Sick dying chicks. **UPDATE 8-7 PICS pg. 19**

[gumpsgirl]

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Oh yes rimshoes! I cannot stress enough to everyone that it is absolutely necessary to quarantine new birds. It doesn't matter what age the bird is. QUARANTINE! It simply isn't worth taking chances.

 

[fowl weathered friend]

I just want to say thank you so much for this thread and keeping us updated every step of the way. I'm terribly sorry for every thing you went through (culling is the worst aspect of chicken-rearing) but I'm glad I have your experience to learn from.
I went through a horrible experience with my chicks last year: first time chicken mum at the time.
This year I thought I was doing everything right, until m little 5 day old Ameraucana chick stated sneezing frequently. I went on here and did a search and this conversation/thread was by far the most helpful.

Thanks to you and everyone that posted I know not to overlook this as a 'cold' and to 'just wait it out', and instead plan to take direct action tomorrow.
Thank you again: you all may have just saved my baby chickies.

 

[gumpsgirl]

I am glad to hear that you found this thread helpful! I started this thread and documented everything in hopes that it would help others down the road and save people from making the same mistake I made. It truly was a nightmare and one that I never care to relive.

I hope your chick feels better soon and wish you the best with your flock.

 

[ChooksChick]

It would be very helpful if you could share how your flock is now- a ong time after this horrible event, and explain how many you lost, whether you have or know if you have any carriers, etc...

How's it going?

 

[gonemom]

So my question: when bringing new babies into the hen house, how long do we wait? They've been in quarantine for 3 days and look healthy. They were grown in the bedroom of a local gal and are 1 month old. There's no bugs on them and they seem to be eating just fine so do wait a week or two more before the Rhodies meet them? We have two old Rhodie hens (6 months old) and these 8 newbies, 5 boys & 3 girls. Please let us know how long our wait should last. We have no local vets who do small farm critters so all contributions are gladly accepted.

 

[shelleyd2008]

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You should quarantine any new bird for at least a month, regardless of how old or where it came from. Sometimes it takes a while for respiratory problems to manifest.

 

[speckledhen]

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You should quarantine any new bird for at least a month, regardless of how old or where it came from. Sometimes it takes a while for respiratory problems to manifest.

And sometimes, no matter how long the quarantine, if the bird is not stressed (maybe his new environment is much better than the last one), their carrier status will not manifest itself till much later. So, quarantine, while very necessary, is not perfect. I quarantined the only two birds I ever brought in here for over five weeks.

 

[gumpsgirl]

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Like Cyn (speckledhen) said, at least 5 weeks. I will testify to you that it is much easier to quarantine than it is to go through what I went through. That was a long, hard summer and something I would never wish on anyone. 5 weeks is nothing compared to what you could possibly stand against if you don't quarantine.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Thank you gumpsgirl, I appreciate your sharing this issue so we can see what you have gone through and perhaps learn from this. I completly agree about quarantine.

My question: How far away from the coop do you need to have the new birds quarantined? Won't any disease spread through the air?

 

[gumpsgirl]

As far away as you can get them, rustyswoman. Another biggy with quarantining that people tend not to think about is cross contamination. You need to take care of your existing flock first, then tend to the ones that are being quarantined and then change your clothes. It goes all the way down to shoes. Do not where the same shoes that you wore into the quarantine pen / spot into your existing coop. Better yet, don't bring in new birds at all if you can help it! My flock is closed to all and any newcomers. If it doesn't hatch here, it doesn't have a place here.