Urgent Reminder-PLEASE Quarantine Newly Acquired Birds!

[Rin]

Question. I have chicks from ideal I'm raising up and when they get old enough and if I have room or desire to I was thinking of giving future broody hens hatching eggs from breeders. Are there any disease concerns I should have with this? I intend to buy from breeders here, mostly and possibly some from a very reputable breeder on e-bay. Likely only NPIP certified breeders. Are there things I should look for on the eggs themselves before placing them under the hen?

 

[speckledhen]

Well, whatever disease might be passed through the egg, you won't be able to see it. Sure wish we could see germs! More disease is passed by acquiring new birds rather than vertically (through the egg from carrier or infected parents). Remember, NPIP is not a guarantee against all disease.

 

[Rin]

Quote:
Thank you! Well, eggs /sound/ safer and I doubt there'd be too much risk if I did such if I decided to get another breed of chicken from my current. But I'm pretty certain I'll just let my D'uccles breed if I want more in general. There's one chick already that I swear is a roo. When I go to feed them even the week-older standard EErs hide behind him - which is a chuckle in and of itself. Like a canary trying to protect a macaw. X3

 

[SunshineSilkies]

Quote:
I agree with everything said above by Speckledhen. I worry alot more about mycoplasmas and coccidiosis that what I am NPIP tested for....... with the spring season coming up, this is a great time for this thread to come to the forefront..

 

[usschicago1]

Wow This is an old thread

. But it is so so so so true! and will always be..

 

[seminolewind]

What about a non symptomatic Marek's carrier entering the flock? An immunization isn't going to stop a bird from being a carrier, right?

 

[jlapham]

Yes Yes Yes I agree. One more tip avoid buying from auctions. If you do acquire birds by all means keep them separated. Here at the homestead we do not take in birds,but we do bring in other animals and they are kept separate for 1 month before being introduced to the other farm critters.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Someone who knows more than I about Marek's will have to answer that one. I don't have any experience with Mareks and some of the facts about it are still confusing to me. I do know this, vaccination does not 100% prevent the disease, but rather it prevents the exhibition of the symptoms.

 

[seminolewind]

Cynthia, that's what I mean, if you get a chicken that's vaccinated and exposed, they can still effect your flock?

 

[AnnainMD]

Speckled Hen (a.k.a Cynthia),

I will be getting chicks from 2 sources: Whitmore Farm and My Pet Chicken. They should be arriving at roughly the same time-do I need to quarantine them from each other and brood them separately?

Fortunately, I've been reading enough that I plan to incorporate a partition design in my coop to allow bird separation if and when it is necessary in the future.

Thanks for your help.
Anna