Would you cull?

[nuttyredhead]

This is not an emergency, more a management question So i hope i am right in putting it here.

I have a flock of 22 bantams. I have lost 2 due to sneezing/bubbly eye and had to treat the others. I hatched eggs and 5 are roos. I can't give them away, I couldnt do that to someone else. (unfortunetely i think that is how it happened to me, i do believe it was not knowingly done). So i at the very least need to cull 5. I have spent more time and money since i got bantams than i ever did on my lf. They are sick, or broody (1 for 4 months.....). I am at the point that having chickens that i could actually eat their eggs would be nice...I feel like i need to start over. While i did know that Banties are not for good egg production i thought i at least would get some eggs.

Would you cull and start over or just close the flock?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

That's a very personal decision. For me, it would depend on how i feel about the chickens. If i didn't have a strong attachment or didn't particularly like them, i would take them for euthanasia and necropsy to determine what they are carrying. Then i would know what i had to do to disinfect my coop and pen so as not to pass the illness on to a new flock. You can contact your State Vet and see if there is a resource near you for free or inexpensive necropsies. There is a link here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=40141

If i really loved my chickens, i would simply close my flock, treat them for any illnesses, and enjoy what i have. There are some respiratory illnesses which a chicken can survive but will be a carrier for life, such as MG. If you could afford it, take one of the sick chickens into a vet and get some tests run to see what you are dealing with.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[nuttyredhead]

Quote:
Thanks for your response. After talking with my husband we are going to see if the local coop ext. will send one of them off for necropsy. I have one that is still sick, the one that has been worse all along. I think we need to find out what this is so we will know how to deal with it. Unfortunetely it means culling her (and she is a sweetie) , but if we can save the others, or just to know how to discinfect, like you said.

 

[chickengrl]

Quote:
Can't say it any better. It's truly a personal decision and not getting eggs will get old. Sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[chirpingcricket]

DITTO, so sorry, please keep us posted!

 

[nuttyredhead]

My girls eye is starting to swell, looks very odd. She was was walking around today then she would just lay down and close her eyes. Then she stood up and kept opening her mouth like she was having trouble breathing. This lasted only a few minutes. I treated her for worms/mites more than a week ago, i dont think that is it.

I am going to call first thing tomorrow to see if they will send her for biopsy. I will let you know what they say.

 

[chickengrl]

I hope you get good news!