My experience dealing with MG (Mycoplasma gallispectum)

[Cetawin]

there are just no words that seem to fit.

 

[ChooksChick]

I'm so sorry for you! I pray you'll find peace i knowing you're doing the right thing. This would make me nearly inconsolable- you're a wonderful person to choose the hard thing over the easy thing.

I wish I had some eggs to offer up, but not yet! If I'm able to keep my quiet roos (so far, anyway!) in town, I'll be able to offer ee's and bantam Cochins. It'll be a couple more months, though.

I hope all goes quickly and peacefully for you this weekend, and I hope your kids aren't upset too much.

Bless this friend for helping you! My word, what a blessing he is able to help!!

 

[Southernbelle]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers and condolances!

I'm so glad I have a place like this who understands what I'm going through!

I wanted to share the link for Oxine. I ordered it from First State Vet - it was the only place I found that sold it in qt containers. It was $11.95, so a very reasonable price for security and you can actually spray it on the birds or put it in their water, if needed.

http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store/index.php?cPath=53

Here is a great article on the use of Oxine for a disinfectant.

http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm

 

[chickeepoo]

I am so glad you have such a good family friend to help you in this crisis… Again, I'm sorry for you to lose all those pets, but it is so heartening to see so many BYC friends ready to send eggs and birds to help you rebuild your flock.

I liked the analogy of the kings and queens and the funeral pyre- I think that's very comforting.

And thank you so much for the links on the Oxine, especially the article on its uses- I think the more people using it, the better. I'll be getting some to disinfect my coops since we had to let our BO's go (Marek's). Hard lesson learned about unvaccinated chicks

I guess you can already feel all the hugs, prayers and well wishes for you here from BYC- take care now and know we'll be thinking of you as you go through this final episode.

 

[CallyB57]

If my chickens are showing no sign of MG, should I have them tested anyway. I am very worried, as I bought my chickens from Cackle and my Silkie chickens from two individuals, one in CA and one in Illinois, I think. The Silkies were a month old already. About two weeks ago I thought I heard my EE roo snort or sneeze and then again about a week after that. Nothing since. No symptoms in my other birds, no sneezing, etc. I have never put the Silkies with my Cackle-bought group, but their hen houses are right next to each other and a couple of times they have browsed on the same grassy area. Thanks for any advice.

 

[CallyB57]

Yes, it's horrible...don't know what I would do - I watched the video with Don telling about his chickens. Heartbreaking.

I would have to have someone else kill my birds and take them away before being able to treat the area with Ozine. I never realized, never even thought about something like that infecting my birds - never heard of it. Just so horrible what Southern and Don are going through, and I hope they will not give up on chickens. I tried to explain to a friend about the investment of heart and mind, financial, physical labor - that one spends in getting to know chickens, caring for them, but he said chickens are a lower form of life than a dog...my hackles raised up, but you can't argue with people who never loved a chicken. My sympathies for those who lose their birds and much appreciation felt that they didn't take a chance on spreading the disease to other flocks.

 

[Haley_LinckHillPoultry]

I'm so sorry! I can't imagine being in your situation.
You're absolutely positive it is an incurable disease?

 

[mekasmom]

I just read this thread, but hadn't seen it before to post. I understand why you are culling, but I wouldn't do the same if I were in your place. This is a very widespread disease in this nation. Culling flocks who are infected would be like culling humans with the flu. It's impossible to stop because the majority of flocks have been in contact with the pathogen at one point or another. Culling the whole flock and sanitizing will not even insure that this never happens again. A robin could poop on the feed while it is still at the factory, and cause the disease to again flare up in your next flock when they eat the feed. A bird could poo on the sidewalk, and your child carry the disease into the yard where the hens somehow come into contact with it. It is impossible to completely prevent any contact.
You are going to have a huge financial loss as well as emotional stress by culling. And it will not insure that you will always have MG free flocks in the future no matter what you do. You would have to keep chickens like the "boy in the bubble" to keep them away from any possible contact with the pathogen. It's like humans trying to stay away from colds or influenza germs completely.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
The difference is that when humans get over colds, they are not carriers. You must equate many chicken diseases to AIDS or Herpes, because that's what many viruses are that they catch. Just because they may become infected and the disease is becoming more common is no reason to throw all caution to the wind. I would say that wild birds are the least likely source of infection.

 

[Southernbelle]

Since this thread's been revived, I'll go ahead and update: Our friend that lives about 2 hours from us came out Memorial Day weekend and took care of my flock for me. My neighbor was clearing and burning brush and we made good use of his burn pile (with his permission). It didn't feel right to eat my pets.

The kids and I went out for the day and when we came home, everything was done. I cried a lot of tears but I have had a lot of wonderful blessings, too. The coop is clean and ready for more chickens.

No I haven't given up on chickens.

I am a very cheerful, optimistic person by nature and I like to look on the bright side. I had bought oegb eggs from sunshinesilkes, guineas from Shellyd and Delawares from Shortcake1806 that were in my bator when all this hit the fan. They've hatched and I have some adorable little babies to keep me smiling. I have some designer eggs set to hatch this week from emvickey, chickypoo and magsrags. And some Plymouth rocks from halo. And one of my local friends gave me Frizzed EE eggs. And even more people have offered eggs for the future!

So through them I'm headed in directions I never would have gone otherwise and it's so exciting.

All in all, I have been richly blessed by some wonderful and generous people here on Backyard Chickens and I plan to pay it forward when I'm able. Thank you all for your support!