Would You Cull Or Treat?

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm sorry to post this issue again, but my original post focused on a different issue. i adopted a chicken two weeks ago. Shortly thereafter i noticed a lesion on her wattle. It has recently been diagnosed by my vet as Fowl Pox, so now all my chickens need to be vaccinated. Although she has been quarantined since adoption in a separate pen and coop, we are not wearing hazmat gear when treading from coop to coop, so i don't trust our biohazard security measures.

And then now, my vet informed me that the fecal sample from this new chicken has shown positive for Coccidiosis. She said there is a test ranging from 1-4 and our new hen is ranging 4+. So now here is another thing my existing flock will need to be treated for. And then i don't know what else this hen might be carrying that is a contagion for my existing flock.

Here is my issue and questions - how deadly is coccidiosis? If my adult hens contract it, will it most likely kill them? What is the normal course of treatment for prevention. No one is currently showing any symptoms, including this infected hen. No bloody stools or puffed up listless behavior. If any of you adopted a hen with these issues would you treat for the pox and Coccidiosis, or would you cull? And then, the coop this hen has been kept in, how do i disinfect it so i can place other chickens in there without risk of contamination?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide. Colleen

 

[kstaven]

Cocci is a pretty common problem and not really a danger for adults. Chicks are the victims of it at times. I would be more concerned about fowl/avain pox.

Here is a good link for you on fowl pox. https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-diseases-AvianPox.html

 

[mypicklebird]

Have you asked your vet these questions? A diagnosis should come with some guidelines for care, treatment, prognosis. If it did not, make sure you call and get them- that is what you paid for.

If your existing flock is on dirt, it probably has already been exposed to some types of coccidia, it is in the soil, they only get diarrhea when they are freshly exposed to it. They can get very sick when they first get exposed (diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, dehydration ect), but then they get immune. Drugs like Sulmet and Corrid do not kill the coccidia, they just mess up it's reproduction and give your chicken time to get immune. Your chicken with cocci who does not have diarrhea is probably immune to the strain she has. You can quarantine her, treat her (many meds available to do this- get from your vet or from the feed store), then turn her out. The purpose of this would be to not bring in a new type. She may get diarrhea from the resident coccidia if she did not have that strain to start with.

As for the pox- she will get better if she just has the skin lesions- it is transmitted by mosquitos, not hands/feet ect. Your birds have been exposed if they share the same air space and it is warm enough in your area for mosquitoes. Typically when pox shows up in a flock, it comes and goes over a few weeks, you may have decreased egg production during this time. A few may get wet pox.

If you like this new bird you have, don't cull- continue your quarantine. If all she has is dry pox and coccidia- she is not a deadly threat to your flock.



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[Barnyard]

I personally would not treat for Cocci untile I saw symptoms. Then I would treat it with Sulmet. You said nobody had blood in there poo and that is a good indication.

As far as the fowl pox, I wouldn't stress over it, it is very unlikely that she will die from it. Fowl Pox will run it's course and then she will be immune to it. Your other birds may or may not get it. It is spread by mosquitoes most of the time, and there is nothing you can do about that.



ETA: I posted this before I noticed mypicklebird has posted......sorry!

 

[Riocotesei]

I think ur birdie will be fine. Cocci isnt such a problem with older birds.
I don't know much about pox but if it's easy to treat and is gone aferwards and wont comm back i'd treat.
At least you know what it is though.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Wow, thank you all for the great advice. Before this new chicken i was not familiar with Fowl Pox or Coccidia, so it was feeling overwhelming. My vet said she will have medication ready for me today for Buffington. i did not get the chance to ask her about exposure for my other birds on the coccidia. She is looking into obtaining the vaccine for Fowl Pox for my other birds.

i mainly needed to know how serious these two issues are, and risk to my flock. i don't think i could forgive myself for bringing a new chicken in that had some deadly illness.

But this sounds all good, and treatable. Buffington is a very cute chicken and i was hoping we could get past this and get her added to the flock. She SO wants to be out of isolation . . . makes the most forlorn sounds!

Thanks again!