B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[X2Farm]

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So sorry for your loss. I always thought MG was more of a loss of production problem and most chickens would recover and become carriers?

Thats true, but when I eventually decide to sell hatching eggs or chicks.. and inadvertently infect someone elses flock, what then? That is not something I want on my mind, when dealing with my birds or selling to the public. Thats just how I feel about it, others might differ.

 

[Bentley]

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Well, you can get MG free birds if you want, but the first show, swap or auction you go to, you'll get it again. It is one of the most prevalent chicken diseases in the world (hence the G=gallicepticum from gallus gallus, the scientific name for chicken). Actually, if your birds all got wiped out in a week, there is no way it is MG.

MG is a slow spreading, low mortality disease. It causes high morbidity (loss of vitality, vigor, production) but most of its victims don't die and the few that do die do so after a pretty long battle. It is usually noted by yellow discharge in the face and swelling of face and sometimes joints with frequent coughing/sneezing. Many of its victims actually die of secondary infections due to lowered immune response.

If your birds died in a week, you are almost certainly talking about something else.

MG or CRD (chronic respiratory disease, same thing, different name) is so common that for a person interested in buying, selling and/or showing birds it is better to have a little immune resistance than to try to have a free flock. You cannot do both (without selling everything you show) because of the prevalence of the disease. Many of the survivors are carriers and it is passed from mother to offspring in the egg, making it very hard to eliminate completely. Lastly, it is a pretty good survivor outside its host. That means that even after some time has passed, you could still get reinfection because it may still be in your environment.

I AM talking about MG. I had birds tested by the State and they all showed positive for MG. I have test results here to prove it. Wiped out meaning ALL exposed and a few symptomatic were destroyed. I will not house birds that are carriers.

And no I do not plan on showing or going to swaps or auctions.

I do know what MG is. I've actually done a good bit of research on poultry illnesses in the past. I will not house birds that are carriers. If MG is here and pops up again, so be it, then I reckon I won't be doing any breeding.

Yep, MG is a state reportable disease, in most states. If the State veterinarians in the state you live in test them and they are positive, they will depopulate the flock. The problem with just saying that you will only get birds from MS and MG flocks is that to keep them that way you HAVE TO prevent ANY AND ALL exposure of your birds or your birds pens to any and all wild birds including sparrows, Starlings, etc. IF those birds drop feces through the pen, your bids can be exposed. Not saying you cant keep your birds MS/MG free, but STRICT biosecurity is a MUST!!!!

Good luck, hope you can resurrect your flock.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Every once in while something debasingly shocking, like this, happens. In the moment, it is easy, and understandable, to feel rigidly reactionary. Still, the sadness you are experiencing is exceptional. We had a trauma in 2008. Last year someone we know had a random die off of truly valuable birds. For both of us it was a first in many years of raising poultry. None of us would be in this business if it were common place.

Mycoplasma is, as Rudy pointed out, usually something that moves through a flock slowly, without high levels of mortality. Depending on the age and strain, the end result can vary. Being really serious about ventilation and air-quality can be preventive.

Good luck with your remaining stock.

 

[ga_goat]

Still looking for someone with white dorkings in south Ga / north Fl , I'm in Valdosta Ga 12 miles from Fl line . Eggs / chicks

 

[X2Farm]

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Actually, it is not a reportable disease in Georgia. That was something I discussed w/the State vet, as I thought it would be.




YHF-The only stressor I can think of, that brought this on, was the crappy GA HOT then FRIGID then HOT weather we've had the last few weeks, with some rain tossed in there

Ventilation/air quality around here isn't an issue, well, not unless they decided to sit by the exhaust of my truck when its warming up in the mornings

 

[Bluedwarf]

Here is my new Silver Grey Dorking

 

[Yellow House Farm]

On a happy note, we're having an awesome Dorking harvest season. We just bagged up a bunch of pullet roasters that looked beautiful. They still need to be larger, they were all over three pounds dressed, which isn't bad for pullets. Every year the harvest is nicer. I think that this is one of the true pleasures of breeding, being able to see the progress in something substantial such as frame improvement.

 

[rtroxel]

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Anybody with me in calling this a tawny? Not a pure SG?

 

[ki4got]

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Anybody with me in calling this a tawny? Not a pure SG?

looks like my sg hens somewhat, the only thing i question is the dark legs?

 

[Bluedwarf]

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Anybody with me in calling this a tawny? Not a pure SG?

Sorry, please excuse my ignorance but what's a tawny? I am a newbie here