Does a chicken who has had Coryza ALWAYS carry the bacteria for ALL it’s life? Looking for some positive.

[Myrshine]

The test came back positive, which is sadly what I thought. I’m pretty bummed, I was really hoping it would be something else. Now I just have to figure out what to do. I’ve got the 7 infected ones separated, and I am treating my rooster with antibiotics. I’m wondering if Coryza always causes a hen to be a poor layer. Part of me wants to keep my roo and just move on since I don’t sell my chicks or chickens, but if this sickness is going to cause me a bunch of harm and hassle In the future (and a permanent drop in egg production) then I’d rather just cull the infected ones. It also stinks because I’m not sure which ones might have it in my “healthy coop” still. None are showing any symptoms of obvious respiratory distress, but there is a huge drop in egg production. I’m getting only one egg a day out of 8 young Dominiques. I suppose this could also be a result of them molting. Any further advice would be much appreciated.

It does cause a lower production of eggs for life because this disease lives in their system, making them immune compromised for life. They’ll also be forever carriers as well.. so I suggest a closed flock until they all pass away on their own.

 

[Raeganmh02]

I agree, I’m thinking of culling them all to be safe. It breaks my heart but I don’t want to deal with this for all time! I separated my favorites (just two of them) but my favorite one Molly (who is pretty much my pet dog) is breathing heavier. I’m so scared she has it. It could be because she’s been sleeping outside in 27 degree whether, but I’m facing the reality that she probably has it. I’m not sure what I’ll do there yet..I’m still working on a game plan.

 

[dawg53]

Unfortunately, culling is your best option. Then disinfect everything with bleach water. Then wait at least a month before repopulating. See "CONTROL" in the link below:
https://extension.psu.edu/avian-coryza

 

[Raeganmh02]

I am still wanting to hatch offspring from my infected flock before I cull so I can have some colored eggers, and since Coryza is not transmitted to offspring, I read that it should be fine. However, I never tested for MG because it was another separate cost. I do not think my chickens have MG as well as Coryza, but it is still bothering me a little. How common is it for a chicken to have both sicknesses at once? Are there any sure signs of MG?

 

[dawg53]

I am still wanting to hatch offspring from my infected flock before I cull so I can have some colored eggers, and since Coryza is not transmitted to offspring, I read that it should be fine. However, I never tested for MG because it was another separate cost. I do not think my chickens have MG as well as Coryza, but it is still bothering me a little. How common is it for a chicken to have both sicknesses at once? Are there any sure signs of MG?

MG is fairly common and symptoms are similar, IMO more so than Coryza and odds are good that birds can have both diseases at the same time. Given a choice, I'd rather deal with MG than Coryza simply because you can repopulate sooner after culling a flock.
It mightve been worth the extra cost for you to have tested for MG as well. See post #5 in this thread for the link I posted and scroll down to Mycoplasma Gallisepticum symptoms and compare them with Infectious Coryza symptoms.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you post your test result for coryza if you have it? Was it positive for Avibacterium gallinarum?

 

[Raeganmh02]

I wish I could! I don’t have it though. I took a culture swab of my hen, and took it into the vets office. He sent it off and the next day sent me a text with the words, “it came back positive”. He didn’t give me any details. He told me before I took the swab that it would only test for Infectious Coryza. Some of my hens do have swollen eyes, and one hen has a swollen eye and white foam in it. When I saw that, I started thinking that I’d better not hatch any eggs unless I test for MG first. My parents probably will tell me it won’t be worth all the trouble just to hatch out some colored eggers. I suppose I can buy a whole flock of nice colored eggers for the price it takes to test for MG. I was wanting to keep my roosters genetics in my future flock, but I never want to experience what I’m going through now again! That thought alone is enough to make me cull them all and just buy all new.

 

[Raeganmh02]

Well, I did it. I culled my entire flock including my all time favorite rooster that my grandpa gave me. It broke my heart! Of course, my dad killed them, not me. I sat inside trying to tell myself that this was for the best. I know it is. My dad and I are already making plans for new pullets this spring, but I still feel so bad. I feel that “I let them down” feeling that comes with owning chickens. The coop and pasture just seem so empty, it brings me to tears looking inside the empty coop. I still have my two polish thankfully. They haven’t come down with any symptoms and I have them separated in the yard right now. I know as soon as I order my chicks, I’ll be glad I made that hard decision. My grandpa says that if you can keep you losses at the barn, then your doing pretty good. I am thankful that my deep losses have only been livestock so far. They don’t lie when they say chickens teach you how to handle loss and grief. These birds truly have taught me so much, more than I ever thought they could.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am sorry that you had to cull your flock. It is very sad. Getting baby chicks from a hatchery is the best way to not bring in an illness. Just remember though, that your polish chickens could still be carriers if they were around your others, even if they don’t have symptoms. I would keep them separately from any new chickens. Coryza and MG organisms only survive for a few days once chickens are gone. That makes starting over worthwhile. Good luck.

 

[Raeganmh02]

The polish were in a hutch a little ways from the other chickens, but I’m still planning on getting them tested before I get new chicks. I definitely don’t want to risk my new chicks getting it.