Urgent Reminder-PLEASE Quarantine Newly Acquired Birds!

[birdsofparadise]

Quote:
Hatchery chickens are certified pullorum & thyphoid free, but there are other congenital respiratory diseases that show up in day old chicks that can quickly spread through a hatch. The hatcheries usually poo poo this as "they got chilled in shipping"; but talk to your vet if your chicks start to mysteriously die upon arrival. And then talk to your hatchery about credit or replacements!

 

[WyanLuv]

Quote:
We are new to raising chickens and just got three hens and a rooster from someone who had too many. He did tell us when he gave them to us that they had a little fungus infection that could be treated. Since these are the first chickens we got, we did not have to worry about them infecting any other chickens. You will have to excuse my language as I don't know all the lingo for chickens yet. We believe the infection to be favus. However, the more I read about what they have I am wondering if we made a mistake. The rooster is the worst with about a dime size patch on each side of his face on the wattles. The hens just have a small dot on theirs but they don't have much bare skin to begin with. Do you think we should treat this with something like lotrimine? There really isn't much out there to read on it. Other than to scare my husband to want to give them back. We have a 5 year old daughter and he is afraid it will affect her or the eggs will be affected. We have not allowed her to touch the chickens or rooster yet. Partly because they are just getting settled into their new home and partly until we find out exactly what we are dealing with. We are taking the normal sanitary precautions with shoes and boots. They haven't layed any eggs yet, probably from teh stress of the move, plus they are still kind of young. You mentioned that you had a rooster that you treated for favus. How did you do it and is it worth it or should we just get rid of them, bleach the coop and wait to get more chickens or hatch our own eggs? We have only had them for a week but they are kind of growing on me, they are starting to come over when we go out and call for them.

Does anyone have any personal input on Favus? How they've treated it?
What to look for?

 

[newtothecoop]

I have since found out that favus is not that bad and can be treated. There is still not much info out there so if anyone else has any "direct care" info to share, would be great. All of my research and getting the coop ready for the new chickens may have been for naught. After spending the last couple evenings out with the chickens getting up close and personal with them so that they will come over to me and we can pick them up, etc. I have found that I am allergic to them. I have not told the kids yet and the guy that gave them to us will take them back but I am really upset about it. I was really starting to like our new additions and we got eggs from them also. However, having a asthmatic reaction every night and breaking out in hives is not good for me. I am really bummed but for my health we have to get rid of them. I have really enjoyed reading a lot of the posts and the helpful advice from everyone is great. I am still going to follow up on the favus thing, I have a message into my local extension office about it to. I did manage to get some pictures of Banjo (the rooster) and one of the hens (I think this one was Pip). I know that pictures help.

 

[andisgarden]

If I am trading my roos for some pullets of the same age 9-10 weeks do I need to quarantine them? They are from the same hatchery and he does have them around other birds. I do not my birds are only babies and they are the only ones that I have.

And if the answer is yes, what do I look for ? What is the min quarantine time?

Thanks

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, you should quarantine them! If they've been anywhere but on your own property, I'd quarantine them. No exceptions! Minimum quarantine is 30 days, but six weeks is better.

I have treated favus. Bought one rooster way back who had favus and lice and was malnourished. Treat with anti-fungal meds for about two weeks and remove the dead scales as they start coming off. Lotrimin and things like ketoconazole for ringworm are some things to use. And it is contagious as all fungi are, so you should probably keep a bird with favus separate till the scales are gone.

Here is a picture-see the scaley, peeling skin on the side of his face?

 

[playhousechickens]

I just received a 4 month old hen from a fellow BYCer who has a very healthy flock. I am quarantining, but as a preventative, should I dust everyone for lice? None have it as far as I can tell, but since I'm new to chickens, I'm not entirely sure of what I'm looking for. Are there any other things I can do as a preventative?

 

[ranchhand]

This is a very important thread, especially since so many people will be getting chickens when the weather warms up. Buying adult or half-grown birds is always risky.
I have gone to a closed flock now. If it isn't a hatchery chick or hatched here, it doesn't come in. And if a bird leaves here, it doesn't come back.

Please be aware, and protect your birds against disease and parasites. Protect yourself against heartbreak!

 

[ranchhand]

Sometimes things are worth repeating. This quarantine issue is very important. Please, if you value your birds, DO IT!

 

[rittert3]

Quote:
Here in Ks we have people certified to test for poularium(?spelling) and/or typhiod and birds sold at local auctions are required to be tested. I also had a question pertaining to this. I do not have any birds at this point and would like to start out with mature breeding stock I would like to favor the auction because I know those birds a Poularium/Typhiod neg., as long as I watch for other visual signs should I be safe starting this way?

 

[speckledhen]

There is no guarantee. Pullorum and Typhoid, which is what NPIP tests for mainly, are probably the least of your worries. Mycoplasmas and other more common diseases that are not regularly tested for are the ones you'd be most likely to bring in. Show birds can still be carriers of something. NPIP is not a guarantee of a perfectly healthy, carrier-free flock. There is always a risk, always. You just mitigate the risk by buying from folks whose birds are watched closely and tested for something regularly. Sometimes the tester may notice something that the owner may not, even if he/she isn't specifically testing for it.

Sally, thanks for bringing this thread back up to the top. Good timing since we are soon going into the big chicken-buying season.