Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) I have a flock of about 30 chickens all varying in ages, they seem to be all coming down with mycoplasma, bubbly eye swollen and coughing, I have seperated two of them but this morning awoke to find 3 more with it ... I am absolutely gutted, I treated all of them two days ago with Tylan in their water, but still they seem to be getting it, will I need to cull all of them.. Oh dear I think I will go crazy with the thought.. I haven't been to the vets yet, because I know that Tylan is what he will give me, because I had an incidence of the very same thing about a year ago and managed to contain it within just three of my Naked Necks, but eventually it killed the cockerel. the advice i have had is mixed..What do I do now?.. Edited August 23, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 What a shame. I would ask the opinion of the vet, to be absolutely sure of the diagnosis. Unfortunately, once mycoplasma has affected the flock it will lurk, only to raise its ugly head again if the circumstances are right. If you did decide to cull, it would be a good idea to do a really deep clean, and wait a few weeks before restocking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) You wont believe this!... typically for London.. my vets say they cant administer any injections to poultry, and that they dont really deal with poultry at all!.. im just about to call DEFRA Edited August 23, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 You honestly don't need to cull them all but the mycoplasma will probably see off the less robust. It may take a couple of courses of AB's before you've got it under control again. You'll be left with the strongest birds but you will need to keep them in tip-top health to maintain their resistence. Don't forget that mycoplasma is lurking in most flocks and is one of those poultry problems that strikes at times of stress. The trouble is that for a chicken, just about anything is stressful - new home, new stock, new food, moulting, change in the weather etc etc. If you decide to cull, clean and start again, you're just as likely to bring it in again and you'll be back to square one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) JOOLS I LOVE YOU!.... you have made my day!!.. I have been on the phone all morning.. do you have time for me to phone you for a chat?.. i have been feeling quite confused, could you help a stressed out woman in times of need?.. PM me ? Edited August 23, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Sorry to hear that things have taken a turn for the worse Cheryl. I was concerned that your flock could be at risk when we talked about your boy that you had to cull (Here). I don't see a reason to cull your entire flock unless you are trying to build a myco free flock for breeding purposes or commercial egg production. If you are not breeding or using hens for commercial egg production you can maintain a 'healthy' myco flock with careful husbandry as Jools says. I would perhaps consider culling the most weak and sickly and treat the more robust. You then, as Jools says, need to keep them in the peak of health with everything at your disposal. Any new stock ideally should be vaccinated. Good luck, don't do anything too hasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Thank you all for your great responses.. but there are a few questions I still need to ask.. I have some 6 week old chicks who are separated but live alongside my infected ones, what do I do with them?.. do I treat them with Tylan aswell, will I ever be able to put them in with them (which was my plan). Also... I am hatching 12 chicks on Thursday from this stock of birds, and will they be ok?.. I have someone waiting for them.. OH DISASTER!.. And... Is there any point in segregating the iller ones.. seems not.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 You only ever treat the symptoms of myco but it never goes away.Infected birds will pass it on to their chicks. Birds that recover from the symptoms remain carriers and show symptoms when stressed. You could pass on stock to new owners who may take the birds home and the stress of the move may well be enough for them to become unwell and they could go on to infect their flock. I certainly would not be happy if someone gave me stock that they knew might be carriers. If these people have had myco in their flock their stock - maybe they would be OK about taking in carriers in. Really not ideal though - at the very least you would have to cover any veterinary costs they may run up . I would take veterinary advice. They may be able to test those that have been isolated but of course if the parents were infected, they are probably infected too. I don't envy your position at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Good advice there from Chucky Mama. I wouldn't pass on any stock at this time. It wouldn't be fair to the recipient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 I am just about to put two chickens in a pet carrier and visit a vet .. I am also going to keep all of my chicks. let's see what the vet has to say.. I will let you all know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeckyBeak Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) Best to get the correct diagnosis which may need to be from a post mortem. What we thought was Myco going through the flock of 41 was actually Infectious Bronchitis, which needed to be treated with Amoxynsol in the water, eye drops and some injections. We lost 4, they were coughing blood, gasping to breath and in a terrible state. This was back in March and we are still having the after effects. It can affect their oviducts and their egg shell colour becomes pale and the eggs are thin shelled and brittle. This then makes them more susceptable to peritonitis from the eggs breaking inside them. Hope you haven't got this is your flock. Edited June 27, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Best to get the correct diagnosis which may need to be from a post mortem. Very good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Ok, I'm back!!... The vet says, it's unmistakeably mico-P, and that even if I culled all of my birds (which I have no intention of doing) it could reappear some otherway, via wild birds pigeons etc, or just bad luck, basically I should not breed from this stock and keep an eye on them as now they are carriers it could or may not reappear. I asked him about injections which he has agreed to supply me with and teach me how to do, so now I am happier.. He also said blood tests and swabs are a total waste of time and money, which was expressed to him by a poultry expert somewhere in the NW of England, he seemed to be realistic and sensible so I'm going back tomorrow to collect and learn how to inject.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Oh dear, what a shame - still, at least you know the situation now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonyMJones Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) I'm having the same dilemma today. We have three chickens who are about 6 months old, Blossom is very I'll, not eating, not really moving around, crying out loudly and struggling for breath. I'm afraid that we will have her PTS later today. Willow has been poorly for a few weeks and has been to the vets a couple of times in the last fortnight with similar but seems to be on the mend although she still coughs a few times an hour but is quite perky (although has a little nap every half hour or so!) Dandelion, our Silkie, seems to be unaffected (although she was poorly a month or so ago but not with a cough, just generally run down!) and had a course of AB's then so maybe she isn't going to catch what the other two have?! Our dilemma is that if we PTS Willow and Blossom in the hope that we save Dandelion then we have a lone chicken. If we just PTS Blossom then there is a chance that we lose all three anyway sooner or later ... or do we take the ultimate course of action and 'start again from scratch'? I fear that that last paragraph sounded very heartless when actually we are very upset and didn't know a nicer way to put it ... UPDATE - just had a chat with the vet and the opinion is that Blossom goes in at 3 today and we keep an eye on Willow this week as by the end of it the AB's that she had last week will have worked their way through her and we'll know for sure if they have worked or if it's a false dawn ... then we make a decision on her. Properly struggling with this ... Edited June 27, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Ask your vet for a different abx as they do get immune to the same one, I had to try 2 with my frizzle until she started to improve - she is fine now and as yet it hasn't reaccured Edit - sorry Cheryl you have already done that Don't despair some do recover, I read on practical poultry that the amount of exposure is key, so even if they have all been exposed to it at some point it is worth separating ill birds now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Do keep the young ones separate Also keep the new chicks separate again Keep the sick ones separate to the well adults ones and consider culling the worst Whatever your reasons for breeding you do need to sort out some plans for the future, all new stock here is quarantined and any ill bird is quarantined even if it just looks off colour, I have four or five completely separate proper areas where chooks can be kept and I always deal with a sick bird last when doing the twice daily rounds (by proper I mean not a cat carrier in the kitchen or relying on a pen in the conservatory etc... not that I am suggesting you are just that to do something properly you need the space and right facilities) if things arent getting better its possibly because you arent exercising the caution that you should be and things are simply going round in circles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 on another forum - I got a very reassuring answer from someone... 'You need to get through this outbreak before you consider the implications for breeding. However, unless you completely clear all your stock and disinfect all your ground and housing and then bring in stock guaranteed myco free from a vaccine, and exclude wild birds, you will always have the issue of myco at some point. I also don't think it should stop you from breeding from these birds because whilst transmission rate (bird to egg) is up to 40% within two months of outbreak it then falls to 0-5%. The chances of a bird getting myco from other sources is greater than this. So breeding this year may be a problem, as it may produce some chicks (2 in every 5 which may show some symptom of myco at some point in its pre adult life.) but may not preclude breeding in subsequent years, particularly for your own use and pleasure. I think you can see I personally believe myco is just one of those things you have to be aware of and deal with, and accept that its part of chicken keeping.' I feel a lot better now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 my vet told me that it was very unlikely to be passed on in eggs laid by birds not exhibiting symptoms. I understand the most common way for it to be passed is for it to be laid down on the outside of the egg - so the chicks hatch without it and then become infected as they hatch. Egg-disinfecting would prevent this. Also, my understanding of immunity is that birds who have survived myco (or anything) will pass on a bit of natural immunity to their chicks; if this is correct (and hopefully someone will correct me if it's not!) then it is a good thing to breed from survivors. I doubt there are many birds in any outdoor flock that have not encountered myco, many get it and fight it off unbeknown to the owner and are still bred from, making a mockery of not breeding from birds that have knowingly encountered the disease! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I don't disagree with you. My understanding that myco is dormant in nearly all flocks and that it presents at times of stress. The only way to be sure of having myco-free stock is to buy vaccinated birds which are almost certain to be commercially bred hybrids. Breeding for resistence makes perfect sense to me and not just for mycoplasma. I could never get my head around sheep being culled during Foot & Mouth when they have minimal symptoms and pass immunity onto their offspring. But, and there's always a But, I don't think you can morally breed while you have a disease problem. Once you've lost those that are not strong enough to recover and you've bred your own replacement stock which remains symptom free for a period of time, then I think you can cautiously make some plans. Just my take on it. There will be others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 JOOOOOOOLs I agree, You and I are singing from the same hymn sheet, I have sat half a day researching this and spoken to a few experts aswell. I am going to do just as you have said.. I think this thread will make a lot of people feel better.. I must admit this morning I was in a total panic but now I can see the wood for the trees.. People are very knee jerky about stuff like this, and whilst we agree it's a serious problem, with a bit of good management and common sense, everyone can gleen something from this today.. Well done everyone for your contribution.... Onwards and upwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 So what about vaccinating your young flock. Yes they come in quantities for a lot of birds so there is wastage but from what I've read it's not that expensive. Intervet at Chesterfield produce vaccine for Myco. No idea how to get hold of it, through vet I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hmmm I will look into that excellent idea thankyou x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) just found this................. :doh:Vaccination You can vaccinate the birds when they are young (Intervet now have a Mycoplasma vaccine) but it is expensive as it is only sold in doses for 1000 birds. What’s more, once you open it, it won’t keep and chicks have to be treated at a certain age so you end up needing fresh vaccine for every hatch which makes vaccination fairly costly unless you have large quantities of birds hatch at a time. The vaccine is given to the birds by very fine spray so they can breathe it in. The sprayer is a specialist piece of equipment and it isn’t possible to simply use a greenhouse hand sprayer or similar. Urgh I will ask the vet tomorrow Edited June 27, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 Today... I went to the vet and he taught me how to administer the antibiotic injections and sent me off armed with the mission to treat the birds who are very poorly.. the others are all on tylan in their drinking water.. I felt quite capable and gave three birds a dose of injection upon my return, I will let you know how they get on.. I gave them all a mixture of yoghurt and garlic mixed with some pellets and they gobbled it down so quickly, I think that will be good.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
