A Video Message From Me - Culling Complete - Update on Post #1

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
There are many different strains of MG and, as I have found, birds can
be exposed and not get it.

My flock did not get sick until I introduced the sick silkie into it. My birds
free ranged every afternoon and never got it, at least never got a
strain that showed up.

But yes, the only way to truly protect your flock is to house them. The CT
vet expressed that to me and said that is the main reason the
commercial flocks in our state are locked down in buildings. She
hinted that she didn't care for free ranged birds. Keep in mind her
#1 priority is to prevent the spread of disease.

 

[georgialee]

I just read your update.

I'm so sorry.

 

[Southernbelle]

Quote:
I think we are bonded in some strange chicken hell now SB.

Words can't describe...and you know them all

 

[lotzahenz]

I am so so sorry. PC and SouthernBelle and all who have had to deal with this. I have some questions maybe they can be answered here:

1. If a young bird is exposed to MG, does it have to get sick or show symptoms to be a carrier?

2. Have you found a web site that thoroughly describes MG and how to cull/treat/know, the ones I found are minimal.

3. Can guineas get MG? Turkeys? Ducks?

4. Is there a simple blood/sputum test?

5. Would you share how much it cost to have the tests?

6. Vaccines? Live, killed, carriers after they get them?

PC, I wish you the best, and we have all learned so much from your experience. Publishing a page with all the info would be a fabulous thing. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. We are here for you! Henz

 

[astylishgirl]

I am just sick. I can't believe that you didn't have to cull. This shows how important knowledge is and how important this board is. Without it, we would just be lost in ignorance.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Good questions. Here are the answers as I understand them:

1-No, symptoms do not have to show or may be too mild to notice.

2-No, so far almost everything I know I have learned here, from
experience, or from the vet.

3-Turkeys can. Guineas I'm guessing yes. Ducks-Unknown.

4-The blood test is a simple plate screening(lousy) and Sertology(good)
test. All you need is a blood sample and the lab to do it.

5-Here in CT our state agricultural department screens birds from $0 to
a couple bucks per bird. Consult your NPIP state vet for details in your
state.

6-I've read mixed things on vaccines and don't know enough to even comment.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Dear Purple Dude:

I am so very sorry that you found out too late about the ins and outs of MG.

I do very much appreciate your thoughfulness and information .

I was wondering about MG. I had it run through my flock a year ago. I culled just about 20 percent of them. The best birds seemed to be the sickest.

I had a small flock of "game birds" complete with a red jungle fowl rooster and his three hens.

Although they showed mild signs of MG I did not cull them, but put them up seperately in the horse barn.

They all recovered very nicely.

The strange thing about them is that when they hatch out a clutch the babies are weak and most die and a few have wierd feathering.

I NO longer allow them to reproduce. I have not heard a sneeze out of them for well over 8 months.

I do not know if they are carriers, but the flock seems healthy and the few more birds that started symptoms were culled and buried.

I seemingly have some VERY healthy birds, I get lots of eggs and their poop is "perfect".

I vaccinate the new babies before I put them in the barn from the nursery and i am always very aware of transferrance of disease fromt he barn to the nursery.

The nursery is about 300 feet from the barn and no food or objects go from one place to the other.

I do not sell ANY birds from the barn and never have. If i sell it is from the nursery or an isolated bird that I bought.

I am sure your heart is heavy and broken. Please do not let this become your nemises.

rim

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
In my case even with this board I'm lost in ignorance.

I did have to cull and very well may have made the decision to cull
them all anyways to be safe. I really don't know. Some of the birds
that tested negative showed symptoms earlier in the year. I'm not
sure if that means they beat it and did not become carriers or if the
tests could be wrong.

There are still many unanswered questions.

 

[astylishgirl]

Each mistake helps someone else though. You may be suffering, but we are here to share in what little way we can.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
This is the type of information and case studies we need to be sharing.
We need a Vet to coordinate all this.

Again, from my understanding, your birds have MG and are carriers.
MG reduces hatchability and increases chick mortality.

Most of my birds were not showing any symptoms at all.