Hen with swollen eye

[Rachel5589]

How long does MG usually last? Some of the chickens seem to be showing major improvement after a few days but some are having symptoms for a longer period of time.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you are treating MG with the right antibiotic, symptoms should improve in a few days. But since a virus might be also present, some viruses will have to run their course over a few weeks. Can you try to get a bird tested?

 

[Rachel5589]

Everybody has recovered and we did not lose any! The rooster seemed to have the worst symptoms but everybody is good now! Thank you everyone for the help!

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad to hear they are better. Just keep in mind that MG is a chronic disease, and may return suddenly during a period of stress. Any new flock members or hatched chicks will be exposed. MG is only alive for several days when chickens are all gone. But if one chicken is still present, your flock will stay carriers for life. Sorry to be dramatic, but that is not always understood by some. I would stock up on Tylosin or oxytetracycline for any future outbreaks. It may soon be hard to get those antibiotics without a prescription, even online.

 

[Rachel5589]

Glad to hear they are better. Just keep in mind that MG is a chronic disease, and may return suddenly during a period of stress. Any new flock members or hatched chicks will be exposed. MG is only alive for several days when chickens are all gone. But if one chicken is still present, your flock will stay carriers for life. Sorry to be dramatic, but that is not always understood by some. I would stock up on Tylosin or oxytetracycline for any future outbreaks. It may soon be hard to get those antibiotics without a prescription, even online.

 

[Rachel5589]

I just posted in the hatching section about hatching chicks from a hen that is a carrier of mg. Before all this happened I was planning on adding 8-10 new chickens to grow my flock. I know if I add new chickens, they'll catch the mg also. But I was trying to find out if it was possible to hatch chicks from the hens who are carriers. I know the chicks would be born carriers, but would they be born sickly? I don't want to sell eggs or chickens to others, just keep them as pets and for eggs.

 

[Eggcessive]

I can’t answer a lot of your questions. Chicks may show signs of MG within 2-3 weeks of hatch. If you read a lot of published articles (Google mycoplasma in poultry) they mention that MG may cause low weight, decreased laying, and poor development. Chickens who show symptoms may suffer lung scarring and other signs in the body. You might check into vaccination for any chicks that you hatch.