new to chickens and not having any luck

[CCC luv]

I wasn't going to even try to rehome a sick chicken, I'm still patienly waiting on their test results so I will know what my optuins are....but most definitely still have them and would not do this to anyone!

 

[CCC luv]

ok so I got tests results from USDA and :/ no parasites but positive for MG and MF :'( SO IM ASSUMING THIS IS BAD NEWS! the boys are acting fine and like chickens should other than an occasional sneeze and foamy loose stool, my pullet ( the culprit ) is still alive but has green stool still and shakes her head alot and breathes hard but has no problem eating....WHAT DO I DO NOW? MY SON IS GONNA BE SO UPSET IF HE HAS TO PUT DOWN HIS PET ROO! :'( what a horrible hard lesson learned !

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I feel bad for your son, but that's part of life.

There's no effective treatment that I know of. Tylan will reduce death rates but survivors will be carriers. If you choose to cull and start over. Clean and disinfect the housing and leave vacant a few weeks.

 

[CCC luv]

how common is this disease...the people who came out to test said even if I culled and started over, the same would happen because its sooooo hard to get rid of and in backyard flocks there is a 95% chance of having it.....is this true or are they just not very knowledgeable?

 

[Eggcessive]

You would have better chances of not having it in your flock if you cull your birds, clean and disinfect the coop and utensils, wait a few months, and start with baby chicks from a hatchery instead of getting them from someone's farm. Here are a couple of good articles:
http://umaine.edu/livestock/poultry/mycoplasma-gallisepticum-faq/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps034
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...ction-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I can't imagine there's a 95% chance of having it. If that were true, I'd be in a very small minority. With anywhere from 10 to 125 birds at a time, over 30 breeds from various sources off and on over half a century, I guess I've been lucky.
I know it's common, especially in winter in large flocks. That tells me that good ventilation is vital. Also avoiding stress due to dust, ammonia, excessive worming, crowding, transporting, etc..

 

[Eggcessive]

I can't imagine there's a 95% chance of having it. If that were true, I'd be in a very small minority. With anywhere from 10 to 125 birds at a time, over 30 breeds from various sources off and on over half a century, I guess I've been lucky.
I know it's common, especially in winter in large flocks. That tells me that good ventilation is vital. Also avoiding stress due to dust, ammonia, excessive worming, crowding, transporting, etc..

I have heard that before too that it is so common, but most people I know with chickens don't have any diseases. You are so right about having good ventilation, avoiding dust and ammonia odors, keeping dry conditions, and I also have read that avoiding excessive heat inside the coop may also help to avoid respiratory diseases.