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

[chickengrl]

Soooo, this is a hard one, but i am with folks on not wanting to cull birds who have something that is SO common. Some people us Denagard as a treatment and a preventative and some even say it can cure the bird of this infection. I am sorry, I can't confirm this since I haven't looked into it that deeply. I do know that you can use Denagard and it is far superior to Tylan in treating this infection. The denagard also does not create antibiotic resistance making the germs immune to the antibiotic.

I have talked with Will at Whitmore farms and he keeps and can show he has an MG free flock. It's pretty difficult since apparently they have to test every bird like every 3 months I think? Anyway, he shared with me a way to treat hatching eggs with powdered Tylan that apparently kills the MG/MS and does not harm the chick.

You mix it as a 10% final solution at 100mg/ml(or cc) You incubate the eggs for approximately 3 hours and then submerge in Tylan solution that has been refrigerated for 20 minutes. Then put them back in the incubator. The warm egg pulls the cool solution inside and it kills the MG. I haven't tried this yet, but it may allow you to continue hatching chicks and selling them. Maybe do several hatches and observe them for a time. He has kept his flock clean using this method. Just some things to think about and I hope this was helpful.

 

[RedRoosterFarm]

So there is hope. Very interesting.. Good info to pass along.
Quote:

 

[tls_ranch]

I'm so sorry and this is a hard situation for anyone to be in

I've often thought of what I would do if my flock ended up with MS/MG. I've even had nightmares about it. Like many of us, I can't just order new chicks from a hatchery to replace my flock in the event of a MS/MG outbreak.

This is my "doomsday plan" if I end up with mycoplasma in my flock. This is just a plan and I have no idea if it would work in practice. I wouldn't want to give up without a fight to save years of hard work with a rare breed or project. Expensive and emotionally draining, but I think it could work.

Step 1: First cull ALL birds but the best breeding stock and any birds showing full on symptoms.

Step 2: Next start all remaining birds on denagard and the antibiotic it's supposed to work well with... I can't remember off hand but its on the website.

Step 3: After the maximum treatment time at maximum dosage start collecting eggs from the treated breeding stock and disinfect the eggs with a recomended dip or fumigate. Incubate in a clean bator.

Step 4: After chicks hatch start them on Denagard and brood AWAY from adult birds in a new brooder.

Step 5: If enough chicks have hatched. CULL all adult birds and sanitize the coop and pens. Bring in fresh sand for runs etc. Keep chicks brooded away from contaminated pens/coops/ground for several weeks. I've heard that mycoplasma can not last very long in the enviroment unlike other diseases.

Step 6: Continue with Denagard as preventitive and have chicks tested for mycoplasma when old enough.

Step 7: Repeat "All in All out" and treatment program until the tests are clean.

 

[Myabcs3]

Kansaseq -

SOOO Sorry about the results...I know words can't help the situation, but don't know what else to offer. I do appreciate you posting and everyone else sharing information on this thread so that the rest of us can learn. Sometimes it is difficult to sort through all the information to form a plan. Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[jeremy]

So if these diseases are so prevalent in our backyard flocks, amongst 85% of owners, what "warning signs" should we be looking for? What are the symptoms that infected birds will show? Are there any preventative measures that we can take in order to keep our flocks from becoming sick?

I'm super paranoid now and I will be researching this more online as well as checking my flocks from head to toe this weekend.

I'm so sorry kansaseq that you have to deal with this in your flock.

ETA: MG is Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, what does MS stand for?

 

[tls_ranch]

Quote:
MS is Mycoplasma synoviae http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/183/mycoplasma

or

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/Diseases_Of_Poultry

I'm super paranoid too and Biosecurity is your best defense against getting these diseases.

Trisha

 

[chickengrl]

Quote:
MS is Mycoplasma synoviae http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/183/mycoplasma

or

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/Diseases_Of_Poultry

I'm super paranoid too and Biosecurity is your best defense against getting these diseases.

Denagard can be used as a preventative. IMHO I do believe that good biosecurity is your best route. MG will look like the bird has a "cold". It has a low mortality rate, most birds survive it but become carriers. We have made it policy that we will only buy day old chicks and hatching eggs only to decrease the chance of bringing something horrible home.
Trisha

 

[jeremy]

But biosecurity can only prevent introduction through other domesticated fowl... how do you protect your birds from contracting MS/MG from wild birds?

 

[Kansaseq]

Quote:
My sick hen sounded congested, had clear discharge from her nose (only noticed because feathers were sticking to it), and was puffed up in the nestbox, like she was laying. If I hadn't been dusting the whole flock, I might not have noticed for another week, because she was still eating and interacting.

The pathologist gave me the '75-85% infected' number, but did say it was an estimate. Speckledhen has also said she feels that number is grossly overestimated. I don't know.

Chickengrl, thanks for the 'recipe' for treating the eggs. I won't be doing any hatching for a long, long time, but was really curious as to how that could actually work. I do see how it could be effective, with the warm egg and cold solution.

TLS, thanks for sharing your doomsday plan, and I hope you never have to use it. I guess you can take me off your waiting list for Barnie eggs

 

[Kansaseq]

Quote:
Rodent-proof, wild bird-proof coop, and never let them out. Short of that, I don't think you can protect them.