Mycoplasma

[Cornishchickide]

I have spent the last year raising birds to breed from and show next year, I am so happy with them-but I have got 1 with mycoplasma. Which I assume will have spread to the rest of my birds. Do I cull and start all over again-which I really dont want to do-but I have read it can even be passed on through hatching eggs?? What are other peoples experiences and thoughts? Plus my flock free range and are reguarly visited by the pheasants-will they just reinfect my new birds?
Or should I just keep what I have and enjoy them as pets, ditch the cockerels and forget about breeding as long as the birds are healthy on a day to day basis?

 

[chickenzoo]

This is a hard decision, and only one that you can make. You can have the non ill birds tested if you are part of a NPIP program. They take swabs of the throat and blood work etc... This will tell you who at the time has it. Most people suggest that you cull , clean and start over....but new birds can be infected by other birds, wearing the same shoes or cloths to the feed store than back to your property...etc etc... People who keep them as pets often treat and keep better bio security. It's a hard choice and if you ask ten people you could get ten different answers.
The best thing is to do a lot of research. Talk to poultry specialist in your area like your local states dept of Animal and Ag, state vet or college vet dept . Then make a decision that is right for you. It's a tuff call and a hard road. Best wishes

 

[Cornishchickide]

Thank you for that, I may just abandon breeding for a while until I can house new disease free birds inside away from wild birds, I cant cull my 'carrier' birds if they are healthy day to day-that is if I have carrier birds. I imagine testing will be expensive though,

 

[chickenzoo]

If you get with your states NPIP program it may be free or very little. Here in Fl its free.