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[redsunset]

Late post from me as usual. Had preliminary post from vet today, and news was what I suspected but hoped not!, ILT which is a bad one and no treatment. Will get full pathology when I get chance to go down to vets.

 

Am losing two more as in other crested legbar and my lovely big lemon Pyle Brahma (who survived my dog attack well over a year ago). Can tell those two are on the way out and gutted.

 

No treatment for this disease. Sent an email to auction mart to inform them tonight but don't know if I will get a reply.

 

Big lesson, if you buy any bird at auction please quarantine (I didn't and am paying a heavy price as 16 birds dead), so hope it helps others. I could kick myself.

[Cat tails]

I'm so sorry for you Red. You did all you could to at least help the ill and keep the healthy that way.

Never heard of ILT, but wikipedia says it is a herpes virus. It also mentiones a vaccine that can be used during an outbreak to limit losses. Did your vet inform you on that as well?

[Luvachicken]

I've never heard of ILT either but am feeling really sorry for you and all your losses.

It's such a shame because I know how excited you were about the auction and the newbies.

 

Hopefully the vaccine Cat tails mentioned could help ?

[redsunset]

Going to vets at lunchtime tomorrow. I did mention a vaccine so they were going to look into that, hopefully get answers? Crested legbar was gone tonight.

Seems this horrible disease runs its course usually in 6 weeks but remaining birds will be carriers

Bought a mountain of kale, greens and cabbages tonight as Vit A is supposed to be good to aid recovery. I'll try anything.

 

For those not sure about ILT it's infectious Laryngio Trachetitis. Pray none of you ever get it. It's a nasty one and very fast to spread so careful with auction birds (stress of moving can be a trigger in dormant birds already subject to it in flock). Ok, with friends and buying from those you know (and trust) I will never sell any birds from now on as I'd be mortified if anyone got it and blamed me. All in, all out which will include my chicks. Have 2 Broodies and eggs taken off them daily as no more.

 

Will keep posting now and then re results.

[Luvachicken]

Such a sad, sad story.

I hope the vets have something good for you when you go tomorrow.

[mullethunter]

Redsunset I'm so sorry. What an awful thing to happen and a dreadfully harsh lesson.

 

Will the disease stay in the ground or would you be able to start all over again eventually?

[redsunset]

Had a long chat with the vet today and got a very detailed pathology report and I'd need a PhD to decipher a fair bit of it but ILT it is. I will have to find homes for my babies as if I let them out even after 2 months, any stress could trigger it in current flock member and they'd be first to succumb. Vaccine is usually for flocks of 1000.

My other option is to cull them all and start again......not an option so going to home the babies once reared a bit more. I'll have to be vigilant re Broodies as well.

 

As for living in the ground I don't think so as mostly airborne but will double check that for future ref.

 

Mortality can be high, anything from 20-70%. Hopefully the worst will be over in about 2-3 weeks. Horrible situation

[Mars]

Redsunset

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. we learn from our mistakes

If you there are any breeders around you, contact them and see if you they can vaccinate the chicks for you "When they start vaccinating their chicks you take yours there".

The other thing I would do: if you are down in number of hens, fill the incubator. "talk the vet first".

Good luck Redsunset

[Luvachicken]

At least you know for definite now

This has been a learning curve for us all but such a sad experience to learn from.

xxxx

[redsunset]

Apart from the lemon Pyle brahma, all the rest of the chooks seem fine and inundated with eggs. This illness is said to drop egg production, but no one told my lot?

Eggs are fine for consumption thankfully. Mars, filling the incubator is not an option as have to remain a closed flock now or cull....am going down the closed route and two Broodies are near bruising my hand every day in abject disgust at egg removal! Not pleased are they one bit but can't let them hatch anything.

No big chook farms here for any left over vaccinations and to be honest I'd rather go down the natural route of letting them live healthy lives and not add any stress. The 10 wk olds I have in my own bit of garden seperate I'd now not be happy to give to anyone to be on safe side so when clear will let them take their chances with the flock once things are dormant. (As this can be airbourne between farms I read?)

The littlies of 2-4 weeks I have indoors will find a home for hopefully but would need to be taken without inspection as due to bio security I'd deliver, but not onto anyone's ground (neutral meet) incase of carrying anything on clothes/shoes. May sound a bit paranoid but I'd be horrified if passed on. Gonna miss my wee jaunts to the auctions twice a year and the fun of hatching new babies but have to think of keeping the ones I have healthy.

And while Iwas quick to be angry re seller.....who's to say it didn't come from a neighbours farm? I don't like to get anyone into trouble as after all at auctions, it's hard to say.

Things are now better so I hope those who take the trouble to read, always quarantine if from an unknown seller or auction and it helps someone. I was irresponsible and asked vet if he'd ever had a case up here before....only once when ppl moved hens from Dorset to island while relocating so not your common illness. More common in broiler flocks/large cage farms but may be increasing in backyard hobby flocks.....phew, what a scribble!!

[Luvachicken]

Have all my fingers crossed for you that they all stay healthy now.

So pleased for you that things are looking up at last

[redsunset]

Thanks luvachicken, think I am turning the corner now and just have a couple I'm keeping an eye on. The gold laced little orp who's feathers shine with dark green in the sun on outline is still battling hard bless her. She is beautiful. The lemon brahma I know is not going to make it as neurological traits in head movement. Tried to feed her tonight but no luck.... warm and safe. But a matter of time I think.

[mullethunter]

I'm not really prone to outbreaks of affection or over emotional - ness, but your struggle has really got to me. I just think it could so easily have been any of us. I was thinking about buying at auction, but I wouldn't now.

 

I so hope things are looking up for you

[redsunset]

Mullethunter.....don't be put off going to auctions. There are a lot of stunning beautiful (healthy) birds to be had! If you have a very seasoned and learned hen friend, take them with you or befriend one with vast experience (they can spot things we may not).

 

Then as long as you quarantine, you will be fine. Some serious breeders even after a show are know to quantine their own birds for a month before allowed back in the flock! Now that is being very cautious but when you think of the time and money invested in breeding show standard then I guess it makes sense.

 

You go, and enjoy

[redsunset]

And Mullethunter I hope I didn't offend you re the getting a seasoned hen keeper for auctions as just noticed the sheer amount of posts you have so already the seasoned keeper!

Never mean to upset or offend me!

 

Apart from the Brahma, all others are doing great. The ten week olds in my 'bit of garden' are doing well although run is getting far to small for them now underneath the coop. Would like to keep them there another week yet though. I'm having to be cruel to be kind I think?

 

Babies in the indoor rabbit hutch coop are also thriving, really hope I can home them all to keep them safe

 

Have 2 eggs left in the incubator and don't have the heart to stop and kill them as only a week to go. Hope they both hatch and will bring on for someone (one lav orp, and 1 crested legbar). Wish I could keep them but... Will pack the incubators away.....for a while. Loved the hatching, but I have enough chooks to keep healthy for a few years so that's good.

[redsunset]

P.s. Where has glavcojack gone? Not seen her on here for a while? Miss her ex batt tales?

[mullethunter]

Of course you didn't offend me! I don't think of myself as knowledgeable really and definitely not when it comes to auctions! And anyway, two heads are always better than one.

 

I hope all your littluns do ok.

 

I think Gavclojak might have been going on a family holiday once everything was done for her dad, so she may be away. Or I may have imagined that!

[redsunset]

Sheesh, the little 10 week olds I put in my bit of garden thinking they would be fine? Well the lav leghorn who was suspect with this illness was jumping the 6 ft trellis panels and was in with them!...argh! Today I thought I saw a couple of the young cuckoo Marans opening beak a little to breath and thought an eye on one was slightly swollen. If so nothing I can do about it now so hope they make it!

The leghorns indoors are getting big along with two lav orps. So sad I can't keep them but glad I have a chook friend who is going to take the lot.

Discovered I still have 10 boys, despite a cull/rehoming earlier in year and I will have to take at least 8-9 to vet as can't rehome due to possible carriers and can't keep so many as there will then be to many for the ladies.

Glad to say all the other chooks seem to be fine, so the disease I think has run its course for now. Took in well over 20 eggs and it hasn't affected shell quality at all despite it being reported to. Think the tough oldies had built up a good immune system as had very mild myco a couple of times in last 4 years.

Nice to see the shrubs starting to 'green up' and bought a few grisilinnia to plant for hedge as chooks won't go near it!

[Luvachicken]

I really hope the others stay fit and well and any symptoms you may have seen soon disappear.

 

Glad you got some chicken proof plants

It's lovely to see everything greening up and coming back to life isn't it.

[gavclojak]

Oh gosh you have gone through it with your boys/girls haven't you. I think Mother Nature is an amazing thing and ithank. goodness you're girls have got through this.

 

I bet they keep you on your toes:)

[redsunset]

Yup, Mother Nature is amazing. They do keep me on my toes and can eat for Scotland as any movement out the back door and a huge rush incase I have any goodies instead of usual mash n corn!......like veggies or toms? Anything?

 

Littlies in my garden seem to be ok. Noticed the boy had a closed eye (cuckoo maran) but others are now ok. Mix of 5 cuckoo, 2 lav leghorns and 2 supposed to be white leghorns (eBay) but can tell they are not and a mix as one has almost a Tina turner silky head thing going on with couple of grey splash dots on her back but never mind. Think she's cute.

[redsunset]

My little baby chooks indoors are going to a new home this week. Gutted I can't keep them but they are going to a good home on large croft with tons of space. They are now 5-7 weeks old and far to cramped in the large indoor rabbit hutch.

A bakers dozen of lavender, black leghorns and two lovely lav orpingtons.

Beautiful day today with wall to wall deep blue skies and 24 degrees.....big deal up here, and hopefully good to treat any nasties left on the ground as ILT is susceptible to anything over 60 degrees.

All the 9, 12 year olds in my bit of garden are fine and were hiding in corners today away from the unexpected heatwave! Am introducing them to flock hopefully in the next week and hope they stay there as I want my lawn, garden back!

An exchequer leghorn will be on one way ticket to the vet as he has decided any bags in my hand coming down the drive may be subject to attack, or plants in red flower pots. Have to have eyes in back of my head and don't want postie to complain! Wee bu##er! After having had over 25 boys there had to be one!

[Luvachicken]

So glad things are better for you now

 

Gosh 24 degrees must have been roasting for you and your girls

It was very hot down here too.

3 broodies in as many days

[redsunset]

Don't mention Broodies! I have at least four and taking the eggs off them (mostly buff orps) and getting a nip on hands for my trouble! Weather still lovely and all 'seems' to be ok....but scared to say that! Lav leghorn girl and remaining appenzeller who are a bit suspect seem to be holding their own tho not fully quite right in my eyes.

That bleddy excqhequer leghorn had a dust up with another boy this am and both a bit bedraggled . He is so for the vet as soon as I get a box as turned nasty and I'm very wary of him at the mo.

[redsunset]

Chooks doing ok, finally but thought I saw a wee bit in corner of an eye (gunk) lunchtime. Was at vets tonight getting dogs microchipped and mentioned that mild myco can follow an ILT outbreak and was it ok to get a deneguard bottle for five days? Vet I had tonight agreed so five days dosage for water. Need to tip all wateres out and make them use just one. Worth a shot I thought.

Gave away all my babies last Saturday and lady I have them to had a devastating attack just that morning as lost 14 newly laying hens to Crows! She was understandably devastated. Open croft with sea views and no trees. Took down 14 chicks that day .(in her greenhouse until older having a ball)

Crows/Ravens are protected so nothing she can do. Saw the bodies and some disembowelled,some partially eaten inside, some not a mark! Awful.

My only hatch this year are all doing fine at 14 weeks so hope it continues. No crows as too many trees, over 40 almost in full leaf now.

Will have to take some boys to vet sadly as too many per girl ratio as some looking a bit bedraggled

Missing having baby chicks this summer.....but happy to fore go for now........