Continual parasite issues-free range kinda

[JennyLeeF]

Technically, mine can roam 8 acres if they want, including a natural waterway that has migratory and native birds, and most other flavors of wildlife at it. I have two fenced areas that contain the housing, they jump the fence daily to forage. Because of the AI threat this year, I now have tractors and electronet, and 10x20 pens that can be relocated seasonally for babies and breeders during spring/summer (and house everyone during migration). If fall migration doesn't pose an HPAI threat, they will all be turned out to range together for the winter. My breeds are mostly non-native, endangered or threatened breeds that do not have the benefit of more than a century of being bred for hardiness in the USA like the RIR. The one native breed I keep was only created a little more than 40 years ago. Still, I have not had the illness that you have. The only time I've seen ascites was in a neighbor's very old, no longer laying, hen earlier this year.

I second @aart 's request for a location. Do you still have a small flock of around one dozen? Looking back through your posts, no, you should not have this much trouble with illness with a small flock. So that would lead back to an underlying condition like Marek's, the Mycoplasma they could have been born with, bad genetics, or food/environment...or Googliosis.

Other observations from your previous posts:

• Do you have a dedicated vet and are they prescribing you all these meds or are you finding information online and giving the meds yourself?
• You're feeding a lot of non-commercial feed items, do they have dedicated grit and not just the ground they're ranging on?
• You know the parasites/disease could have come from your quail, right? Have they been tested?
• Is the voiceless rooster patient zero for the lung worm? If so, how was that diagnosed because you never mention going to a third vet in your thread.
• Where/when did you get the 2 year old hen with ascites? The rest of your flock is only a little over a year.
• Any meds that you're giving the flock without confirmed parasites/disease are wiping their natural gut flora and affecting their immune systems. Don't deworm unless you have worms, don't give antibiotics unless something is diagnosed and that's the specific antibiotic for it, they are not one size fits all.
• Are you feeding/treating with anything containing copper or silver (some feeds or colloidal silver), or any other "natural remedies"?

Those of us who have hundreds of chickens are more likely to see different illnesses just due to volume and probability, those with small flocks generally don't unless they're bringing in new birds or visit places with other birds often and practice no biosecurity.

I do not feed medicated chick food, I do not treat for worms, thanks to the fire ants, I have not had to deal with parasites other than mosquitos (and thus fowlpox). Even though we are perpetually in drought, I make sure they have green forage, even if I sprout it myself in the winter. They also get regular gut flora boosts with yogurt or cheese, in addition to a feed mix that I formulated myself. Electrolytes in the water only during periods of 100+ degree days, and only in every other batch of water (no waterer is less than 5 gallons). Waterers cleaned regularly and disinfected with oxine or virkon, quat ammonia foot baths at every access gate and at the front of the house (where guests would park if I ever had guests). Oxine or Virkon foot baths when there are yard visitors (it degrades within hours, no use keeping it out all the time), plus booties. Anyone handling them gets full PPE, because they aren't too keen on a full hazmat decon scrub down, buck naked in a kiddie pool...maybe this is why I don't have guests?

My experience with coccidiosis and respiratory issues can mostly be attributed to my ducks. Coccidiosis tends to flare up when the weather is wet, or there's a wet environment. I had one chick coop come down with it when I did not notice that a waterer had a leak (I think 2-3 chicks total); a few teenagers got sick when my ducks decided to go in the big coop at night because of a frequently visiting bobcat. No ducks in coop and no wet environment, no cocci problems. (Of course, an infrequently cleaned coop or deep litter method problems will increase the likelihood of respiratory issues too, ducks aren't the only culprit, but since they're ground dwellers, they stir up a lot of stuff and like it wet too.) Cocci is naturally occurring and the adults should be acclimated to it and not get sick. They still can have it in their fecal samples, but it shouldn't be multiplying at a rate to affect them unless their natural defenses (the good gut flora) have been depleted.

Stress, like that of a predator or dogs/children chasing them all the time is usually what triggers illness, could be anything, because of an underlying disease that lowers the immune system.

You can easily have them tested for Marek's or Mycoplasma to rule those out. Marek's doesn't always show symptoms, but it's everywhere and a good possibility. If you're sure they have Mycoplasma, then that's your most likely culprit.

My other questions are:

• Where did they all come from? A hatchery or local breeder? Was that source an NPIP participant?
• What other animals have been on that land in the last decade?
• If no animals, has that land been used for any commercial or industrial purpose?
• Are the vets you're going to actually doing tests or are they just diagnosing based on symptoms? Do you have copies of those lab results?
• You're spending a lot of money on vets, while it's a good possibility that Mycoplasmosis is at the root of all this, have you considered that you might be suffering from Googliosis too?

Most people here (especially those that hatch) will tell you that they've all suffered a bout or two of helicopter parenting; it's okay, but you have to resist the urge. Like plants, more damage can be done by overloving your birds than by most diseases and predators. If it's you, that shouldn't be difficult to fix. If it's Mycoplasma, then you have some decisions to make, the first of which should be to speak with a knowledgeable vet or your state lab to see what cost and effort is involved in your options. If you're scared because you live in a reportable state, don't be; not all reportable diseases require depopulation, and most state authorities are much more attuned to the fears and feelings of backyard keepers than you think.

At the very least, you'll feel better not having to worry so much, because you'll know, and you'll have a plan to move forward. Good luck and prayers for you.