4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Romany]

Hi everyone,

I have a hen with a suspected case of mycoplasma (been 'quacking' and rattling for about a week). I bought her on 2nd June and returned one that I bought at the same sime because I realised it too was unwell, but the incubation period for mycoplasma is 6-10 days so I reckon this hen caught it from the other but my supplier is having none of it.

 

I have seperated her from the flock, but don't think I did this quick enough, so I potentially have 8 hens who will all now get it (and be carriers for life). So I'm in a dilemma...

 

Taking her to a vet will cost heaps and there are no specialist vets round here and I will have to buy 100g of antibiotic as that's the minimum order. I have no time to get to a vet before next week anyway.

 

So what happens if I DON'T treat it? Will they get over it with TLC?

 

I already use Stalosan F, diatom, probiotic, and am getting citricidal tomorrow. Will any of these help mitigate it?! Any other over-the-counter remedies I can try?

 

I have heard Colloidal Silver does the trick? Any one know anything about this?...

 

Thanks!

Edited June 16, 2009 by Guest

[sandyhas3chucks]

don't know HOW but you shouldn't be able to purchase ANY antibiotic in this country as it is prescription only!

[kitchens]

The only two things that can treat Mycoplasma is either Baytril or Tylan. Even though you have separated your poorly girl it is likely the rest have picked it up too, so probably best to treat your whole flock. I found Tylan to be the stuff that cured my girls after bout of this last year. I had enough to treat all 15 birds I had at the time. Expect to pay approx £50 for your consultation and meds.

 

Sorry to say this but it will not go away with TLC. If left untreated it will kill them.

[Romany]

Sorry to say this but it will not go away with TLC. If left untreated it will kill them.

 

Eeek... umm, that was the answer I was dreading! Looks like a trip to the vet then!

And I wasn't suggesting I could get the antibiotics over the counter - I meant that the vet would order them in for me, but that I'd have to buy the whole packet because it's not something they usually have in stock as they don't do chickens usually.

 

They will be carriers for life though won't they? So that means ruling out this flock to breed from in future... but what does it mean for eggs and human consumption? The only reason I ask is that a few months ago I was hospitalised with pneumonia but the bug they found that caused it was MYCOPLASMA!!! So I have been keeping the children well away from the chickens for the time being... but they are supposed to be pets so do I just say no stroking while they have an outbreak or do I keep the kids out the run forever? Or maybe it doesn't transfer between humans and birds...(one is mycoplasma pneumoniae and the other is mycoplasma galli-something)?

 

Am I just being totally paranoid?!

[sandyhas3chucks]

ooo er! will be watching for this answer...

I would find another vet.Thers a good avian vet Basingstoke way, now i am in Surrey & it is a fair way from me, but Bracknell in Berks isn't to far, dunno how the roads go. but there will be something not too far away. have you checked the vets list or in the rvs website?

[kitchens]

When I realised this is what my girls had I went to the vet who prescribed Baytril. A week of this and there was no difference. Baytril has a 1 week egg withdrawl period. I went back to the vets who gave my Tylan. The egg withdrawl period for this was very vague. Infact it did not mention it on the packet. My vet rang the company that distribute it and they said 1 week. I was (and still am) trying to get pregnant so I left it 1 month to be on the safe side. My girils haven't had it again (touch wood). Its horrid when it happens though I can understand how you feel. I became totally obsessed. I'd get one of them to a vet (no need to take them all) and get them the meds asap.

 

By the way I think Mycoplasma is a 'term' that is used for a broad spectrum of resparatory(?) problems. But check with the vet he should know. Good luck.

 

[The Dogmother]

You will need to get them all treated asap; as has been mentioned, leaving a chook will cause suffering and probably death. Myco can also damage the ovaries, so be prepared that any infected chooks may lay wonky eggs for the rest of their egg-laying career.

 

Tylan is usually prescribed for respiratory problems and seems to clear it up pretty quickly.

 

At the very least, the breeder should refund your money and offer to pay any vet fees. may I suggest that you email barbara@omlet.co.uk and pass the name of the breeder on to her so that she can put a question mark by them on the list of suppliers?

[Chucky Mama]

You will need to get them all treated asap; as has been mentioned, leaving a chook will cause suffering and probably death. Myco can also damage the ovaries, so be prepared that any infected chooks may lay wonky eggs for the rest of their egg-laying career.

 

Tylan is usually prescribed for respiratory problems and seems to clear it up pretty quickly.

 

At the very least, the breeder should refund your money and offer to pay any vet fees. may I suggest that you email barbara@omlet.co.uk and pass the name of the breeder on to her so that she can put a question mark by them on the list of suppliers?

 

I agree, it does sound like the breeder needs to take some responsibility. Good Luck

[Romany]

This is not good is it?...

 

My supplier wasn't exactly a breeder, as these are all hybrid hens. I bought 4 off her, and had 4 already which I had hatched myself. It would be hard to prove that the mycoplasma came from her, but equally, my chicks were all very healthy (and still appear to be) prior to the new ones arriving. They don't mix with wild birds as the run is fully covered. And the supplier had to change 1 hen already as she was ill within the first day so I think it seems most likely that the bug came from a bad batch of hens that she had delivery of earlier in the day that I bought mine...

 

So now infected, all my hens will be hopeless layers, including all the hand reared ones and no point adding new hens because they are likely to get it too...

 

It's enough to wonder why you bother getting hens in the first place...

 

Thanks for all your replies... bit depressed now... hopefully won't seem quite so doom and gloomy soon!

[The Dogmother]

I am so sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings Romany. I really feel that you ought to get the diagnosis confirmed by your vet and then approach the supplier with a threat of trading standards and DEFRA if he doesn't act and replace your flock with healthy hens.

 

I have spoken to Barbara, and if you email her with details of the supplier then she will make sure that Omlet don't pass their name on to any potential buyers.

[Romany]

My local vet has ordered in Tylan (just in case) and I have an appointment this evening...

Will let you know how I get on.

 

On the plus side, all 7 other chickens are still not showing signs of illness yet so am keeping fingers firmly crossed for them... I am using citricidal like mad and yesterday bought some Colloidal Silver spray and am giving each hen a squirt into the throat each day in the hope that it helps prevent bugs get a hold...

[sandyhas3chucks]

the oregano products like Oregostim MAY also help.

[Romany]

the oregano products like Oregostim MAY also help.

 

Ooh - that's a new one on me... I'll look into that! Thank you...

 

Started with Tylan this morning... I'll let you know if it clears up the snotty chicken (and if it prevents the others coming down with it...)

[pullusleggus]

When I realised this is what my girls had I went to the vet who prescribed Baytril. A week of this and there was no difference. Baytril has a 1 week egg withdrawl period. I went back to the vets who gave my Tylan. The egg withdrawl period for this was very vague. Infact it did not mention it on the packet. My vet rang the company that distribute it and they said 1 week. I was (and still am) trying to get pregnant so I left it 1 month to be on the safe side. My girils haven't had it again (touch wood). Its horrid when it happens though I can understand how you feel. I became totally obsessed. I'd get one of them to a vet (no need to take them all) and get them the meds asap.

 

By the way I think Mycoplasma is a 'term' that is used for a broad spectrum of resparatory(?) problems. But check with the vet he should know. Good luck.

 

 

 

Mycoplasmas are infectious organisms (not quite viruses or bacteria) which can exist normally in humans. HOWEVER some are dangerous for certain animals. Transfer between different species does not usually occur. Poultry mycoplasmas can be transmitted from hen to egg to chick.

[Romany]

Just realised I forgot to let everyone know how I got on...

 

Tylan seems to have cleared up the snotty one completely, and the others were all treated as a matter of course in the drinking water and none have been sick so it proobably prevented whole flock wipeout!

Edited July 2, 2009 by Guest