It's spring soon! But I have sick chickens...

[MoonMoon]

It's soon to be chicks season, I was so eager to buy an incubator and hatch some eggs last year but that goes out of the window because,in order of occurance, the "Wyandotte" chicks that I wanted to raise to adulthood to breed died due to rodent(s), I confirmed my flock is infected with somekind of respiratory disease, and one of the wyandotte hen I bought died.

Now, I really like the breed, but they're so dumb and docile and submissive and get bullied by everyone out of food. Even 1-to-1 attention doesn't help when they're too scared to even eat without another chicken beside them, who would also usually bully them. Beside that they don't recognize as much stuff as I'd like as food? Even when the rest of the flock ate scraps fine. They even tried even poop, and again after tasting, getting disgusted, shake head...and like, 4 minutes later tried again. Smh. Not very healthy and fast growing breed from what I’ve observed.

Yeah it's bad enough my wyandotte breeding plan goes into the trash, the chickens also now have at least some kind of respiratory illness. They breathed raspily, but most had recover, but they used to stink really bad, like sewage water. Now most are fine though and lay almost daily(yes, even in freezing temps in the middle of winter!)

I don't want to hatch chicks into a flock that’s sick. I don't want to break the bank finding a cure either. But I also really want new chicks, especially after losing the last batch without any survivors. I really loved their behavior and our bond. I am not out to replace their place, just moving on. I’m not sure if I should cave in or yet, continue keeping chickens and cull at some point, and begin anew. A new flock, with all friendlier breeds next time, or hatch chicks and accept that there’s a chance they will suddenly go downhill, and die.

 

[MoonMoon]

Also any tips with disinfecting everything would be helpful. I kinda vaguely know how to disinfect everything, but if anyone knows what to look out for, like corners most missed, will be nice.

If I’m going to fully cull and replace the flock. I think I should also leave the coop empty for 6 months? Will miss having chickens but having sick ones is also very distressing. I had a crazy idea of culling my flock next year, next molt and keep their offspring separately but I don’t have space for such crazy idea sadly. I’d love to have my current flock’s descendants but still haven’t figure out how to not infect them with their parents’ illness.

 

[FrostRanger]

First, a few questions, 1. How many birds do you have and how big are your coop and run in square feet? Pictures would be helpful as well. 2. What breeds are your other birds? 3. What's their diet like including treats? 4. How many feeders and waterers do you have? 5. Does your run have clutter (eg. Stuff that can break line of sight between birds)? And 6. Where did you get your Wyandot chicks from?

The thing about many respiratory diseases is birds that get some certain diseases can be carriers even if they seemed to have recovered. If you do decide to cull what you can do is send one of the previously infected birds for a necropsy so you know what you're working with, from there you can make a plan for how to proceed

 

[MoonMoon]

First, a few questions, 1. How many birds do you have and how big are your coop and run in square feet? Pictures would be helpful as well. 2. What breeds are your other birds? 3. What's their diet like including treats? 4. How many feeders and waterers do you have? 5. Does your run have clutter (eg. Stuff that can break line of sight between birds)? And 6. Where did you get your Wyandot chicks from?

The thing about many respiratory diseases is birds that get some certain diseases can be carriers even if they seemed to have recovered. If you do decide to cull what you can do is send one of the previously infected birds for a necropsy so you know what you're working with, from there you can make a plan for how to proceed

1. I own 6 chickens currently, but my whole family owns 20 in total(so 14 is of my parents), and 2 runner ducks and 1 moulard(butchering him February probably) but I free-range mine with them so I basically have 20 chickens. My chickens sleep in a separate coop and I care for them separately. But yeah all of the birds, ducks and chickens, run around in a 700M2 yard freely all day(not night) Coop+run is 300cm in total IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. I thought I could fit 10 chickens in here if needed(just for the night)but if the space is inadequate, I am willing to learn.

(I don’t have pictures of dad’s “coop”)
2. 1 Mix rooster, 5 Isabrown, 8 Golden Comet(Parent’s), 1 Leghorn, 4 Dominant breeds Mix. All industrial layers except for my lone wyandotte.

3. Various feed, I've been switching each time one bag ran out, but from 14% crude protein 3% calcium layers feed, to 19% crude protein 0,9% calcium broiler, to 16%, 3% calcium layers feed, to 17% crude protein, 1% calcium broiler feed, in order. Lime calcium was provided in a seperate bowl. The broiler feed worked really well for me, since I switched to it , 3-4 eggs per day jump to 11-14 eggs per day! In the middle of freezing winter! 8 hours of daylight, no supp lights. Everyone but the wyandotte lays now, I tried to feed her isolated but she's dum-dum. Everyone but the wyandotte is always well fed at night. I really couldn’t explain why the wyandotte has such terrible appetite but maybe she’s ill or have vision/anxiety problem.
The chickens also get all of our kitchen scraps and some other stuff. Sprouted beans, white rice, veggies leaves, rarely, leftover meat that isn’t over 4 days old.

4. We had three feeders but now reduced to two after one fall in disuse, also it wasn’t very effective at not topping over. Two waterers. Each holds 5L I think.

5. The garden has a line of pine, spruce, fir, etc conifers at the back that grow low on the ground. The chickens usually hide there in sunny, hot, cold and windy days. I believe they act like bushes, but the yard is huge, there bound to be somewhere to hide?

6. The chicks were from an old man selling at breeders gathering/market. I assume a hobby breeder. My pullet wyandottes were from the same kind of event too. So not from a hatchery(I don’t even know if hatchery here breed and sell non-industrial layers)
Heritage breeds is so far all hobby bred here.

​

Necropsy cost so much I’m not sure if I can afford it, or should I buy it. The cost is about 12 chickens worth-​

​

It would be cheaper to cull fully and replace all ​

 

[Loving my girls]

“It’s spring soon” <sigh>
I’m stuck in a really cold snap and can’t wait for a bit of heat

 

[MoonMoon]

“It’s spring soon” <sigh>
I’m stuck in a really cold snap and can’t wait for a bit of heat

Same but like, "cold snap" to me is just random, very windy, very freezing cold but doesn't exceed -10°C temp...unless that's the same for you?

Well forecast said this year is cold. Under 10°C for prob another 3 months but I'm willing to raise chicks indoor for several months, if it works out. "Soon" here is within two months, lol. Plants is already budding for March flowering, even if the temps can be better.

 

[LaFleche]

From what I understand, there will be no use in culling your own birds trying to eradicate the chronic illness when your parents' birds and the water fowl will be kept alive and spreading it.

In my opinion you can just go ahead and keep them all, hoping for some to make it.

Or cull them all including the water fowl and your parents birds, clean everything well, wait one year and start anew with hatching eggs from a trustworthy source.

 

[Daisy June]

1. I own 6 chickens currently, but my whole family owns 20 in total(so 14 is of my parents), and 2 runner ducks and 1 moulard(butchering him February probably) but I free-range mine with them so I basically have 20 chickens. My chickens sleep in a separate coop and I care for them separately. But yeah all of the birds, ducks and chickens, run around in a 700M2 yard freely all day(not night) Coop+run is 300cm in total IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. I thought I could fit 10 chickens in here if needed(just for the night)but if the space is inadequate, I am willing to learn.View attachment 4026843
View attachment 4026845
(I don’t have pictures of dad’s “coop”)
2. 1 Mix rooster, 5 Isabrown, 8 Golden Comet(Parent’s), 1 Leghorn, 4 Dominant breeds Mix. All industrial layers except for my lone wyandotte.

3. Various feed, I've been switching each time one bag ran out, but from 14% crude protein 3% calcium layers feed, to 19% crude protein 0,9% calcium broiler, to 16%, 3% calcium layers feed, to 17% crude protein, 1% calcium broiler feed, in order. Lime calcium was provided in a seperate bowl. The broiler feed worked really well for me, since I switched to it , 3-4 eggs per day jump to 11-14 eggs per day! In the middle of freezing winter! 8 hours of daylight, no supp lights. Everyone but the wyandotte lays now, I tried to feed her isolated but she's dum-dum. Everyone but the wyandotte is always well fed at night. I really couldn’t explain why the wyandotte has such terrible appetite but maybe she’s ill or have vision/anxiety problem.
The chickens also get all of our kitchen scraps and some other stuff. Sprouted beans, white rice, veggies leaves, rarely, leftover meat that isn’t over 4 days old.

4. We had three feeders but now reduced to two after one fall in disuse, also it wasn’t very effective at not topping over. Two waterers. Each holds 5L I think.

5. The garden has a line of pine, spruce, fir, etc conifers at the back that grow low on the ground. The chickens usually hide there in sunny, hot, cold and windy days. I believe they act like bushes, but the yard is huge, there bound to be somewhere to hide?

6. The chicks were from an old man selling at breeders gathering/market. I assume a hobby breeder. My pullet wyandottes were from the same kind of event too. So not from a hatchery(I don’t even know if hatchery here breed and sell non-industrial layers)
Heritage breeds is so far all hobby bred here.

​

Necropsy cost so much I’m not sure if I can afford it, or should I buy it. The cost is about 12 chickens worth-​

​

It would be cheaper to cull fully and replace all ​

Lovely girls It looks like their roost is over the nesting boxes. If so, that's should be changed so they don't poop on the eggs.

 

[MoonMoon]

From what I understand, there will be no use in culling your own birds trying to eradicate the chronic illness when your parents' birds and the water fowl will be kept alive and spreading it.

In my opinion you can just go ahead and keep them all, hoping for some to make it.

Or cull them all including the water fowl and your parents birds, clean everything well, wait one year and start anew with hatching eggs from a trustworthy source.

Yeah if we going to cull, we will cull ALL of the chickens, but I didn't know ducks can also carry and spread the disease, too. It makes sense, now that I spent one second thinking about it. Will be a bit harder to convince culling them, though, since they live longer and won't age out laying next year, the time it's much easier to mark the older chickens as meat birds.

Wow, one year wait though? Going to be a long time till the next batch then, if I'm going to replace all. I heard most diseases doesn't pass through eggs, is this true? So...finding"trustworthy" source will be a bit hard for breeds I want, but you recommend trusty source I believe if I start my new flock all from hatching eggs, it'll likely be fine? Or I can also buy vaccinated chicks, but most likely, again, from hobby breeders because we don't have huge hatchery selling anything but industrial breeds.

The first sick bird was from a mass seller, so now I've learned to not buy from those, no matter how much cheaper their birds were.

 

[MoonMoon]

Lovely girls It looks like their roost is over the nesting boxes. If so, that's should be changed so they don't poop on the eggs.

No, the roost is not directly above the nest, but yeah, pretty close. The perspective is a little deceiving, though. The nesting boxes is basically beside the main room of the coop.