All the adult birds of the flock have tested positive for Mycoplasma gallisepticum. This organism causes chronic respiratory disease in chickens. It is not communicable to humans, but it IS very contagious among all fowl. It is also, apparently, very prevalent in Oklahoma. The state veterinarian, the pathologist at Oklahoma State University and my veterinarian are all in agreement that most flocks have it. If the birds don't get sick from the organism, they become carriers. What it does, is basically weaken the bird's immune system so that it is easier for them to get sick. If they're stressed, then they'll be more likely to get ill. Which explains this outbreak. The heavy predator losses in the first of the month triggered illness in the susceptible birds.
Our options are depopulating or living with the disease and managing it. Commercial flocks manage it by giving their flocks antibiotics their whole lives. Obviously, we're not going to be doing that. Currently I have the birds on an intensive treatment with several natural therapies. I am giving them unpasteurized, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar and garlic in their drinking water. I am mixing olive leaf extract powder into their food. I am supplying them with plain yogurt for probiotics. Every day we catch all the birds, from one week old to mature birds and spray their throats with olive leaf extract spray.
The plan is to continue treatment with the above measures for two weeks. At that time I will continue feeding them yogurt, and will probably continue apple cider vinegar in their water. We will switch to nipple drinkers to reduce the chance of contamination by wild birds. And we will just allow the birds to live their happy, chickeny existence here on our place. We will not be replacing birds as they are lost either to old age, disease or predators. We will simply let the flock depopulate by attrition. Charl and Pac's little boy is shaping up to be a fine looking rooster. He was destined to be a capon because I didn't want the Rhode Island Red genetics in my Dominique breeding birds, but at this point that really doesn't matter. We'll keep the top two roos from this spring's hatches and all the hens. Then, we'll just see what happens. After these birds have died, whenever that ends up being, then we'll disinfect everything, let it all lie fallow for six months and start over with our heritage breeds.
At this point I have a closed flock. I won't be taking the birds off the farm for any reason. I won't sell or give away chickens, chicks, or hatching eggs. No shows, or swap meets or anything. Does that sound appropriate to you guys? I wish I'd known when I bought these birds that chickens don't get colds or have allergies. My very first birds, the breeding group of six pullets and one cockerel I bought had this. I noticed the rooster had watery eyes and mentioned it and the breeder told me "he's not sick. He just has hay fever." Gah, what a moron I was. Could have saved myself a lot of heartache, but I hadn't found BYC then.
Traci
Our options are depopulating or living with the disease and managing it. Commercial flocks manage it by giving their flocks antibiotics their whole lives. Obviously, we're not going to be doing that. Currently I have the birds on an intensive treatment with several natural therapies. I am giving them unpasteurized, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar and garlic in their drinking water. I am mixing olive leaf extract powder into their food. I am supplying them with plain yogurt for probiotics. Every day we catch all the birds, from one week old to mature birds and spray their throats with olive leaf extract spray.
The plan is to continue treatment with the above measures for two weeks. At that time I will continue feeding them yogurt, and will probably continue apple cider vinegar in their water. We will switch to nipple drinkers to reduce the chance of contamination by wild birds. And we will just allow the birds to live their happy, chickeny existence here on our place. We will not be replacing birds as they are lost either to old age, disease or predators. We will simply let the flock depopulate by attrition. Charl and Pac's little boy is shaping up to be a fine looking rooster. He was destined to be a capon because I didn't want the Rhode Island Red genetics in my Dominique breeding birds, but at this point that really doesn't matter. We'll keep the top two roos from this spring's hatches and all the hens. Then, we'll just see what happens. After these birds have died, whenever that ends up being, then we'll disinfect everything, let it all lie fallow for six months and start over with our heritage breeds.
At this point I have a closed flock. I won't be taking the birds off the farm for any reason. I won't sell or give away chickens, chicks, or hatching eggs. No shows, or swap meets or anything. Does that sound appropriate to you guys? I wish I'd known when I bought these birds that chickens don't get colds or have allergies. My very first birds, the breeding group of six pullets and one cockerel I bought had this. I noticed the rooster had watery eyes and mentioned it and the breeder told me "he's not sick. He just has hay fever." Gah, what a moron I was. Could have saved myself a lot of heartache, but I hadn't found BYC then.
Traci
