Michigan

[RaZ]

Here is the winning photo for 1muttsfan's contest. I know its a winner because Gravy is one of the girls that I got from her.

 

[RaZ]

I was talking with someone a while back about how the hens will posture and squat for me just before they started to lay. I give them a tail massage and they seem to enjoy it. They will come running and line up for their turn. I have to wonder if this somehow simulates breeding for them of if they just like having their tails rubbed...

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
Round worms, not ring worm (which isn't a "worm" at all).

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
They think you're breeding them. That's where the rooster stands and "massages" with his feet during breeding. Personally, I won't lie, it kind of seems to cross a line...

It's a necessary part of AI, but, to just do it for no reason other than "enjoyment"?

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM IS MG MS IS MYCOPLASMA SYNOVITIS (MAY BE SPELLED WRONG). IF YOU DO A "SEARCH" ON BYC ON EITHER OF THESE YOU WILL READ SOME SAD STORIES. EVEN SADDER IS ONE PERSON ON BYC WHO SAID IF THEY LOOK AND ACT HEALTHY (AFTER TREATING)...SELL THEM AND RECOUP YOUR LOSSES. SCARY TO THINK OF HOW MANY MAY DO THAT..I LIKE TO THINK THAT PERSON WAS THE ONLY ONE ON BYC. HOWEVER...I WILL DISINFECT WITH OXINE AND THE VIRUS DOES NOT LIVE LONG TERM IN SURROUNDINGS SO USUALLY AFTER A GOOD DISINFECTION AND A FEW WEEKS YOU CAN START ANEW. NOT NEAR AS DEVASTATING AS MAREK'S.

 

[Olive Hill]

Fife, have you had serology done? Post mortems? I'm just confused as to how you've concluded that it's MS.

 

[fifelakelooper]

Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Synonyms: MG, chronic respiratory disease (CRD), infectious sinusitis, mycoplasmosis

Species affected: chickens, turkeys, pigeons, ducks, peafowl and passerine birds.

Clinical signs: Clinical symptoms vary slightly between species. Infected adult chickens may show no outward signs if infection is uncomplicated. However, sticky, serous exudate from nostrils, foamy exudate in eyes, and swollen sinuses can occur, especially in broilers. The air sacs may become infected. Infected birds can develop respiratory rales and sneeze. Affected birds are often stunted and unthrifty (see Table 1 ).

There are two forms of this disease in the turkey. With the "upper form" the birds have watery eyes and nostrils, the infraorbitals (just below the eye) become swollen, and the exudate becomes caseous and firm. The birds have respiratory rales and show unthriftiness.

With the "lower form", infected turkeys develop airsacculitis. As with chickens, birds can show no outward signs if the infection is uncomplicated. Thus, the condition may go unnoticed until the birds are slaughtered and the typical legions are seen. Birds with airsacculitis are condemned.

MG in chicken embryos can cause dwarfing, airsacculitis, and death.

Transmission: MG can be spread to offspring through the egg. Most commercial breeding flocks, however, are MG-free. Introduction of infected replacement birds can introduce the disease to MG-negative flocks. MG can also be spread by using MG-contaminated equipment.

Treatment : Outbreaks of MG can be controlled with the use of antibiotics. Erythromycin, tylosin, spectinomycin, and lincomycin all exhibit anti-mycoplasma activity and have given good results. Administration of most of these antibiotics can be by feed, water or injection. These are effective in reducing clinical disease. However, birds remain carriers for life.

Prevention: Eradication is the best control of mycoplasma disease. The National Poultry Improvement Plan monitors all participating chicken and turkey breeder flocks.

Mycoplasma synoviae

Synonyms: MS, infectious synovitis, synovitis, silent air sac

Species affected: chickens and turkeys.

Clinical signs: Birds infected with the synovitis form show lameness, followed by lethargy, reluctance to move, swollen joints, stilted gait, loss of weight, and formation of breast blisters. Birds infected with the respiratory form exhibit respiratory distress. Greenish diarrhea is common in dying birds (see Table 1 ). Clinically, the disease in indistinguishable from MG.

Transmission: MS is transmitted from infected breeder to progeny via the egg. Within a flock, MS is spread by direct contact with infected birds as well as through airborne particles over short distances.

Treatment: Recovery is slow for both respiratory and synovitis forms. Several antibiotics are variably effective. The most effective are tylosin, erthromycin, spectinomycin, lincomycin, and chlorotectracycline. These antibiotics can be given by injection while some can be administered in the feed or drinking water. These treatments are most effective when the antibiotics are injected.

Prevention: Eradication is the best and only sure control. Do not use breeder replacements from flocks that have had MS. The National Poultry Improvement Plan monitors for MS.

Mycoplasma meleagridis

Synonyms: MM, N strain, H strain

Species affected: MM affects turkeys of all ages, although poults are affected more severely than mature turkeys. Recently, MM has been shown to infect pigeon, quail and peafowl.

Clinical signs: A drop-off in production and hatchability can be expected in breeder flocks. There can be very high mortality in young poults. Unthriftiness, respiratory distress, stunting, crooked neck with deformity of cervical vertebrae, and leg deformation are common in young birds (see Table 1 ).

Transmission: Egg transmission is low in the early breeding period, but rises as the the age of the flock increases. Infections can be introduced into a flock by contaminated equipment, shoes, and clothing of workers and visitors.

Treatment: Several antibiotics have been effective including tylosin, erythromycin, spectinomycin, and linco-spectinomycin.

Prevention: The best preventive measure is to keep MM-free breeders. The MM-free status of breeders can be confirmed by periodic blood tests through the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
Are you certain it is Mycoplasma? You can contact your local extension office regarding testing and they may have some recommendations for you, as well.
Last edited by Anianna (06/06/2011 8:22 am)
Medi

 

[fifelakelooper]

No vet has been out...no autopsies since ---no death. Just diagnosed from reading and research. Fact: one of the barnyard mix I bought from CL sneezed prior to me selling. Fact: within a few days 3 more sneezed with slight shaking of heads. A few dropping were loose chocolate brown. Based on the fact that "chickens do not have colds" and the sneezing group grew...along with a slight gait change, some change in poop droppings...I have concluded this. Our local vet...(we have for dog) would not be someone that could diagnose properly. I did try to find someone in the field around this area but had no success. If a person has suspects they have this....but are going to keep their flock closed...you can treat with Denagard and it will be ok. Have you read any of the postings from Farmerboy16 in Sparta.?

If I can find someone local here to give me a "official" diagnosis...that will be great. However...at this time I haven't found anyone. I don't plan to cull this flock until as late as possible so maybe I will get a address from someone. The thing is that now I have treated them for 7 days on tetracycline followed by 4 with Denagard so not sure anything would show up. The sneezing has stopped. The loose stools have stopped. No shaking of heads but the English roo still has a funny gait.

 

[soctippy]

Opps... At least I got the worm part right.

 

[RaZ]

Quote:
Yikes! So I'm some sort of a poultry pervert?

Since they were wee chicks, they have been handled regularly, petted on their backs and crops. I've done the same with my dogs and cats. I figure that if they are used to being handled then any problems that arise that require a physical exam will be less stressful to the animal.