Mycoplasma question

[BrickCoop15]

I fear 2 new chickens have infected my flock with mycoplasma too, 8 of 15 chickens got sick, 5 of them seriously.... swollen eyes, stopped eating and a bad cough, I treated them and all got well again, but... what about setting eggs, I read that the bacteria stays in your flock, and whenever you have baby chickens, more than usual don’t survive hatching ( getting stuck in the shell) or get sick with mycoplasma and don’t make it has anyone here got experience what happens after your chickens contracted it?
since the chickens are my pets, I really had a hard time for 2 weeks, every day fearing one of them had died during the night, I never want to go through that again, of course every now and then a chicken got something, or I had to put one of them to sleep, but I’ve never ever had something like that go through my flock! And I never want to, again

I do not know its impact on hatching eggs, but I do add new chicks (from a hatchery) to my flock almost every spring and have never had any problems. My new additions have never developed symptoms.

In my experience, the intial outbreak was the worst part of the disease. Once everyone recovered, my flock returned to normal. I have a hen that will be turning 10 years old in a few weeks, not only did she survive the initial outbreak, but she is healthy and symptom free today. Mycoplasma is not a death sentence for your birds or mean you are going to be constantly treating sick birds. They can live long, healthy lives after recovering. They should however, always be considered carriers and proper measures should always be taken to prevent the spread to other flocks.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

Great to hear that, I was really worried!!

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I had mycoplasma (MG) in my flock several years ago, after i got some pol pullets that soon came down with symptoms. Like @chicknmania (who's "reward" for trying to help the op of this thread was to be treated extremely rudely), i ordered denagard & treated the entire flock. First using the treatment dose (3 tsp's per gallon of water for 7 days in a row, then 1 1/2 tsp's for 3 days each month as a preventative). I used the preventative dose several months in a row until summer heat arrived. Sunlight & hot temps kill mycoplasma. Also like chicknmania, i never saw any more symptoms in that flock for the rest of their lives. As far as hatching eggs, prior research i did said that mycoplasma can be transmitted through the egg to the chick WHEN THE LAYING HEN IS SYMPTOMATIC. When the hen is symptomatic, there is 30-40% chance the developing embryo will be infected. You are right it is heart-wrenching to watch illness spread amongst a previously completely healthy flock. But if it is mycoplasma you are dealing with, denagard is a very effective treatment. Still not ethical to ever sell or give away chickens from your flock since they may still be carriers even with preventative dose treatment. But as far as getting future chicks and/or hatching your own, you should be fine. And being that mycoplasma is usually more present in the cold & cloudy months, you can always preventively dose future chicks during the colder months too, if it helps ease your mind. Denagard is NOT used to treat any human illnesses, so no fear of encouraging antibiotic resistance, & no egg withdrawal required.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

sooo, I can think about setting a hen in spring

 

[Carter Martin]

I am getting close to a year into the chicken business and I was planning to sell hatching eggs, chicks, and grown chickens in the future and I had started a bit already. But just recently I had a chicken come down with mycoplasma. Reading what has been posted on here I see that it might not be a good idea to sell these things anymore. But on the other hand most of you who have had chickens with it seem to have gotten over it and it hasn't shown up again or rarely. Do you guys think I could eventually sell poultry again or should I not.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

Here is Germany you can only sell them, AFTER you inform the prospective buyer, that you have mycoplasma infected chickens, then they can decide whether or not they want to risk buying ..

 

[chicknmania]

I am getting close to a year into the chicken business and I was planning to sell hatching eggs, chicks, and grown chickens in the future and I had started a bit already. But just recently I had a chicken come down with mycoplasma. Reading what has been posted on here I see that it might not be a good idea to sell these things anymore. But on the other hand most of you who have had chickens with it seem to have gotten over it and it hasn't shown up again or rarely. Do you guys think I could eventually sell poultry again or should I not.

If you're worried about it, just tell the prospective buyer. How do you know for sure your bird had mycoplasma? Did you have positive confirmation from testing?

 

[Myrshine]

Honestly.. in my opinion, I think it's best if you kept a closed flock if you have a positive MG flock. I honestly recommend getting testing done before you do anything. MG is sadly a chronic disease that if you even treat, symptoms can reappear again anytime, especially if the bird is stressed. They also carry the bacteria for life, shedding and spreading it through their feces, feathers, dander, respiratory secretions and other bodily fluids. MG can be spread vertically through the eggs of developing embryos, making any chicks that happen to hatch, already sick with this bacteria. Chicks may or may not show symptoms right away, but they'll quickly become unthrifty, have stunted growth and very well could die. If you don't want to deal with the chronic disease, cull all infected birds, disinfect and throughly clean everything they've touched. I HIGHLY suggest that you don't EVER BREED from your sick flock. By keeping a closed flock, you'll prevent other birds from getting sick and suffering from this bacteria as well as save others' flocks from getting the bacteria.

 

[Carter Martin]

If you're worried about it, just tell the prospective buyer. How do you know for sure your bird had mycoplasma? Did you have positive confirmation from testing?

The chicken was taken to the vet yesterday and he said it was Mycoplasma. I think he was pretty confident about his.

 

[Carter Martin]

Honestly.. in my opinion, I think it's best if you kept a closed flock if you have a positive MG flock. I honestly recommend getting testing done before you do anything. MG is sadly a chronic disease that if you even treat, symptoms can reappear again anytime, especially if the bird is stressed. They also carry the bacteria for life, shedding and spreading it through their feces, feathers, dander, respiratory secretions and other bodily fluids. MG can be spread vertically through the eggs of developing embryos, making any chicks that happen to hatch, already sick with this bacteria. Chicks may or may not show symptoms right away, but they'll quickly become unthrifty, have stunted growth and very well could die. If you don't want to deal with the chronic disease, cull all infected birds, disinfect and throughly clean everything they've touched. I HIGHLY suggest that you don't EVER BREED from your sick flock. By keeping a closed flock, you'll prevent other birds from getting sick and suffering from this bacteria as well as save others' flocks from getting the bacteria.

How do you think I can best disinfect and throughly clean wooden pallet pens. Also how particular do you think I need to be. The infected chicken was in pens beside other chickens but not directly with them. With me taking care of them they may have gotten exposed through me. If in a month they don't show symtoms can I safely say they don't have it?