Worried

[Unobtanium]

At this point, I'm tempted to donate this hen to the state lab just so I can know for sure what's going on and I don't have a flock of infected carriers :/

 

[lazy gardener]

This is a reasonable choice.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Unobtanium,

Your concern about carriers of infectious diseases in the flock, is something every keeper thinks about.

And, unless you are keeping your flock in some type of protected bio-sphere, it's something that will always be a threat.

The only way to know for sure if a chickens is infected by something that they will carry for life, is to:

1. Cull the chicken and send it to a lab for a necropsy.
2. Have the blood tests run. These run anywhere from $120 to several hundred dollars per test.

Blood/serological tests are not accurate, a positive result can be caused by other organisms existing in the body. And there are also false positives and negatives due to antibody activity, etc.

A diagnostic PCR test is the best way to test a living chicken. But, this will cost $$$$$$$$.

So what is a keeper on a limited budget to do?

There is no exact answer, as everyone has their own priorities, regarding their flock.
For instance, my flock is just recovering from Infectious Bronchitis, none have died. My flock is not a production flock. I don't depend on them for income, or eggs.

They are a hobby flock, and pets. I will have to wait 6 months to bring in any new chickens, and I'll have to vaccinate any new chickens as well. As my flock are now carriers.

Like you, I've had chickens that came down with a respiratory illness, just one day after arriving. When faced with the costs of determining the exact disease, I opted to treat them while in quarantine. Then, after a full recovery, I integrated them into my small flock. Two of those chickens are still alive today, and in five years, never had another issue until, this IB outbreak. It's hard when there are other farms and flocks existing nearby. Contagion travels on the wind, insects, vermin, and even people visiting your place. So disease will most likely come from elsewhere.

As for your question, is this bird/the rest of my flock "a carrier" of anything, likely? Maybe, maybe not. But most respiratory diseases in chickens, are considered transmittable for life.

Practice good bio-security, good husbandry practices, boost immune systems, provide plenty of space, exercise and good feed, and this will help you flock fight off disease, and hopefully develop resistance.

These are my thoughts on your question, I hope they are helpful.

God Bless

 

[Unobtanium]

The chicken will be culled and sent to lab.