[orchardlady]

Chatting to an old friend (ho does not keep hens) today he was telling me about his neighbour that had kept hens and that they got a disease that killed them and lived in the ground of his poultry run. Does anyone know what this might be? The reason I ask is that this same neighbour is possibly looking for a new home for 3 of his ducks and I'm wondering if this problem could be transferred via the ducks to my hens and ducks.

Sorry to be so vague but any information or opinions would be of value. Of course I will ask more detailed questions if the ducks are eventually offered to me.

[Biguba]

The life cycle of parasitic worms can involve dormant egg cysts. Lots of small organisms can en-cyst during their life cycle until a host comes along. Perhaps this is what was meant? Keep us posted 

[cluckingnuts]

Organic material like wood chips etc if not dug out, can get anaerobic bacteria Clostridium botulinum (aka limberneck). Death is rapid.

[Aidy]

As above, if they live in the run most of the time the ground will become stagnent with their poo poo's, good husbandry will keep the ground fresh.
As my lot live on the plot they spend a lot of time in their run, all be it far bigger than the reccomended space per chook. I clean the coop once a week and the run once a fortnight, during the run clean up I will sprinkle stalosan F over the ground and turn over the ground and then a fresh layer of floor covering.

we also poo pick at night.

[orchardlady]

Thanks for the replies. Do you know how botulism is spread...so for example if these ducks came to live with me in my lovely grassy paddock where they would have clean water and Savoy standard living accommodation would the botulism live in the ground from their poo to be spread among my flock or would it stay behind in the original run? Of course all still hypothetical as I've not been offered these ducks yet.

[cluckingnuts]

As it's anaerobic it will die in contact with air.