Mycoplasma, or unconnected issues?

[marymasc]

Several months ago, some of my birds had what seemed to be colds (some coughing/sneezing, runny noses, etc.) so the whole flock was treated with a antibiotics and were all fine in about a week, except for two hens who had persistent sneezing and coughing. I figured the antibiotics just took a little longer for these birds, and the symptoms eventually went down. But now, one of the birds who had the persistent cough is limping, and is a little less active than usual. But no other current symptoms—the coughing and sneezing is gone. I have heard that Mycoplasma can cause pain in the joints due to swelling, which I do not see, nor do her legs feel hot, but no injury, bumblefoot, or mites are present. And the other hen who had the cough is now doing so again, as well as having raspy breathing. No other symptoms with her and she is acting normal. Another one of my hens now has a slightly swollen sinus on one side of her face, and sometimes gets foamy eyes. There is also an unpleasant smell from her nostril, but she has had that since she was only a few months old (she’s about a year and a half now). She isn’t coughing, sneezing, or acting unusual. The rest of the flock is acting fine, no apparent symptoms from any of them. If this is mycoplasma, the only way they would have gotten it is through me picking it up from a wild bird and inadvertently bringing it into their coop, as they were not outside at or around the time that they got sick and all new birds were quarantined for a month before being brought into this flock. So, my question is whether this could be mycoplasma, or if it’s several unconnected issues? If they are unconnected, how should I go about treating them? Thank you for reading and apologies for the long post.

 

[BirdWrangler]

A few years ago I was absolutely certain my birds had mycoplasma, I ended up getting them tested with Zoologix and it turned out they didn’t have it after all. Is getting them tested an option for you?

 

[marymasc]

A few years ago I was absolutely certain my birds had mycoplasma, I ended up getting them tested with Zoologix and it turned out they didn’t have it after all. Is getting them tested an option for you?

I wrote to the person who did our NPIP testing to ask if it was offered by state. I’m waiting to hear back on that. I just looked up Zoologix and if I’m unable to do it through the state then I may do it that way. Thank you for mentioning them, it looks like a good site. When your birds were negative for it, was there something else that was causing symptoms instead?

 

[Cj Tracker]

Did you get your hen tested? I just sent away for the free sample testing kit.
My girls have those symptoms. The bad smell is what got me noticing when I got new hens. I had them quarantined a month but that didn't matter. I guess a month isn't enough and unless they are in an entirely different run, not just penned off from the others, they can still transfer illness.

Several months ago, some of my birds had what seemed to be colds (some coughing/sneezing, runny noses, etc.) so the whole flock was treated with a antibiotics and were all fine in about a week, except for two hens who had persistent sneezing and coughing. I figured the antibiotics just took a little longer for these birds, and the symptoms eventually went down. But now, one of the birds who had the persistent cough is limping, and is a little less active than usual. But no other current symptoms—the coughing and sneezing is gone. I have heard that Mycoplasma can cause pain in the joints due to swelling, which I do not see, nor do her legs feel hot, but no injury, bumblefoot, or mites are present. And the other hen who had the cough is now doing so again, as well as having raspy breathing. No other symptoms with her and she is acting normal. Another one of my hens now has a slightly swollen sinus on one side of her face, and sometimes gets foamy eyes. There is also an unpleasant smell from her nostril, but she has had that since she was only a few months old (she’s about a year and a half now). She isn’t coughing, sneezing, or acting unusual. The rest of the flock is acting fine, no apparent symptoms from any of them. If this is mycoplasma, the only way they would have gotten it is through me picking it up from a wild bird and inadvertently bringing it into their coop, as they were not outside at or around the time that they got sick and all new birds were quarantined for a month before being brought into this flock. So, my question is whether this could be mycoplasma, or if it’s several unconnected issues? If they are unconnected, how should I go about treating them? Thank you for reading and apologies for the long pos

 

[marymasc]

Did you get your hen tested? I just sent away for the free sample testing kit.
My girls have those symptoms. The bad smell is what got me noticing when I got new hens. I had them quarantined a month but that didn't matter. I guess a month isn't enough and unless they are in an entirely different run, not just penned off from the others, they can still transfer illness.

Hi, no, I did not end up getting the limping hen tested as her condition worsened to the point where I could definitely rule out Mycoplasma. I believe it was some sort of genetic issue with her. The other hen with the bad nostril smell appears to have that issue chronically (we treat her with antibiotics and it is no longer an issue). Two of my other hens wheeze a bit sometimes but have no other symptoms so I believe it’s just some sort of respiratory issue that flares up with them as they’re doing very well aside from the odd respiratory noises.

With your hens, if it’s a kind of sweet smell, I think that’s what people say is a sign of Mycoplasma. Sadly yes, birds kept in the same building can spread diseases to each other. There’s some viruses that can even live for 2 days inside a human nose. It can be difficult to effectively quarantine, what I do is have a separate small shed where new birds and birds returning from shows go. A large dog crate kept in a secure part of a barn works too. They can certainly live and recover from Mycoplasma but it may flare up during times of stress and they will remain carriers of it for the rest of their lives. But you can manage it to make the situation work for you if it is Mycoplasma, which hopefully it isn’t. Best of luck!