A Bit Concerned...

[quiltnchik]

After doing some research this morning, I've come to realize that it seems MOST small flocks have at least one bird that is a carrier of CRD/MG. If that's the case, how do you know that you're not going to end up with it in your flock when you buy hatching eggs from someone? I even read a post where a BYC'er had to eradicate her entire flock after the state vet confirmed the presence of MG in one hen (the state didn't mandate it, she just chose to do it), and eggs that she had shipped had to be destroyed. With that being said, is it even safe to buy hatching eggs, since the disease can be passed from hen to egg? I'm not trying to stir up an old can of worms here; I'm genuinely concerned and wonder if maybe I've gotten in over my head by having backyard chickens...

 

[KellyHM]

The only way to get MG-free eggs for certain is to buy from someone who is certified MG free. Not very many people bother with that b/c it's too expensive and time consuming. On another note...most flocks do have MG carriers and it's really not the end of the world...it's not a fatal disease unless a chicken is immune compromised in another way...the most it usually does is cause a runny nose and sneezing for a couple days.

 

[quiltnchik]

Thanks a bunch. That's what I was thinking, but some of the posts and websites make it sound like it's the end of the world and that all birds should be culled immediately! I just didn't want to have to deal with all that if I didn't have to, and now that I know it's not completely awful, I feel better. Pet rats also carry mycoplasma in their bodies - they're born with it - and become symptomatic when they get stressed, but antibiotics will get rid of the symptoms, so I figured it was probably the same way with chickens. Thanks again for easing my mind

 

[KellyHM]

Yeah, if for some reason your chickens ever get the sniffles Tylan works wonderfully.