My experience dealing with MG (Mycoplasma gallispectum)

[Southernbelle]

Quote:
Keeping the flock closed was an option that the vet offered, but I didn't really like the idea. How would you feel if you bought feed as the same store I did? Wouldn't that make you really nervous? My best friend has chickens that she loves as much as I love mine - what if she tracked it home? It just doesn't feel responsible to me to keep them like this. And I really like hatching and what would I do with all those babies if I couldn't sell them?

I'm waiting for a call back from the state vet to see if they'll do the culling for me. I've processed chickens before, but I don't want to do it like this. I don't plan on eating the birds. The vet said the eggs are safe to eat. I imagine the carcasses would be as well, but I just don't want to.

 

[Southernbelle]

pips&peeps :

Make sure the hatchery is certified MG free, most are not.

I cannot ship to some states because they require you to be certified MG free which requires you to test all of your birds every three months for MG. I cannot afford it.

Virginia won't allow Cackle to ship to VA because they won't do the testing. I'm considering Ideal, but I haven't really thought that far ahead, yet.​

 

[pips&peeps]

Just a thought, if none of your other birds have been sick, a simple blood test can determine if they have or had MG.

It may be cost effective to test all your birds to see if they were exposed before culling them all.

 

[SpringChickens]

Just a thought, if none of your other birds have been sick, a simple blood test can determine if they have or had MG.

It may be cost effective to test all your birds to see if they were exposed before culling them all.

That's a great idea. Hopefully some of your stock can be saved. I'm so sorry you're having to go through this, but I commend you for having the heart to do what's right.

 

[Chickenmaven]

I am so sorry to hear about this.

 

[PurpleChicken]

I share your pain. I'm 90% sure my flock is also infected. I've culled off
my remaining silkies but cannot bring myself to cull off my original hens.

I also know where and whom the disease came from. It is a member
(inactive) of BYC. I didn't use basic biosecurity so it's my fault.


I continue to hatch eggs but the chicks stay inside my house and are
given away ASAP.

 

[MoodyChicken]

I'm so sorry, that's absolutely terrible. You are being a very responsible pet owner though and it's a shame that this has to happen to someone like you. Best of luck starting your flock up again. I would happily send you some OEGB eggs for free to get you started there if you want, and even a few MGB eggs too (no diseases, promise, I've got strict biosecurity laws for my flock). But like pips&peeps said I would definitely have your birds blood tested. There's a very good chance that some of your birds are clean.

 

[Southernbelle]

Quote:
That's a great idea. Hopefully some of your stock can be saved. I'm so sorry you're having to go through this, but I commend you for having the heart to do what's right.

I've thought about this. But, now I've started to hear soft sneezing in the coop from other hens and egg production has decreased rapidly. I think it's already spread past the point that I can contain it.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

I am so very sorry to hear about this. It just breaks my heart that this has happened to you.

As for biosecurity, we recently went to Alabama to pick up a great py puppy. The pup had been living with chickens. We wore shoes that could be tossed away after we left. Our clothing was changed when we got home and were bagged up and we showered in a second house on our property. When we went to our home we immediately washed our clothing in hot water.

The puppy was also bathed in the second house on our property before she was allowed near our other pets and our chickens.

You never can be too safe.

Good luck hun.

Many hugs!

Laurie

 

[BCMominMD]

I am new to chickens. How do you treat the coops, run and free roaming land that the infected chickens have been in?
Thank you for sharing so we can all learn.
I'm so sorry. You are being so responsible. Please keep us posted on what more you learn.