Help me decide........Should I cull my flock and start over?

[chicmom]

Quote:
I can believe it! And I do think that's exactly what my birds have. I'm treating it with Denegard, and I am keeping a closed flock. That's what I've decided.

Thanks so much for responding!

Sharon

 

[chicmom]

Quote:
Thank you for the info! I have a plan now:

First of all, I am going to get one of my chickens tested to see exactly what they have. (Hopefully I can take a swab or something into a lab.) After reading alot, and the advice from other members, I am pretty sure my chickens have MG. The symptoms match EXACTLY.

I've already bought the Denegard and put it in their drinking water to treat these symptoms and get things under control. And I'm closing my flock. No chickens leaving! Which is fine with me.

So, I can keep my flock, and be a responsible chicken owner without endangering anybody else's chickens.

I'm really glad to have all of you peeps to talk with about this kind of thing. I would really lose my mind if I didn't have someone to talk with.

Sincerely,
Sharon

 

[eggdd]

what are CRD and MG?

 

[MudgesMom]

Our family is recovering from an MG outbreak we experienced in May. It has been a very trying and emotional experience. By mid June we had culled 170+ birds. Our decision to do so was based on weeks of research and repeated testing conducted by our states vets office and coordination with the Ag dept. We originally took 3 birds to the Rollins Lab in Raliegh for necropsy. There are so many diseases that have similar symptoms we felt it was the only way was to get a true diagnosis. There are many respitory illnesses, some viral and some bacterial. Although MG can 'appear' to be viral it is bacterial. Transmission is very high but it generally won't kill your birds. Immediately our flock was quarrentined. As MG is a reportable disease. The birds that brought this into our flock came from a local NPIP chick dealer. We had quarrentined the birds when we first brought them home for 2 months. But always new something was wrong- gut feeling. We thought NPIP routinely tested for MG, they don't, it's voluntary. The MG strain we experienced was extremely violent. We gave Tylan injectable to ease the symptoms. The birds will be carriers for life, and they can transmit it to the egg. We searched endlessly to find MG FREE chickens. After our research we found only 1 NPIP participant that is on the MG program. We decided to work towards the goal of starting/ maintaining a MG free flock. We absolutely cannot breed/hatch/sell any chicken without knowing it is clean. We never want to put anyone through this kind of heartache. I am thankful that NC has a remarkable Ag Dept. They were very considerate and compassionate and never pressured us to go one way or another. One of the hardest things our family has had to do.We were able to gather a few eggs, treat them and today we hatched out 16 healthy clean little peeps... to always remember our girls!

 

[tiki244]

Sharon, so glad that medication is helping. Reading through all the posts on Denagard it sounds like a really good antibiotic.

I never knew, but suspected that at least some hatcheries have the MG.


MudgesMom thanks for sharing. This is good information. How did you treat the eggs?

 

[JakRat]

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I'd like to know too. Can chicks get this?

 

[JusticeFamilyFarm]

Quote:
I believe these were explained some in earlier posts, but they are respiratory diseases. I believe CRD is Chronic Respiratory Disease and MD is Mycoplasma Gallisepticum.

Also, JakRat- yes, they are contagious.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Quote:
Thank you for the info! I have a plan now:

First of all, I am going to get one of my chickens tested to see exactly what they have. (Hopefully I can take a swab or something into a lab.) After reading alot, and the advice from other members, I am pretty sure my chickens have MG. The symptoms match EXACTLY.

I've already bought the Denegard and put it in their drinking water to treat these symptoms and get things under control. And I'm closing my flock. No chickens leaving! Which is fine with me.

So, I can keep my flock, and be a responsible chicken owner without endangering anybody else's chickens.

I'm really glad to have all of you peeps to talk with about this kind of thing. I would really lose my mind if I didn't have someone to talk with.

Sincerely,
Sharon

Yay!

 

[MudgesMom]

tiki244 we used the "egg dipping solution" and process from MSU found here:

http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/solutions.html

The pictures and description found here:

http://www.punbb-hosting.com/forums/Albertachickensetc/viewtopic.php?id=18095&p=1

might help although we used the MSU process.

I thought this might be helpful to all. The best description of common poultry diseases I've found yet.
It is divided into respiratory and non-respiratory and has the resp. divided into viral & bacterial. There is a great table found at the end with an easy to read checklist of symptoms. Great to keep on-hand.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

To all of you who have gone through this- I am so sorry. Whether you've culled or closed your flock I know it is still devastating. When you go through something like this you quickly realize that unless it is another 'chicken' person people aren't gonna get it, which really adds to the pain. Our chickens are not "it's just a chicken". Be encouraged!!! PS I LOVE MY MUDGIE!

 

[tiki244]

Thanks Mudgesmom I put all those in my favorites for reference. Yeah I know what you mean I love my chickens too.