Mycoplasma Flock. Too Many Roos

[CraziChknLady]

So I spent a couple months fighting the sickness my chickens had. Not all members got it, but enough that I treated with Tylosin, vitamins and supplements. Due to symptoms, it was mostly coughing, sneezing. I had one hen with one eye swollen and nasal discharge. ( You can see my others posts in the other forums). Since then I have had a few younger, 18 wks get a swollen eye, but instantly treated and isolated and they were fine in few days. The roosters I have, are anywhere from 18-22 wks. Everyone has been good the last few weeks. I guess I'm just trying to figure out my options....

I know there's no cure and Mycoplasma doesn't go away. I've also read that most chickens normally carry it and it can "flare up" from time to time.

I know that many didn't have symptoms but can only assume that they are still carriers. Am I just overthinking and overreacting and the Mycoplasma isn't a big deal? Since most carry it anyways? I am going based off of symptoms as I never got a diagnosis from the vet and by the time I found out about PCR testing, none of the flock had symptoms.

Should I re home, sell, or swap anyways? I originally was going let them live out their life, but too many are turning out to be roos. And that is disturbing the peace of the flock. Many of them were naturally born and I was going to sell off whatever my hens hatched, but the Mycoplasma put a wrench into things. I planned on having a banty flock, main mixed flock and a Swedish Flower Hen flock.

I also thought I could just separate and have a rooster flock.

I know Mycoplasma doesn't harm eggs and those can still be consumed. But what about the chicken itself? If they are culled, Is that still safe to eat?

Any advice, suggestions, or info is appreciated.
Thanks.​

 

[2ndTink]

I don't know much about MG, but my flock is Mareks positive so I can give you my opinion based on being in a similar situation.

Unless you are transparent about your flock having MG I would not sell or swap, and chances are, if you are transparent no one will be willing to take them, except maybe meat buyers.

I process all my extra cockerels so that is what I would recommend you do as well. Hopefully someone with more knowlege on MG pops in to say if the meat is still good, but processing is defenetely the safest way to deal with extra cockerels in a positive / exposed flock. We process onsite here, no risk of exposure for anyone and the meat has been really great.

 

[CraziChknLady]

I don't know much about MG, but my flock is Mareks positive so I can give you my opinion based on being in a similar situation.

Unless you are transparent about your flock having MG I would not sell or swap, and chances are, if you are transparent no one will be willing to take them, except maybe meat buyers.

I process all my extra cockerels so that is what I would recommend you do as well. Hopefully someone with more knowlege on MG pops in to say if the meat is still good, but processing is defenetely the safest way to deal with extra cockerels in a positive / exposed flock. We process onsite here, no risk of exposure for anyone and the meat has been really great.

I really appreciate your reply. These roos aren't meat birds. Parents are of mixed layer flock, would that make a difference with how the meat is?
I'm sure once processed then cooked correctly it would kill off anything? Yes, I hope someone with more MG knowledge steps in. While I would prefer to take a large batch to a processor, a family friend could do smaller batches. Worst case can always use the chicken for dog food. My mother makes hers homemade with chicken, oats, rice, sweet potato, peas, carrots and some other organic ingredients. Although I'm just trying to see what my options are.

 

[nuthatched]

I'm sorry you have to go through this .
You now have a closed flock, any birds you don't want must be culled and burned, buried or eaten.
No rehoming, no swap.
Culls must be done on your property, no transport to a processors where you may be exposing others.

 

[2ndTink]

These roos aren't meat birds. Parents are of mixed layer flock, would that make a difference with how the meat is?

No problem that they aren't "meat birds" neither are mine, I have bantams up to Brahmas, they are all very delicious! You will find they have WAY more flavor than what you buy in the store.

@TwoCrows do you know about the safety of eating meat from a mycoplasma flock?

 

[TwoCrows]

I know Mycoplasma doesn't harm eggs and those can still be consumed. But what about the chicken itself? If they are culled, Is that still safe to eat?

It is safe to eat the meat and eggs from birds with Mycoplasmas however cook the meat and eggs well for your safety. Clean up very thoroughly from the butchering, the waste tissue, knives and carving surfaces will carry the Mycoplasma and can cross contaminate everything.

 

[CraziChknLady]

It is safe to eat the meat and eggs from birds with Mycoplasmas however cook the meat and eggs well for your safety. Clean up very thoroughly from the butchering, the waste tissue, knives and carving surfaces will carry the Mycoplasma and can cross contaminate everything.

Ok thank you. This is the info I need. Appreciate i!

 

[CraziChknLady]

It is safe to eat the meat and eggs from birds with Mycoplasmas however cook the meat and eggs well for your safety. Clean up very thoroughly from the butchering, the waste tissue, knives and carving surfaces will carry the Mycoplasma and can cross contaminate everything.

Ok thank you! This is the type of info that's hard to come by. Greatly appreciated! This really helps me moving forward.

 

[CraziChknLady]

UPDATE : Well, I winded up finally finding a place for testing. I sent in 10 samples. At the time I only had one hen with symptoms, so she was tested as well as 9 roos. My thought was, I never had an official diagnosis that it was MG, so it's might be something else. At this time I had done 5 days of another antibiotic ( due to hen w/ symptoms ) as well as Ivermectin treatment. I had one hen with a lash egg, so she was treated, as well as one having white spots on feathers.( Didn't know what that was) So when I sent for testing, the chickens were on a 2 week egg withdrawal. It took longer to get the test kit that I thought. The test was for MG S and G. Anyways the results were staggering. I had 2 roos who were negative. The others were a combination of 1 strain or both. The hen had both. So this confirmed my suspicion. It was pricey, but relief to finally get an official answer. Overall with too many roos, I saved one out of the 9 that were tested. I also found a couple of hens who weren't laying at all and included the sick hen and the hen with lash eggs which also turned out to be the white spots which was due to molting I later found out. Overall the first batch culled was about 12-13. Out of 40 originally, this left me with around 27-28, aka less than 30. ( My numbers are a bit fudgey as I didn't have an exact hen count. Could be off by 1 or 2.So now I have 3 roos (2 were father and son, never tested) and the rest hens, 25-26ish. I'm going to keep what I have for the season, then in the fall everyone else will be culled. I figure I can at least collect eggs and then start over. This is very heartbreaking as I had a rare breed that I was going to breed. While doing vent checks to see whom is laying, found several that have mites as well ....this will be the 3rd-4th time. It has been an extremely difficult time, only started back in May 2024. Hasn't even been a full year. Makes me think they were sick when I got them. So I plan to cull in fall, clean and disinfect coop and run. I will wait 1-2 years. At this point the roost and nest boxes are being burned. The main coop now will be turned into storage ( it's an old storage shed). The Producers Pride Defender Coop will be dismantled and burned ( floor falling apart). It will be rebuilt from scratch. Same style. The floor will be metal and then if needed I'll have linoleum put on the floor. I will completely clean out the run. Parts will be enclosed and I plan on having hardware cloth on bottom and dug down. The 1-2 year timeframe will give time for rebuilding and repairs. I also plan on having plants too ( protected or in pots). Overall I am just very disappointed, discouraged and at a loss....I will give the remaining few the best spring/ summer I can while letting them just be chickens.

 

[2ndTink]

I'm very sorry to hear the results but its great you were able to get the testing done and make a plan. I hope you have a wonderful summer with your flock