Tell me about newcastle disease....

[beepbeepinajeep]

I had a two month old pullet die a week and a half ago. The rooster had been picking on it a little the day before, but when we found the body the next morning their was no evidence of injury... the neck was at a strange angle & the beak was open.

This evening we found a 3 week old pullet dead, head at an odd angle (different chicken tractor). In that same tractor tonight I noticed two birds that were listless... didn't come running when I fed them, one has drooping wings, both don't seem to be supporting weight.

Is this probably newcastle? Is there anything I can do? We have our tractors lined up next to each other & we pull them up and down rows (moved daily). Is my laying flock in danger? The chicks that are ill all came from a large hatchery (ordered from our local feed store) aren't they supposed to be vaccinated?

Thank you for your insight!

 

[PurpleChicken]

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/111/newcastle-disease-paramyxovirus-1


There is no Newcastle vaccine that I know of. My vaccines from hatcheries
are for Cocci or Mareks.

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

So could the chicks have come with it? Or we could have infected local birds? Does it sound like that is what it may be? Would you call our extension office about sending the bodies in?

 

[PurpleChicken]

At this point I'd try and keep your flocks as isolated as possible
and quarantine the sick ones. The pullet you lost last week could
just be a fluke. Hard to tell.

As for calling the state that's your decision. Personally I would.

Wish I had more to add.




Chookschick's sick page:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pwhjQ6Yng877iz_JNiCN1IQ

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

The two listless chicks are dead. The droppings in the separate cage I had them in are a little watery, but not bloody.

Should I put anything in the remaining birds' water? All tractors?

This is so upsetting. We finally order some rare breeds from Ideal (through our feed & seed) and we have deaths. Our local birds have done so much better & now I am afraid for them too. I don't know if I could go back to eating store eggs.

 

[PurpleChicken]

This in an unfortunate reality when owning chickens. I've lost plenty
of birds to mystery illnesses that never spread through my flock. It
happens and is something we have to deal with.

Don't let it get you down. Just bury the dead ones and watch the rest.

At this point I would call your local ag office and have your birds NPIP
certified. Our ag office helped me a LOT.

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

Thank you. DH is taking the bodies of the two that died last night to the ag extension now. He called me outside & there are three more that look ill.

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

The extension agent thinks e. coli & is suggesting antibiotics.