2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[andymac]

Rosie, my Isa brown has been a bit down of late and now has a runny eye. I contacted the poultry supplier and was informed that they have had a batch of Isa Browns that were bred / brought up in hen houses with mesh floors whereby the droppings fell through the mesh and were removed. This apparently has let to a lack of natural immunity to the fumes coming off of the droppings and results in the birds being affected by these fumes whilst in the hen house.

 

I am informed that if I take Rosie back tomorrow they will give her a dose of something that should clear up the problem.

 

Has anyone else come across anything like this?

[Jools]

Sort of. I've read about natural immunity and flock immunity, mainly in relation to raising chicks under broodies. It makes a lot of sense to me that the body's immune system needs to be stimulated from day one and gradually exposed to whatever it will encounter throughout a normal life. A peck of dirt and all that. Hygiene is obviously important, but I can imagine that having no exposure at all to droppings does more harm than good.

 

I'm not sure about the fumes bit though, nor the "dose of something". It sounds like Rosie has the beginnings of a respiratory infection which can be nipped in the bud by treatment with Respite or citridicel, or with antibiotics. In your shoes, I'd want to know what the breeder intended to do.

[Plum]

Think he's talking through his hat. She may have a lack of immunity through non contact with droppings but it won't be the ammonia. Glad he's giving you some treatment though it's obviously not the first time. Would be nice if he was honest about what it is.

[andymac]

Thanks for the advice.

I will check what he is giving her tomorrow and confirm the problem.

Thanks again.

[The Dogmother]

Think he's talking through his hat. She may have a lack of immunity through non contact with droppings but it won't be the ammonia. Glad he's giving you some treatment though it's obviously not the first time. Would be nice if he was honest about what it is.

 

I agree, it sounds like he's had other complaints about similar symptoms and is spinning a line.... one which has some basis in fact, but not a lot. If she doesn't respond to his 'treatment', then he ought to offer to pay the vet bills for any vet treatment she may need.

 

In that position, I'd expect him to take the hen back and refund my money so that I could buy a healthy hen from elsewhere. Don't forget that some respiratory infections (if that's what it turns out to be) can affect the hen's future laying career.

 

I hope that you get it sorted to your satisfaction.