Mycoplasma - not sure what to do

[Newchickenowner 2020]

Hi everyone,

I was hoping to get some advice as I'm really worried my new hens have mycoplasma.

After a heartbreaking week where I lost my silkie and almost lost my beloved Polish bantam Gladys, I have recently brought home two new silkies as I'm worried about Gladys being alone (kicking myself for only having two hens to begin with.) I've quarantined them in a separate pen and made special care not to mix equipment or wear the same clothes when handling Gladys as when handling the two new hens. I've had them for all of 48 hours and just noticed some slight foaming in their eyes, gasping and a sickly sweet smell around their heads which after googling, leads me to the horrible conclusion that it might by mycoplasma. I rushed them to the vets and am now treating them with Tyolin but I'm so upset - I got them from what I thought was an established, reputable breeder but the vet says they would have developed this before I got them. The vet said there was no guarantee it was that but was definitely a respiratory infection of some sort.

As I love Gladys so much, I'm trying to figure out what to do now as I've read in a few places that once a chicken gets mycoplasma, it's a chronic condition that has to be managed as opposed to ever treated. If I introduce the two new hens after quarantine and treatment, do I basically sentence my Gladys to the same possibility of infection? But what if she already has it? I don't want to put the new hens down if Gladys is already a carrier and I'm also worried about stress levels of being alone - I can't seem to find any more available hens from "trusted" breeders and even if I do, there's no guarantee that they might not develop mycoplasma or something else as well.

So I'm just wondering if it's true that it will stay in the system forever? My hope is that this is something that's treated and just "goes away" but what I've read online is scaring the hell out of me. What would you do in the same situation?

Thanks so much as always. I didn't realise how emotionally draining hen keeping would be, it's been a rough few weeks...

 

[Eggcessive]

So Gladys has not been exposed to the two new silkies yet, and what was she sick with before? What illness did your silkie that died have? I would try to get the new silkies tested by your vet who can send off swabs to the state poultry lab. They could have MG, coryza, or something else. It is good to identify it so that you will know how to treat it. Most respiratory diseases make them carriers for life, and when new birds are added it just keeps perpetuating the disease, even if the chickens survive. MG is also passed through hatching eggs. There is a lab Zoologix, where you can get swabs to do your own testing, but it would probably be less through your state vet. Here is a link to Zoologix for the pcr respiratory panel that tests for most respiratory diseases to contact:
http://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

Here is a link for your state poultry lab to inquire about testing:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Newchickenowner 2020]

So Gladys has not been exposed to the two new silkies yet, and what was she sick with before? What illness did your silkie that died have? I would try to get the new silkies tested by your vet who can send off swabs to the state poultry lab. They could have MG, coryza, or something else. It is good to identify it so that you will know how to treat it. Most respiratory diseases make them carriers for life, and when new birds are added it just keeps perpetuating the disease, even if the chickens survive. MG is also passed through hatching eggs. There is a lab Zoologix, where you can get swabs to do your own testing, but it would probably be less through your state vet. Here is a link to Zoologix for the pcr respiratory panel that tests for most respiratory diseases to contact:
http://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

Thanks so much for your response, really appreciate it!

Gladys has been kept on her own separate to the two new hens. She and Edna, the silkie apparently had a virus which wasn't respiratory-related. They were both running a temperature, not eating or drinking.

When I brought the two new hens in for treatment, I asked if they could confirm what was wrong and the vet said no, she could only treat it with Tylosin. If I take them to another vet, will they still be able to determine the infection even if they're on medicine?

Also, as I understand it can be passed from wild birds, how do you ever keep your flock safe? It feels like if it's not from new birds brought in, it might come from outside. I just don't know how to protect them.

 

[Eggcessive]

It does sound like they could have been infected in their previous flock. MG can cause bubbles in eyes, and the incubation period from exposure is about 6-10 days or longer when symptoms can occur. Coryza incubation period is 2-3 days. What has the breeder recommended? If they recommend antibiotics, I would say that they have dealt with this before. Tylosin can treat symptoms of MG, but will not cure it. There is always a possibility that symptoms can come back during periods of stress, molt, or cold weather. The sickening sweet odor does not sound typical of MG in my opinion. Pseudomonas bacteria can have that I believe.
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

https://thepoultrysite.com/disease-...tion-m-g-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens

 

[Newchickenowner 2020]

It does sound like they could have been infected in their previous flock. MG can cause bubbles in eyes, and the incubation period from exposure is about 6-10 days or longer when symptoms can occur. Coryza incubation period is 2-3 days. What has the breeder recommended? If they recommend antibiotics, I would say that they have dealt with this before. Tylosin can treat symptoms of MG, but will not cure it. There is always a possibility that symptoms can come back during periods of stress, molt, or cold weather. The sickening sweet odor does not sound typical of MG in my opinion. Pseudomonas bacteria can have that I believe.
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/poultry/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

https://thepoultrysite.com/disease-...tion-m-g-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens

Thanks so much for these links, I've read through everything and it's a big help. I mentioned this to the breeder who said none of the other girls in the pen had symptoms. I've got to admit I'm a little suspicious of him now as even with Coryza, the incubation period would have started before I brought them home.

I've looked up pseudomonas bacteria but can't seem to find anything about whether it's chronic. Is this a less severe diagnosis? I just can't find any solution to mycoplasma that doesn't end with me culling the two new hens - it does feel a little bit like I'd be sentencing Gladys to sickness otherwise....