How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[kitschwitch]

Sorry if this ends up being long but I've a few questions.

 

The girls have been here 6 weeks and after about 2, Carrie developed a sniffle so I added a bit more citrocidal to the water and it cleared up.

 

End of last week then Charlotte developed a sniffle (we add citrocidal everyday) and at the weekend started doing a cough/sneeze thing, clear snot though no gunk, and all have been eating drinking normally although Charlotte has not laid since Friday.

 

We are just back from the vets and she has prescribed Tylan for Mycoplasma for all of them - fair enough although I'm gutted to have poorly girls so soon

 

Question 1 - the vet said no egg withdrawal but I'm reading on here that I should but some say a week and others 28 days - so what do I do?

 

Question 2 - Do I tell the supplier? They all came from a large fairly well known supplier close to us although when we picked them up Charlotte was in a different pen from the other 3 and I don't know if Carrie ever had it 2 weeks ago although I understand she is likely too now along with the others.

 

Question 3 - As the incubation period is 6 - 10 days, if it did not come from source, how do they get it and where from, we have been vigilant about cleaning and using all the suggested things like Stal F, Poultry Shield, Diatom etc and the run has been covered from day 1

 

I'm a little confused by all this

 

Thanks in advance

 

Di

[Daphne]

OK,

 

a) egg withdrawal - there seems to be confusion and I can't pretend to have all the answers. I was told 7 days and thats what I go by. But honestly, given the confusion even amongst vets, I'm not sure there is a 'right' answer. In my experience hens are often too ill to lay if they have myco.

b) telling supplier - others may disagree but as there was a time lag between collection of your girls and symptoms, and as I don't think you can ever prove where the myco came from, I wouldn't bother. But do, by all means, if it makes you feel better. But see c)

c) where does it come from - who knows? One of the major triggers is stress. Stress, to a chicken is as simple as moving home (hence quite likely to have left breeder well and become ill at yours), changing diet (eg different brand of pellets), changing bedding, changing housing, changing housemates, coming into lay, going broody, moulting etc etc.

Lack of cleanliness (this doesn't mean filth, it means allowing nasties to breed - sounds unlikely in your case). Myco will always find those who are weak, but also attacks the robust bird.

 

The good news is that myco is treatable - tylan is the best.

HTH

Daph

[kitschwitch]

Thanks for that Daphne and sorry to see on another post that you lost a girl today x

 

They start the Tylan tomorrow so let's hope she gets over it.

 

With regard to the stress, yes all things from the supplier have been changed but early on, like,

 

Bedding - they went staight onto Aubiose 6 weeks ago - changed at 3 weeks and due to be done this weekend

Food - we only had pellets for 5 days as they were not eating it so changed to Mash which they have had ever since, mixed with Limestone, Garlic, Bokashi and a little spice

 

I understand the rest about moving etc but it seems such a long time when they all settled in so well and 2 of 4 were laying the next day, now a third is laying albeit Charlotte has not for a few days (guessing her illness)

 

Just wondered if we could have prevented it or if they do just "carry" it

 

The only stress they have really had was next doors puppy escaping and bothering them, that was 2 weeks ago, they were in the run but did a fair bit of flapping about and now the neighbours have raised their fence.

 

They have free-ranged for at least a couple of hours a day after the initial 5 days but supervised.

 

Also, can we still introduce new girls in the future when we get a WIR? Not iminent but always planned or will they then pick it up too as I have read that Charlotte will now always "carry" the bacteria.

 

Di

[Daphne]

You can't actually prevent them getting myco - its one of the myriad 'respiratory diseases' that poultry can get. I'm never sure if its a virus/bacterium/something else. Transmission can be through coughing/sneezing ie bird to bird contact, but also dust and soiled bedding/feeders/drinking water - which is why good husbandry is so important.

 

Those that have suffered are carriers, and myco can lay 'dormant' ready to be triggered by a stressor.

 

Although this could be taken to mean that one should therefore never introduce new birds to a carrying flock, I think you'll find very few people adhere to that.