Sick chicks

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

I feel so bad for making the decision to buy chickens from an auction... I bought a 4 month old Silver Laced Wyandotte hen and rooster pair from a poultry auction, they came from show quality stock which is the only reason I bought them. The next week they had chicks from the same quality stock which I bought thinking they would be fine because the pair I bought the week before were okay but unfortunately it was a big mistake. It was 2 days after the chicks started showing signs of respiratory problems, I culled 2 immediately because they were gasping and could barely breathe, the other 4 chicks were sneezing, had a runny nose and you could hear crackling in their lungs. Their symptoms lasted about a week and a half, they’re doing okay now. The 4 month old pair have never shown any symptoms. The only good thing about this is I don’t have any other chickens yet so I have not put any other healthy chickens at risk. I need to decide what to do with the chicks I have left and the 4 month old pair. I will be getting chicks from NPIP breeders next month and I want to be free of any disease. What is my best option for the chicks and could the 4 month old pair have it without showing symptoms? Is culling all of them the best option to prevent any spread of respiratory disease?

 

[Myrshine]

Yes, all but 2 respiratory diseases remain life time carriers of the disease. All, but 1 remain chronic for life. So culling is probably the best option unless you’re ok with treating them for the rest of their lives when symptoms show up. They would also have stunted growth and a slower egg production than a bird that’s disease free. You also couldn’t breed them to sell to others.

I personally, would cull them, especially since I went through this myself.

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

Yes, all but 2 respiratory diseases remain life time carriers of the disease. All, but 1 remain chronic for life. So culling is probably the best option unless you’re ok with treating them for the rest of their lives when symptoms show up. They would also have stunted growth and a slower egg production than a bird that’s disease free. You also couldn’t breed them to sell to others.

I personally, would cull them, especially since I went through this myself.

What about the 4 month old pair that haven’t showed any symptoms? Do they most likely have it to?

 

[Myrshine]

What about the 4 month old pair that haven’t showed any symptoms? Do they most likely have it to?

If they’ve lived with the infected ones or have been exposed in any way, wether it’s from you touching the sick ones then the older ones, then yes. If they’re in the same area or room as the sick ones, then, sadly they’re exposed as well. If they have been in a completely different room and haven’t been exposed at all, then, they’re fine.

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

If they’ve lived with the infected ones or have been exposed in any way, wether it’s from you touching the sick ones then the older ones, then yes. If they’re in the same area or room as the sick ones, then, sadly they’re exposed as well. If they have been in a completely different room and haven’t been exposed at all, then, they’re fine.

Okay, thank you