I also found out that my entire flock has mycoplasma gallispeticum.
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but I do eventually need to contact the NPIP rep for CO to talk about how this affects selling peafowl hatching eggs and peachick (and maybe the same for chickens, but I don't think too many people are looking for barnyard mixes).
I hope everyone else here is doing well and having an easier time getting ready for winter!
I'm so terribly sorry to hear that. How did you get it diagnosed? could you pm me the cost is you do not feel like talking about it.
I asked one vet about tests and vaccines like merecs and such... one suggested to do like a cat scan for respiratory chicken, it did sound somewhat strange so I thanked that one and moved to the next in yellow pages book
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I also was told by another avian person (do not know how to check references...) that MG vaccine will result in chickens positively testing for MG so I'm sort confused here if ever try to do NPIP, because it did sound like vaccinated flock then will test MG positive and only never vaccinated and never exposed bird would test MG free. Where can I read more about it?
I was told by another vet that mg vaccines are not effective... the bird still will get it and will test MG positive, just will not die and will be carrier in the flock, so that does not sound good either if I want to do MG free organic flock .
Another vet I called in Broomfield did know something about chickens and they want $75 per MG test per bird + $63 a visit. FC lab has something like $3-$4 for the same test in their price list but lady on the phone could not explain me anything how to get the test done, I mean there has to be something better than almost $140+ gas to drive there per bird... I mean it makes no sense if bird is $15-20 in the best case, I can buy like 8-10 laying birds for that money all new from NPIP farm right now if I want to. Does this $130+ price sound even right and do small flock owners even test their birds?
MG is bad. you can not sell hatching egg all offspring are infected, so your customers can go after you, I just was reading some threads in BYC where folk blabbered about it in the thread and were telling that they recommend selling off looking healthy birds at the swap, many freaked out in the thread and there were very harsh responses. any MG survivor is a carrier. commercial flocks were infected 80%+ at some time in USA, they used tylan shock on eggs to produce mg free starter flock. do not know exact mechanism, it was mentioned on BYC forum, so may be possible to find some more about it,
I called 4h folk and one of their avian reps told me that this year 50% samples come MG positive in FC lab, someone was selling sick birds off the swaps in CO this year, I did hear folk talking about it on several swaps. That scared the tar out of me. I go into respiratory=cull mode if I do not find a way to diagnose respiratory on a budget. And into lock down on swaps. It also sounds like this can be carried in by shoes and tires from the feed store.Also it looks like many fancy birds breeders sell and do not report MS, I was reading a lot about it on BC regarding marans (wanted those eggs look cool...). Those breeders do not use eggs and medicate the flock. also many show birds are medicated 3 weeks before the show and 3 weeks after. got that from 4h people. I was thinking about showing Orloff and such and now I'm just scared to death about all the show deal after talking to 4h folk. I basically can loose my entire breeding flock to this after a singe show if I show my breeding hen or the rooster.
I did read some breeders chats and they medicate their show birds as the routine. It does sound scary as I wanted to get me some heritage breed and do organic eggs and such. And maybe show bird. All I'm reading about how common MG is locally makes it sound like that would be impossible.
How much of this is true? And how do I know which source flock is MG free and which is not? I read that a small breeder may not know because the birds are never tested...
