What is The Risk of Keeping Chickens?

[Harrisheart]

I apologize if this doesn't go here, but I couldn't think of anywhere else it would fit. This concerns diseases, but is not an emergency. Not exactly. Just me being very worried...

What exacty are the risks of having chickens? I have been able to find information on diseases and tragedies, but not an answer to this actual question. I've read and heard of people having to cull their entire flocks and start anew. How likely is this to happen, exactly? And why does it? I'm here now, worried out of my mind over this. I'd like to know now, before I'm in too deep here with chickens, if I'm likely to have to go through the heartbreak of having to cull them all later thanks to some sickness. I'd be glad for someone to tell me I'm only paranoid, and have read too much in the wrong places and listened to the wrong people.
What is to be done as preventative to diseases? Which vaccines, if any, how long of quarantine for new birds, etc.

And what about my 12 little babies now? They're all from Big R assorted bins, so I have no idea if they've had any vaccinations or not. Likely not, I think, but I'm not at all sure. Are they safe to keep? Or should I start with better stock? I'd hate to have to do this - two of them have won me over already, much more so than the others o.0.

I'm sorry if this is all bothersome or not understandable. It's just,I haven't found any answers to this - these - questions, only more paranoia fuel. And this worry is driving me up the wall, now.

While I'm being an annoying, paranoid newbie, I'll add in - What are the chances of a flock getting lice or another animal parasite, assuming preventative measures like DE and such things have been taken?

*endrant*

 

[Uzuri]

Death comes with livestock, pets... and family members. You can't get around it in this life. It's how we are.

And I say this 24 hours after my first death in the flock.

It sounds like you're reading a lot of good things. Here are the tips I know:

-Try to keep a closed flock (only bring in day-old chicks from known good sources); if you can't, STRICT quarantine for at least 30 days.
-Worm once a year
-Have a chicken emergency kits with treatment for the most common illnesses and for injuries -- lacking this just really bit me in the butt. I should have had Corid in my possession long before it became an emergency.
-Keep feeders and waters clean
-Use preventative methods for external and internal parasites if they're a problem in your area
-Vaccinate for diseases that are a problem in your area
-Have quarantine facilities on hand from the start; if you have a visibly ill animal, you want to separate it as quickly as you can.

There are likely others; these are just off the top of my head. Like everything in life, a little preparation goes a long way.

Having to cull an entire flock is a bad situation, but it's by far outnumbered by the people who have no problems or only minor problems (and losing your flock to predators is far more likely, so keep that in mind, too!) Chances are you'll never see a horrible illness, though you almost certainly will lose some over the years to various causes, known and unknown.

So I hope I haven't scared you too much. Knowledge is your friend here, but don't let knowing that bad things exist put you off! Just use it to help you prepare, and hope that you'll never need what you prepped. And have fun!

 

[schellie69]

First I understand I learned to stay out of the Emergency section when I first got chickens. I scared my self.

Since you have your 12 just make sure to keep their food and water bowls clean their coop/pen (when they move) clean.
I would do at least a yearly worming.
Do not bring in any new birds unless they are day old from a hatchery
If you bring in older birds make sure to do a 30 day quarantine this means that they are not any where near you flock. Always take care of you flock first and then new birds, Do not wear the same clothes and shoes from your new birds while caring for your old flock.

Check you flock for mites/lice once a month, I put DE in their dust bath area seems to work well

DE does not help prevent worms

I have had chickens for almost 2 years and except for one death due to infection in the hens leg. My chickens have been very healthy.

I do have a first aid kit for chickens to treat worms, and bumble foot.

good luck chickens are a very fun hobby.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are being paranoid. A little paranoid is OK, just don't let it put you under. Sometimes chickens get diseases or parasites. Sometimes kids get diseases or parasites. That does not mean we stop encouraging our kids to have grandkids.

I do not do the DE thing, vinegar, or anything like that. Mine have never been vaccinated. I free range my chickens. My chickens have not had lice or mites. I do check. Whenever I butcher chickens, I look inside the digestine track for worms. I have not found any yet. That does not mean I won't fine mites or lice this evening. I might. Things happen, but they don't happen to everyone all the time. And I fully expect to have a problem with mites, lice, and worms some day. They are too common for me to not some day have a problem. When I do, I'll deal with it, just like when my kids came home from school with head lice. It did not happen often (twice actually), I was not happy when it happened, but I dealt with it. As long as you don't let them get out of hand, mites, lice or worms are not a huge danger to your chickens, more of an inconvenience. If you let them get out of hand, then they can be dangerous.

Do chickens get diseases. Some do. Sometimes song birds can bring them, but your biggest risk is from other chickens. I minimize that risk by only adding new chicks by hatching the eggs or getting new chicks from large established hatcheries. Those are usually real safe. I do not show my chickens nor do I bring any home from chicken swaps. I minimize my chances fo my chickens getting sick, but if they do, I'll deal with it.

A lot of people regularly go to chicken swaps or such and don't have any big problems with diseases, but their risk is higher than mine. Occasionally, some people have real problems.

I don't know if this helps or not. Good luck!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

There's a risk of insanity when chickens are involved.

Do a board search on the following phrases:

"chicken math"
"house chickens"
"duck diapers"
"double stacking"
"outlaw chickens"

There are others, but those will give you an idea.

 

[Harrisheart]

Thank you all for your replies, and tolerance of me

. You're quite helpful. I was just very worried because a friend - who has always given good and true advice before - said chickens were a terrible animal to keep, and were extremely prone to diseases. Prone enough I would loose my flock by this years end. And around where I live, most of the chickens people keep are half wild and ignored at best, so not many people I know who I can ask in person. None in fact.
Ah. But I did let my worries get me, I think...

Uzuri:
Yes, I'm quite familiar with death, sad to say. It happens, and sometimes just can't be helped. But it was the idea of losing an entire flock at once that made me stop and worry.
I'm sorry for your loss

.
The water and feed are both are cleaned often. Normally several times a day or more. And preventative methods for external parasites I've planned on, as well as a quarantine area as far fro flock as possible and an emergency kit next time we're in town ^^.
I'm only not sure of one thing. How do I find out what diseases are a problem in my area? Nobody else I know seems to care about vaccinating chickens...

Schellie69:
Yeah. I think I did just that - scared myself with what I read.
Worming is something I already mentioned and my grandmother is looking into - she deals with the vet/feed store personell more than I.
I am /paranoid/ about any sort of external parasite. All my chicks have so far been checked for them every two days o.0. Really, any parasite exept for fleas give me the creeps for days - my mice are checked even more often XP.
Bumble foot - ouch. Sounds like what rats can get on their feet...
Thank you. They are promisng to be, provided you don't get phobia of bad things happening...there has to be a better word for that. Too lazy to look it up :3.

Ridgerunner:
Yep, I think it pulled me under. But you tolerant and helpful people here seem to have pulled me back

. If anything, I only hear urges TO have grandkids!

You sound like your flock is lucky, and also well kept

. I suspect lice and their kin will be like on mice - avoid them as much as possible and kill as soon as they chance to pop up. Still nasty critters, parasites...

It does help, if only to reassure me. I should have know better than to worry. All the happy people on BYC must mean chickens aren't as hopeless as my friend made them out to be! But I think I will apply my paranoia to the good of my chickens - I'll funnel it into energy for making a good health program for them XD.

A.T. Hagan:
Insanity, indeed! I searched all of those

. Good things to know about XD. I was already considering a diaper or two...and chicken math...hehe. Tags right along as soon as you get even one chick!


So I see that my best safetys are good preventatives and paranoia in certain areas - such as alway quaranteening new stock?
My last question for you kind folks helping my lost self:
The 12 little ones I have now were a couple days old at purchase. And given all the people that may have handled them - our Big R posts signs to not handle, but most do anyways - how long before I can rest assured they are healthy? The same as Quaranteen: 30 days?
I'm sorry for my questions and my rambling. But I want to provide well for my birds...and I'm talkative when I am tired.

 

[lady feathers]

Do not worry about your bargain bin chickens.... none of my chick (from the hatchery or from the bins at the local feed stores) have been vaccinated and none of them have had any problems yet with disease. Your chickens will get the occasional bumps and bruises, cuts and scrapes, colds and runny noses, etc... generally speaking these are minor hiccups to the wonderful world of chicken keeping. If you practice good sanitation, give them enough room, give them all a good once over on a fairly regular basis youshould catch most of the problems that can and will arise before they become detrimental to your flock. If you are a worrier I would suggest that you try to stick witht he all in all out rule until you are more comfortable with the chicken mastry skills you will soon develop. (All that means is don't get any more birds until all your current birds are gone). Good luck and have fun with them, for the tough moments there is lots of help on this forum.

There is one serious risk to you- chicken math example:

In october of last year I had 5 hens that I got from seomone on craigslist to see if I liked having chickens, 2 weeks later I got a roo, 3 1/2 months later I ordered 87 chicks (some meat birds) they sent 96, lost 3 due to shipping stress... had to replace them of course ended up with 6 more, sold off extra silkies from my daughters order (14 of them) got 2 different banties, then added 3 ducklings, got 2 ducklings gifted to us...... gave my folks 3 chicks!


5+1+96-3+6-14+2+3+2-3= GRAND TOTAL of 95! I hope you have more self control than I, or have less space for them.... Good luck!

 

[7L Farm]

The only advice I'll give to you is provide your animals with ample amount of space, clean water at all times, good feed, & clean living conditions. Check your animals for diseases & if they become ill treat them at once.

 

[schellie69]

I wouldn't worry about the chicks from the feed store. I have bought chicks from feed stores and had no problems. Just remember a few rules and you should be fine.
1. When you visit other people chickens wear different shoes that you don't wear around your chickens.
2. Practice good bio-security
3. Keep the feeders and water containers clean

Those are the main 3 I also follow speckledhen's flock management rules here a link to that post
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=129278


I think you should be fine with your chickens. I keep DE in the dust bath area and I don't have problems with mites/lice.

Bumblefoot is a sore that turns to infection. If you ever think your birds have it there are some great post on here and I have done the surgery so I can and will help if you need it.

Chickens to me are easy to keep and take care of.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

NICE FRIEND!

Has she even raised chickens before? If not, come here for your chicken advice!

I have had chickens for over 20 years and started with 2 chicks from a flea market and knew NOTHING... never lost a whole flock to disease... lost more to predators (most being just this last winter to a mink... nasty animals) and am in the process of redoing the set-up.

The most important thing is to stay on top of things... visit the coop at least once a day (more is more fun) and watch & handle your birds daily so you will see right away if something is wrong.

You will do just fine! Just remember stop when it isn't fun anymore... worry is NOT fun. But I'm thinking that you will prove your "friend" wrong.