"Test Roo" Sick in New Bird Quarantine, Now What?

[PuddleDancer]

I am a new to chicken keeping and I have a flock of sixteen 12 week old grow outs which I got as day old chicks. Last week I impulse bought 4 hens which I have no background information about ( I know ) . They all seemed healthy but at least I knew enough to quarantine them for a month before introducing them to my main flock. I set up a pen and temporary coop for them about 300 ft away from my other coop so they didn't mix at all and put one of my cockerels in with the new girls as a "canary in the coal mine". Here we are just over a week later and the cockerel has developed a rattle in his breathing and was leaving his beak open. After I noticed the rattle I brought him inside for closer inspection. He is still eating and drinking but having very watery poops. He has no other physical symptoms that I can see, No swelling on the face, no eye/nostril discharge, no coughing/sneezing. The new hens aren't showing any issues. After keeping in him inside for a few hours I decided to return him to the pen.

When I quarantined the new birds I had only considered what to do if the cockerel contracted something unsurvivable like mereks but I didn't think about more mild respiratory problems. After doing some research my plan is not to treat him so I can understand the extent of the problem but I have my doubts.

Even if he recovers from this respiratory thing, this probably means I shouldn't ever introduce these hens to my main flock? Maybe I could turn the temporary coop into a permanent coop and keep the flocks separated? Do I need to cull all the new hens? Would it be unethical to rehome them?

I'm exhausted from thinking of all the variables.
I don't know, what do y'all think?

 

[dawg53]

I have to give you credit; you quarantined the new birds and sacrificed a rooster for the health, safety and welfare of your 12 week old flock...good job for practicing biosecurity. Be careful though. Keep in mind that handling possible sick birds, whatever they may have can be transmitted on your person and clothing, shoes etc...personal hygiene is a priority in order not to spread anything to your "clean" birds.

Do NOT return your cockeral back with your healthy 12 weeks olds. Perhaps you can send him off for necropsy to determine what he may have contracted from the hens as they may be carriers of some type of respiratory disease. It would be a small sacrifice to save and keep your 12 week old birds healthy. You can contact your local extension office or state agriculture department and find out how to go about sending him off.
Additionally, do NOT merge the flocks whatsoever. Your other option is to cull the hens and the cockeral. Bury them deep far away from the pens/coops or incinerate them.