I introduced 2 new ducks to my mixed chicken and duck flock 5 months ago (after a 30 day total quarantine in the shed) and since then have had repeated bouts of respiratory disease in my chickens (never the ducks though). Runny goopy eyes, sneezing, gurgly breathing and decreased laying. I figure Mycoplasma, Pasteurella or both. I really need to get some birds tested though it won’t change what I do for treatment or management. I’ve treated the whole flock twice for 7 days with Tylan in the water, 2 months apart and keep housing and food/ water dishes clean with weekly disinfection. The worst affected got baytril pills directly by mouth. They do ok for a month then a few start having signs again, usually starting with the roosters. I have about 50 birds - 30 adult hens, 5 roosters and 15 chicks and teens. Does anyone have experience with this problem? Do you just live with it, cull the sick birds, total flock depopulation and start over? Some of the hens I’m ok with culling but I really really like my roosters and a number of the hens are special to me. Some of the birds never show signs of illness, perhaps they are resistant. I thought about splitting them into healthy and sickly flocks, not sure how my husband would feel about that though. I don’t really enjoy paying $50/week on feed and shavings to get 6-9 eggs/ day from 30 hens, or throwing eggs away for weeks at a time because of antibiotics. I’d love to hear other’s stories and advise. Thanks!
