's my impression that most of the people here at BYC understand that keeping chickens requires responsibility and commitment to their well being. Anyone who lacks those two qualities has no business keeping chickens. (Or any animals) This person should be discouraged from trying to raise chickens. It's not fair to the chickens and not fair to anyone else who may deal with her in the future.

I would talk to country animal welfare about what happened and let them make the decision what to do about her.

 

[Noah Way Farm]

I saw pictures of her flock, and some individual birds. Nothing seemed wrong. I think this really is just a case of ignorance. I have informed her she shouldn't sell and birds or take any in until this is cleared up and any future birds should be quarantined for 30 days, but I have no idea if she will listen.

That stupid, ignorant person should be reported to whatever passes for animal welfare in your county. If the chicks you got from her are any indication of her flock, authorities would likely find inhumane conditions and be very eager to shut her down, impound her chickens (and perhaps other animals) and give her a huge fine. Most authorities don't take lightly someone who's in the business of distributing chickens with contagious diseases.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Sadly, for the sake of your healthy stock, these sick birds need to be culled immediately, if not sooner. You will need to be exceptionally cautious about cross contamination, tending to your healthy birds FIRST, then tending to the sick or culling the sick birds, then removing all garments and immediately putting them into the wash, and then taking a shower and washing your hair immediately after being where you are housing the sick birds. Dander can cling to your skin, hair, clothing, shoes... the wind can pick it up and blow infectious material into previously safe areas. The risk is simply too high of losing your entire flock, the currently healthy and the sick.

 

[Noah Way Farm]

What would the best guess be? Primary symptom is conjunctivitis. A few birds have slightly snotty noses. No coughing, but a couple are open mouth breathing. No clicking or anything like that. Only two birds warranted oral abs. 3 or 4 needed eye drops. It doesn't seem particularly responsive to antibiotics.

Sadly, for the sake of your healthy stock, these sick birds need to be culled immediately, if not sooner. You will need to be exceptionally cautious about cross contamination, tending to your healthy birds FIRST, then tending to the sick or culling the sick birds, then removing all garments and immediately putting them into the wash, and then taking a shower and washing your hair immediately after being where you are housing the sick birds. Dander can cling to your skin, hair, clothing, shoes... the wind can pick it up and blow infectious material into previously safe areas. The risk is simply too high of losing your entire flock, the currently healthy and the sick.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Snotty nose is an indicator of a respiratory issue. Poultry may become infected with several types of respiratory illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. With their living conditions before coming to your home... I'd hate to venture a guess. A vet may be necessary to narrow down the possibilities as you really don't know for sure how they were raised before living with you... but have strong suspicions.

Below is a listing of several types of respiratory problems. I hope it helps you isolate the problem.

Aspergillosis (Brooder Pneumonia)

• Cause: Common fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus, sources of which may include moldy, wet feed; wet bedding; or mold on hatching eggs. Infection occurs when birds inhale large numbers of fungal spores, producing severe inflammation in birds' lungs, air sacs, and sometimes other tissues.
• Diagnosis: Respiratory tract cultures and/or microscopic examination of the affected tissues.
• Treatment and prevention: Treating individual birds is usually ineffective, very expensive, and not practical. In affected flocks, remove the mold source to prevent new infections. Clean up and disinfect the coop.

Avian Cholera (Pasteurella multocida)

• Cause: Bacterial infection from Pasteurella multocida, which can be acquired from exposure to sick wild waterfowl or rodents in the poultry area or through bite injuries from predators that carry these bacteria in their saliva. The disease can be further spread through fighting in the birds and may cause pneumonia, abscesses in multiple tissues, and often high death loss.
• Diagnosis: Bacteria must be cultured in a laboratory from blood samples, abscesses, or dead birds.
• Treatment and prevention: Treat the flock with an appropriate antibiotic (ideally based on culture and drug sensitivity information) for at least 10 days. Predator and rodent control is also necessary. Pick up and dispose of dead birds. Clean up and disinfect the coop.

Avian Influenza

• Cause: Type A influenza virus of birds, which is most often present in wild and domestic waterfowl and shore birds. Infection is occasionally transmitted to poultry. Two forms of the illness occur: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). LPAI sometimes produces minimal illness in infected birds, but HPAI is very lethal to chickens, turkeys, and upland gamebirds. Disease must be reported to the Department of Agriculture if detected in Pennsylvania. Clinical signs are highly variable but may include respiratory disease, drops in egg production, swollen head, hemorrhages on the body and comb, and sometimes high death loss.
• Diagnosis: Antibodies can be detected with a blood test. Tests that detect the virus from respiratory and cloacal swabs are also available. These tests are conducted at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Diagnostic Laboratories in State College, Harrisburg, and Kennett Square, Pa.
• Treatment and prevention: Prevent direct or indirect contact with domestic or wild waterfowl (such as geese or ducks) and their droppings. Avoid high-risk practices such as visiting live bird markets and bird auctions. No vaccines are available for use in the U.S.

Infectious Bronchitis (IBV)

• Cause: An avian coronavirus. The disease spreads very rapidly and causes coughing, egg production drops, and sometimes death loss in very young chickens. After the initial infection, thin-shelled eggs or eggs with wrinkled shells may be seen.
• Diagnosis: Blood test. Some animal laboratories can attempt isolation of the virus from necropsy specimens.
• Treatment and prevention: Only supportive care can be provided once the flock is ill. For prevention, keep a closed flock, away from other poultry. Clean up and disinfect of the coop. Vaccines are also available.

Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT)

• Cause: An avian herpesvirus. Infected chickens develop severe respiratory distress and may cough up bloody mucus. High death loss may be seen. Recovered birds may remain virus carriers and continue to spread the infection among susceptible chickens.
• Diagnosis: High death loss and coughing up blood (if present) are very suggestive of ILT. Submit sick or dead birds to the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory.
• Treatment and prevention: A very effective vaccine is available that can prevent the illness or stop the existing infection from spreading if detected early. Vaccination prior to taking birds to poultry shows (no less than one month before the show) is highly recommended. A tissue-culture-origin vaccine should be used.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG)

• Cause: This bacteria infects chickens, turkeys, and upland game birds. Clinical signs include nasal discharge, infected sinuses and air sacs, pneumonia, and a drop in egg production. Turkeys are the most vulnerable to infection, while chickens sometimes carry this bacteria without showing signs. Spread by bird-to-bird contact or contact with infectious respiratory secretions. Once infected, a bird remains infected for life. Infected breeders also transmit this bacteria into the hatching egg, causing chicks to hatch with the infection.
• Diagnosis: Clinical signs, blood testing, and testing for presence of the organism.
• Treatment and prevention: The effects of the disease can be reduced with certain antibiotics. Vaccines are also available. For prevention, keep a closed flock and only purchase birds that have tested negative for the disease.

 

[Noah Way Farm]

Thanks so much for that. I feel some we can safely eliminate as they don't have the right symptoms. OTOH, I am still concerned about MG or maybe some kind of AI. The discharge from their nostrils is mild - the worst affected just had mild discharge. The others had none.

Snotty nose is an indicator of a respiratory issue. Poultry may become infected with several types of respiratory illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. With their living conditions before coming to your home... I'd hate to venture a guess. A vet may be necessary to narrow down the possibilities as you really don't know for sure how they were raised before living with you... but have strong suspicions.

Below is a listing of several types of respiratory problems. I hope it helps you isolate the problem.

Aspergillosis (Brooder Pneumonia)

• Cause: Common fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus, sources of which may include moldy, wet feed; wet bedding; or mold on hatching eggs. Infection occurs when birds inhale large numbers of fungal spores, producing severe inflammation in birds' lungs, air sacs, and sometimes other tissues.
• Diagnosis: Respiratory tract cultures and/or microscopic examination of the affected tissues.
• Treatment and prevention: Treating individual birds is usually ineffective, very expensive, and not practical. In affected flocks, remove the mold source to prevent new infections. Clean up and disinfect the coop.

Avian Cholera (Pasteurella multocida)

• Cause: Bacterial infection from Pasteurella multocida, which can be acquired from exposure to sick wild waterfowl or rodents in the poultry area or through bite injuries from predators that carry these bacteria in their saliva. The disease can be further spread through fighting in the birds and may cause pneumonia, abscesses in multiple tissues, and often high death loss.
• Diagnosis: Bacteria must be cultured in a laboratory from blood samples, abscesses, or dead birds.
• Treatment and prevention: Treat the flock with an appropriate antibiotic (ideally based on culture and drug sensitivity information) for at least 10 days. Predator and rodent control is also necessary. Pick up and dispose of dead birds. Clean up and disinfect the coop.

Avian Influenza

• Cause: Type A influenza virus of birds, which is most often present in wild and domestic waterfowl and shore birds. Infection is occasionally transmitted to poultry. Two forms of the illness occur: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). LPAI sometimes produces minimal illness in infected birds, but HPAI is very lethal to chickens, turkeys, and upland gamebirds. Disease must be reported to the Department of Agriculture if detected in Pennsylvania. Clinical signs are highly variable but may include respiratory disease, drops in egg production, swollen head, hemorrhages on the body and comb, and sometimes high death loss.
• Diagnosis: Antibodies can be detected with a blood test. Tests that detect the virus from respiratory and cloacal swabs are also available. These tests are conducted at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Diagnostic Laboratories in State College, Harrisburg, and Kennett Square, Pa.
• Treatment and prevention: Prevent direct or indirect contact with domestic or wild waterfowl (such as geese or ducks) and their droppings. Avoid high-risk practices such as visiting live bird markets and bird auctions. No vaccines are available for use in the U.S.

Infectious Bronchitis (IBV)

• Cause: An avian coronavirus. The disease spreads very rapidly and causes coughing, egg production drops, and sometimes death loss in very young chickens. After the initial infection, thin-shelled eggs or eggs with wrinkled shells may be seen.
• Diagnosis: Blood test. Some animal laboratories can attempt isolation of the virus from necropsy specimens.
• Treatment and prevention: Only supportive care can be provided once the flock is ill. For prevention, keep a closed flock, away from other poultry. Clean up and disinfect of the coop. Vaccines are also available.

Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT)

• Cause: An avian herpesvirus. Infected chickens develop severe respiratory distress and may cough up bloody mucus. High death loss may be seen. Recovered birds may remain virus carriers and continue to spread the infection among susceptible chickens.
• Diagnosis: High death loss and coughing up blood (if present) are very suggestive of ILT. Submit sick or dead birds to the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory.
• Treatment and prevention: A very effective vaccine is available that can prevent the illness or stop the existing infection from spreading if detected early. Vaccination prior to taking birds to poultry shows (no less than one month before the show) is highly recommended. A tissue-culture-origin vaccine should be used.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG)

• Cause: This bacteria infects chickens, turkeys, and upland game birds. Clinical signs include nasal discharge, infected sinuses and air sacs, pneumonia, and a drop in egg production. Turkeys are the most vulnerable to infection, while chickens sometimes carry this bacteria without showing signs. Spread by bird-to-bird contact or contact with infectious respiratory secretions. Once infected, a bird remains infected for life. Infected breeders also transmit this bacteria into the hatching egg, causing chicks to hatch with the infection.
• Diagnosis: Clinical signs, blood testing, and testing for presence of the organism.
• Treatment and prevention: The effects of the disease can be reduced with certain antibiotics. Vaccines are also available. For prevention, keep a closed flock and only purchase birds that have tested negative for the disease.

 

[Eggcessive]

What would the best guess be? Primary symptom is conjunctivitis. A few birds have slightly snotty noses. No coughing, but a couple are open mouth breathing. No clicking or anything like that. Only two birds warranted oral abs. 3 or 4 needed eye drops. It doesn't seem particularly responsive to antibiotics.

You can contact your vet, state vet, or a national lab such as Zoologix for testing. It might cost a few dollars, but then you would know what possible disease that you could be risking.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

https://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

 

[bluemerle]

Poor birds. Whatever you end up deciding, I'm glad at least some of these poor souls ended up with you, a person who at least cared enough to administer vet care and basic levels of comfort.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Yeah, well, I actually traded some eggs for what was supposed to be silky eggs. Ultimately she decided she would incubate those eggs for me, rather than wait, because my incubator was currently full. Then she changed her mind and offered me some adults, because she had been told she needed to get rid of all her chickens by her landlord. When she showed up to get the eggs, she had no chickens with her, claiming the rooster had been in a fight and one of the hens was "sick". She said she would be back this way in a couple weeks. Then she contacted me telling me her entire flock of silkies had been killed by a dog. I asked about the eggs she had hatched 3 weeks ago, ir the ones she had in the incubator, and she told me the 3 week olds were killed, and she was waiting to see what hatched. She said she had plenty of Brahmas. So, seeing I figured I wasn't ever going to get what she owed me, I just took what she had, even though I didn't need any more Brahmas, mainly because I already wanted to conclude my business with her.
So, in exchange for 24 Sultan eggs, 23 of which she said were fertile, I got 7 sick brahmas and 5 sick silkies.
What ticks me off the most was I approached her, because I knew she was looking for Sultans and hadn't found any. To be honest, I didn't even really want silkies, I just wanted her to have something to trade.... no good deed and all that...

That’s terrible!