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Barnyard Buddies:  Anybody ever had Viral Arthritis?  |
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chickenladycris
True Blue Farmgirl
77 Posts
Cris
Prairie Farm
WI
USA
77 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 5:59:49 PM
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So, this is my fourth year raising meat birds. Everything was going great until Monday morning when I went out to check on my two week old chicks. I discovered that suddenly, one couldn't walk...and another....and another...and ultimately, figured out that a half dozen at least had swollen joints, crumpled up feet, and couldn't stand or walk. I spent a good half hour with my copy of Gail Damerow's Chicken Health Handbook, and after ruling out some horrible things, narrowed it down to Viral Arthritis. No diarrhea, no lack of appetite or refusing water, just couldn't walk and were obviously in pain. I had to leave them to go to work, and when I got home, waded in and rounded up all the sick chicks--which turned out to be 10 in all. Four were in horrible shape, the remaining 6 were slightly better but again, obviously suffering. While the Handbook made it sound like the chicks might recover, I couldn't stomach letting them be in such pain and opted to euthanize them (which made for a perfectly lovely afternoon  ) Has anybody out there ever had this kind of illness break out in their cornish cross chicks before? The remaining chicks seem to be doing okay, no more outbreaks. I did thoroughly clean the brooder after culling the sick chicks, I'm hoping this prevents any more illness from arising. The chicks aren't overcrowded, have clean water and feeder and fresh, medicated chick feed. It was unusually warm on Sunday (it went from in the upper 50s to mid 80s in about 6 hours!), and I know that the little ones were quite stressed from the sudden temp change, even though I turned off the heat lamps and allowed air flow to enter the area they are kept in. It was still freakishly hot and muggy, and while they didn't start panting, they were really lethargic and mostly wanted to suck down water like it was going out of style, poor things. Anyway, I've never had anything like this happen with any chicks I've raised--somehow, I don't think these kind of illnesses are common. I've always worried more about coccidosis or pasty butt! Have any of you ever had a viral outbreak like this happen? What did you do?
I am feeling really bad about the loss of 10 chicks, even though I know it was better to help them along rather than suffer. Ahh, the bad part of being a farmgirl...
"A farmgirl can never have enough chickens!"--me |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 6:36:36 PM
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Cris, I am so sorry. I have never had this happen to any of mine before. But I am thinking of getting some meat chicks. Where did you get yours? Can you call them and tell them what happened? I'm sure they would either reimburse you or send you more. I'm sure you did the right thing so the poor chicks didn't suffer anymore. I hope others have some words of wisdom and encouragement. I sure hope the rest of the chicks will be ok. It sounds like you were doing all the right things.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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chickenladycris
True Blue Farmgirl
77 Posts
Cris
Prairie Farm
WI
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 6:50:06 PM
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I ordered them from a "local" source--Sunnyside Hatchery out of Beaver Dam, WI. They do a great job, and I love the office ladies! They think I am a hoot, too...or crazy, but I seem to amuse them. Ha ha! I didn't think to call them, but they maybe would want to know in case it means that some of their suppliers have contaminated stock. Good idea, thanks! Given that these little fuzzies are two-going on-three weeks old, I don't think I can get reimbursement, but if this has happened to other folks who got chicks from the same hatch, it might mean something. I don't know enough about epidemiology, for sure!
"A farmgirl can never have enough chickens!"--me |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2011 : 03:15:55 AM
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I am so sorry for your loss. Since this is not your first batch of meat chicks I am sure you are feeding them the meat chick starter? I have never had this happen. But have had two with deformities. One was a fancy chicken and one a meat chciken. I hope all is well!
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
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chickenladycris
True Blue Farmgirl
77 Posts
Cris
Prairie Farm
WI
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2011 : 12:32:25 PM
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Here's my update: It turns out it wasn't viral arthritis. It was worse: infectious synovitis. IS looks like VA when it is just starting. When I got home Friday from work, I walked into the brooder and heard this strange, rhythmic gurgling-hiss noise. And then I realized: That's breathing! Of the remaining chicks, half were not moving, and the other half were moving a little but could hardly breathe because their little lungs and heads were full of junk. It was sheer luck that one of the area farm stores was open until 9 PM, so I drove the half hour there and back just to pick up some water-soluble antibiotics. I started them on their doctored water, and made the weakest ones drink, and was sure that I wouldn't have ANY chicks on Saturday morning. But, they all lived! Today, they are feeling much better--still weak, still a little wheezy, but eating like crazy and slurping up their antibiotic-water like it is going out of style. I did a little research, and found out that the bacteria that causes infectious synovitis (mycoplasma synovae) takes 14 to 21 days after exposure to cause symptoms--so it wasn't something they picked up here, but rather at the hatchery or at the breeder farm. The hatchery guarantees MS-free stock, and since I am 99.9% sure this is infectious synovitis, I emailed the company to let them know about the infection. I think they will want to make sure it isn't something contaminating ALL of their stock! Haven't heard back yet, but this is a good company so I am sure I will hear back soon.
"A farmgirl can never have enough chickens!"--me |
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Candy C.
True Blue Farmgirl
823 Posts
Candy
Mescal
AZ
USA
823 Posts |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
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BoPeep214
True Blue Farmgirl
50 Posts
Stephanie
Fort Wayne
IN
USA
50 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2011 : 11:50:35 AM
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I'm really glad you posted this problem! I'm sorry you lost so many chicks, it is definitely a difficult thing to do, but the right thing. But I am getting our first ever batch of meat birds, and I will keep all this information in my "brain file"just in case. I am glad you were able to save your other chicks. Hope they keep up their good recovery!
"Happy to share with you such as we've got: the leaks in the roof and the soup in the pot." `Unknown` |
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Barnyard Buddies: Anybody ever had Viral Arthritis? |
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Anybody ever had Viral Arthritis?
