M. Gallisepticum in my flock. Safest way to repopulate?

[Kansaseq]

I've been fighting lice in my flock, due to being neglectful last fall and not doing my normal preventative dusting. Playing catch up this spring, one week ago, while dusting my flock, I came across a congested Barnie hen. At first I though she might have regurged some water when I flipped her upside down to dust her. Thought not much of it and finished up with the flock. The next day, she was still congested and had some fluid on her nostril, and she was puffed up. That's when I got scared. I know chickens don't get colds, and that even if they 'recover' from an infection, they are likely carriers of said disease for life. I"ve read enough of Speckled Hen's posts about this, and having to cull entire flocks, to be really worried.
After floundering a bit before finding the right people. I euthanized her and sent the body off to Columbia for a necropsy. She arrived Thursday, and they said it will take about about a week for the cultures to be done. I guess the only thread of hope I'm hanging on to, is that she possibly aspirated some of the Sevin dust while I was dusting her. I've done it numerous times, and with 27 birds, sometimes the stuff can get closer to their faces than I intend. I know this is a very thin thread of hope, but it's all I've got. The thought of having to put down the entire flock, who at this time are healthy and laying up a storm, is very surreal and distressing.
I just got some of Jean Ribbeck's Ameraucanas last spring, and they are laying great. Also hatched eggs out from some of Halo's 'Marockans', and they are also laying lots of beautiful, dark eggs. Then there's the rest of my mixed flock, who I just love for their diversity and varied personalities. I love hatching out a few clutches each summer, selling most and keeping a few back. I've got 2 juvie ducks in my bathroom who are WAY too big to still be there, but I don't know what to do with them now. Are they infected? Add to that 12 more just hatched ducklings a friend has for me, that I don't know what to do with. I have buyers for all of them,but can't sell them until I have an answer.
The sad thing is, I did add 2 sex-link hens to my flock late this winter. I DID quarantine them, and they seemed fine. They are the only birds I've added this year. and now my Barnie hen comes up sick.
As a side note, a friend of mine also bought several of the sex-links for herself. She's had no respiratory issues, but 2 of them have dropped dead. I attributed it to laying issues, but who knows?
I guess a passing bird could have infected my hen, which is disheartening. Even if I cull, bleach the heck out of everything, and start completely over, this could happen again? I don't know if I can take it once, let alone twice. I know many of you have been where I am. Just needed to share and get it off my chest. Thanks for listening

 

[CMV]

So sorry you are going through this.

Hoping for good news. In the meantime-

 

[Kansaseq]

Thank you. It means a lot.

 

[chickengrl]

I am also hoping for good news for you. You are several steps ahead then most of us who end up dealing with this. The good thing is that the rest seem healthy. Hang in there.

 

[Kansaseq]

Got the results back today--Mycoplasma Gallisepticum.
No other birds are showing any signs of illness. Pathologist told me that the eggs and meat are safe to eat, but that my 'healthy' birds could possibly be carriers. No selling of live birds or hatching eggs, as this could spread. I'm leaning towards a slow depopulation, giving a few hens a week to our cleaning woman at work. She is from Guatemala, and is very comfortable feeding her family with fresh chicken. It would make me feel better knowing they died for a purpose, rather than just bad luck. I don't feel comfortable culling or processing birds, especially my own. I"ve always had them primarily for eggs and pets.

I would like feedback from people who've dealt with this before, and advice.
1. First, I have ducks, which MG doesn't affect (ducks have their own strain). If I depopulate and disinfect, how do I handle the ducks? Can't exactly 'bleach' a duck. I know the bacteria doesn't last very long outside of the host, so it probably wouldn't be on the duck for very long after the chickens are gone. Any thoughts on this?

2. I have both read and was told by the pathologist that MG is present in up to 85% of home flocks. It's fairly prevalent, but unless you see clinical signs or have your birds tested, you can have it and never know. Wild birds carry it, and that is likely how my hen got it, as we have lots of woods and wildlife. If I do depopulate and start over, I could end up with this again; would likely end up with this again unless I get vaccinated birds, which would have to come from a hatchery. Pathologist told me that the vaccine comes in bottles of 1000 doses, so not sure how economical it would be to buy myself and vaccinate.

I guess I want to hear what you guys would do in my situation. Start over and risk getting it again? What about my ducks? Cull to a small number of birds and just sell eating eggs?

What about dipping possibly infected eggs? Does this truly kill the organism if the eggs are infected?

 

[Mahonri]

I don't know how you could possibly "disinfect" even once your flock is gone.

So sorry this happened.

 

[Kansaseq]

Quote:
Thanks, Mahonri,

I've read and was told you can clean and spray everything down with bleach solution once a week for 4 weeks.

 

[sheila3935]

me personally would keep my flock closed and just sell their eggs for eating and let them live their lives out. As for the ducks I'm not sure. Maybe someone on here will have that answer for you. Thats just my opinion though. Im sorry you are going through this.

 

[schellie69]

I am wondering if only one bird had shown signs does that mean that the other are immune? I have read that people cull only the sick ones and keep the ones that never show symptoms. Does this transfer to the egg from the hen. Can you get some blood work done and see if some of your flock are carriers or if this was just this one hen. I would close your flock for now until you can figure out if this was just the one hen that got sick due to a weak immune system or if your whole flock is the carrier. I would think since you have hatched out eggs and sold chicks with no problems until now this might just be a one hen problem. I have read many post of people who do not use vaccines or any meds not even wormers and just call if they have a sick bird that way each bird has a strong immune system. Hoping this works our for your.

 

[dawg53]

MG is transferable from the hen to the egg.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
Either way, a tough decision has to be made. You can give them to the cleaning lady at work or treat with tylan and remain a closed flock. If you decide to give them away to the cleaning lady, you can use oxine to disinfect your coop etc...Oxine is more powerful than bleach. Sorry, I dont know about the duck situation.
I'm sorry it came to this for you, I wish you the best.