Final Pathology Report Results

[tgperg]

Quote:
I had not thought of that perspective. Thank you for speaking up.

Traci

 

[Laigaie]

While I understand the necessity of the closed flock, I suppose I don't quite understand why you won't be dealing in eggs. Normally, folks are a lot more interested in eggs once they figure out how important biosecurity is.

 

[tgperg]

Quote:
I don't want to spread it. So, if I gave people eggs, there's a small chance it could be transmitted vertically. Very small, like 5%, but still. I don't want that on my conscience.

Traci

 

[al6517]

Quote:
MG can & does get transmitted through egg's as well, By keeping your flock you are still running the risk of transmission to other birds off your farm. I am surprised the State Vet's didn't require you to eliminate the flock asap, this is the normal procedure for them. Please I hope you reconsider for the sake of those with healthy birds.

 

[onthespot]

I agree with what Elite Silkies said. Most of the "cull your flock" crowd are probably housing carriers themselves. They just don't know it. It's around. It's everywhere, most flocks have carriers. Commercial flocks are carriers. People buy from commercial hatcheries, raise up their babies, lose a few when their flocks are stressed. Happens over and over and over, tens of thousands of times a year. MG will never go away. Vaccinating gives a false sense of security, nothing more. Well, maybe it prevents losses of individual birds when stressed. Best to keep your birds stress free and flow with it, I think.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, that would be wonderful if you could keep a flock stress-free, but it's not possible. Predators cause stress. Heat and extreme cold cause stress, moving machinery causes stress, moving birds around causes stress, etc. I think blanket statements that "MG is everywhere" are harmful, in truth, because it's just an excuse to lower your guard and when you do, BLAM!, your flock gets it. My flock has gone through all sorts of stress over the years, though I certainly try to keep them comfortable. Never had a runny nose, runny eyes, etc, coughing, etc. I'd be surprised if I had a carrier of MG here. Sure, maybe I do, but they'd have to have been completely asymptomatic all along. You do the best you can to the max and hope it never happens. You just have to have a plan in place for if it does find its way onto your place.

Keeping an MG positive closed flock is certainly one option, but it means you must always be on guard not to spread anything by going to the feed store with shoes or clothing worn around your birds, after touching one of your birds without washing up completely. Germs are invisible so it's very difficult to know if you're spreading something. That would be my only fear about keeping an MG positive flock, even a closed one. You also can never sell a bird, can't rehome extra roosters, etc. Every one you don't want must be killed on site. Lots of things to think about in this situation.

 

[tgperg]

Well, I have overboots that I wear when out at the coop. They get disinfected every time and never go offsite. I do wash up every single time I touch a bird. Also since we started dealing with this I have started scrubbing out any time I'm going to the feed store or the co op. (Scrubbing out: changing clothes, showering, scrubbing my hands, etc. I'm an RN and used to work in NICU. I use the same procedure.) I knew it meant I couldn't get rid of eggs or birds or rehome roosters. Those would have to be killed and eaten here, but that was our plan for extra roosters anyway. What this does change is my participation in breed preservation. I love my Dominiques and I wanted to be able to trade eggs and chicks with others so we could build up the breed. Obviously, I can't do anything like that with a compromised flock. A prior poster said something about normal procedure for the state vet. I don't know about your location but I have been working closely with Dr. Bailey, the head pathologist for the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Dr. Herrin the State Vet, and Dr. Pruitt from the USDA. They not only haven't required me to depopulate, but when I told them I was going to depopulate they said specifically that I can if I want to but it's pointless because of how widespread this is and if I get chickens again they will get it. I hear what Cynthia is saying, that the statement can be harmful. I get that. But these are not dumb people I'm working with. This isn't my uncle Bubbah spoutin' off. Heck, this isn't even the vet down at PetSmart. This is their JOB. I had the freaking USDA vet on my place looking up my birds' butts! They monitor this, but it's not one that they say depopulate for. I'm still wrestling with my decision. I am trying to think of all the different factors. We will be changing to nipple waterers so as to reduce the chance of cross contamination by wild birds. But I'm not not sure how much of a risk my flock is to someone else's flock miles away.

Traci

 

[Elite Silkies]

Just as the Dr.s stated, it's soooo wide spread that they do not make any depopulate. If they did, I would almost bet, that most poultry would be put down. I can set here and tell you that I would be SHOCKED if any of my birds tested positive, but truthfully, that would a be a lie. I think MOST poultry probably have it. How many people buy from hatcheries? Commercial hatcheries have it. I think there may be a couple that tested negative, but not many at all. But, just because they tested negative that day, doesn't mean they will test negative 3 days later.

Why cull an entire flock when it's been stated by people who know for sure, that without a doubt most poultry carry this disease and regardless of how you sanitize your coops and start all over, you will only replace them with more MG carriers.

Everyone that is telling you to cull your flock and start over, needs to do the same thing!

 

[speckledhen]

To be perfectly clear, I never said for the OP to cull the flock, just that there is lots to think about in making the decision. All the ramifications should be considered. It's not my place to tell you what to do with your flock. What I do think everyone should do is make their decisions from a position of knowledge, taking into account all the pros and cons of each option available. It's a personal decision everyone must make.

All that said, I don't want folks to think that biosecurity is not of any value at all because supposedly they "all" have it. I just don't think that's true. Makes people lackadaisical if they think there is no avoiding MG, period, you know?


Again, before I am misquoted, speckledhen never said for the OP to cull the flock, just that there is lots to think about in making the decision.


ETA: On several occasions, I sold birds to someone who had periodic testing for MG. My birds always tested negative, along with hers, so there are MG free flocks out there. Of course, that could change at any time, but it's not impossible to have an MG-free flock.

 

[tgperg]

Hey, *I* was just thrilled that Speckled Hen actually posted and said that I wasn't a moron for buying the darn rooster in the first place!

Traci