Listeria monocytogenes

[svcordova]

I recently bought a batch of baby chicks and about 50% of them have died. I had a necropsy done on 3 of them and after a month of testing tissues and blood it was confirmed that they have Listeria. They remaining 6 that I have seem fine. No signs of illness and are thriving. My question is... is there anyone that has had experience or advice on listeria. Since this is a bacteria that can be transferred to me and family, beside the common sense hygiene practices (hand washing and no kissing chickens), how can I treat or sanitize my coop and dirt run? Or will listeria forever be present in my soil and my kids can't play in the dirt or backyard? I currently have all chickens, 8 week old chicks and 1 year old hens on Amoxicillin antibiotics. Any advice on how I can manage this?

 

[Sara Ranch]

Oh. Wow.

*hugs* It's sad to loose chickens.

I don't have the answers you seek, but will be following the thread.

Where did you get the baby chicks?

Do you think they baby chicks came with Listeria or do you think they got Listeria in transit? Or for the property?

 

[svcordova]

Sarah,
Not to sure if it came from my property. I doubt it did. Because my baby chicks came straight from a breeder into my brooder that was in my garage. So, I am leaning towards the breeder (contamination from egg shells to the chicks) or the 5lb bag of Purina start and grown (non-medicated) food that I started them out on.
By the time I found out what was killing them, I moved my survivors out side separated in my run. So if they were asymptomatic then I am pretty sure my big girls have been exposed to it by now.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Understood.

I haven't had time to read up on the disease right now.

If it was from the food, how would it have gotten into the food? Has Purina had any other complaints?

Can you provide more information on the breeder (without specifically naming the breeder)? Is the breeder local? NPIP certified? How do they advertise? Who do they target sell to?

What did you carry the babies home in? A cardboard box from the grocery store? That came in the mail? A pet carrier?

 

[svcordova]

I looked to see if Purina has had any recalls on it, and there was nothing. I carried them home in a diaper box. So I hope they couldn't haven't gotten it from the box.
It was a local small time breeder in Washington state. She doesn't advertise. She targets to people who show their chickens. I don't show mine, but I requested chicks that were not show quality. The breeder was schedules to do the NPIP Certification a week after I got the chicks.