2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Nature Chick]

Hi

Daisy and Lily arrived a few months ago and Daisy has always been sneezy but I put it down to stress as Mildred was picking on her. Now everyone is happy and the sneezing hasn't stopped I took her to the vet last night who diagnosed Mycoplasma. He said that is was a good sign that neither of the other 2 had symptoms so they could be resistant to it but that Daisy probaby wouldn't recover. She had a shot of Tylan and I can collect another dose tomorrow if she is still sneezing. He said that if she was a commercial bird she would be destroyed but as she was a loved pet should could live a happy, if un-productive life. She is very healthy otherwise and is laying well at the moment. I am very sad and angry as I questioned the breeder about the fact that alot of the birds were sneezing but I was told that it was just because they had recently been moved inside.

 

Is the vet right about her prospects? I am happy to keep her as long as she is healthy but he said that it would mean that if she got something else she might find it harder to fight it off because of her Myco.

He also advised that if we got any new birds we should make sure they are vaccinated against Myco.

 

Thanks

S

[Daphne]

Many/most birds recover from myco but some don't. If she's been sneezing for months then thats not a good sign, but myco normally presents with rattly chest and certainly foamy eye as well so if she's missed out those symptoms then she might not have had it badly. Tylan is a good A/B for myco, so all you can do is follow the course (syringing it gets it into the bloodstream fast and so its quick to act) and wait and see. If she gets over it then there is no reason why she won't lay again, but you shouldn't use her for breeding (myco can be passed on via the egg). Your vet is correct in that myco is weakening, and birds can be more susceptible to other things afterwards. In terms of new stock, hobby breeders of pure breeds tend not to vaccinate, so it wouldn't necessarily be easy to obtain vaccinated birds. I believe hybrids are routinely vaccinated against myco (?) Despite all this gloom, and I have lost a bird to myco, I also have another bird who recovered and has lived 12 months so far in a perfectly normal way. I do keep a special eye on this bird and its housing/litter so it doesn't get wet/damp and I clean regularly with Virkon as an virucide. Lastly, the person you bought from may genuinely not have known they had a problem, moving house can trigger snuffles but equally this change in routine is a known stressor for myco/similar respiratory outbreaks. Having said that, personally I wouldn't buy from a place where the stock had the snuffles for this very reason - you don't know how bad it is. I hope Daisy makes a recovery for you.

[Chickybaby]

One of my chickens had to see the vet last night for the same symptoms you describe. The vet also diagnosed mycoplasma but she never said anything about Marigold not recovering, she said she should make a full recovery.....now I'm worried! She offered me a course of Tylan in the water or Baytril, which I can give orally. I opted for Baytril, just because it's easier for me. If Baytril doesn't work then I'm going to try Tylan and treat my other chickens at the same time. She also never said anything about Marigold being more susceptable to catching other bugs.....I think different vets say different things! She did seem a bit perkier this morning though so hopefully the Baytril is working.

[Daphne]

Chickybaby - its much more common for birds to survive myco (with treatment) than die from it so please don't worry. I am assuming Nature Chick's vet had a reason for saying it about Daisy. Because myco is often triggered by a stressor (eg change of habitat, food, coming into lay) it stands to reason that if a bird gets myco once from a stressor it can happen again. And depending on whats happened to the bird during its myco bout its can become less able to withstand respiratory disease at least. I've certainly had this with the bird that died (it had myco twice) and the bird who survived; which is why I keep an especial eye on damp litter, good ventilation and general hygiene.

[Chucky Mama]

Many birds survive mycoplasma. She will as a result probably not lay as well and may not gain weight as she would if she were Myco free. Any birds coming in will be susceptable unlesss vaccinated - vaccination protection do not last for life. A flock can appear fine but can carry Myco apparently symptomless. When stressed or new birds are introduced they can fall ill within few days. This is why new birds start sneezing when you get them home. It spreads quickly and once you have it, it is impossible to completely get rid of it, unless you are prepared to destroy your birds and start again. The infectious agent survives for only a matter of days outside of the birds. The only way to stock with Myco free birds is to source them from guaranteed Myco free stock. It can of course be picked up from wild birds.

[Steve the Gas]

With wild birds spreading it then logically.......

 

Mine had a chest infection - myco - who knows, and neither did the vet - unless they grew a culture or some sort of test.

Mine ere treated with tylan in their water and all lay (when not in moult) I have since intro duced 7 new birds to my orignal 5 and they have had no sneezes,sniffles or the like.

Tylan is the easiest med to give in water - if all other water is excluded.

[Nature Chick]

Thanks for your posts.

Daisy hasn't sneezed again since having her Tylan jab so I am cautiously optimistic although I don't want to get my hopes up!

Its funny as in the years I have had hens I haven't come accross respiratory problems - maybe we have been lucky until now!

They have a completely undercover run now so hopefully they will keep nice and dry and give Dasiy the best chance of recovery.

Fingers crossed!

I hope your chickie with Myco recovers well too

s

x

[karlotta]

My vet give a course of three Tylan jabs for suspected Myco and I've just had two recover well with that and a few days in the warm snuggled up in the brooder in the garage. (He gives me the syringes and I do it myself at home).

[Chickybaby]

Marigold is also getting better, no sneezing at all now and she's so much brighter.........back to being her usual bossy self.

[Nature Chick]

So glad to hear that Marigold is feeling better

I spent most of Sunday with Daisy and still no sneezing

I hate the winter as I don't really get to see the girls apart from at weekends so I try and spend some "quality" time with them when I can. So far so good with the Tylan........