No visible symptoms...what is it?

[snugglepup]

Yep, I agree... it sounds like a mycoplasm to me.

MG = Mycoplasma gallisepticum, MS = mycoplasma synoviae

They are both nasty bacterial organisms that cause infection in chickens.

If it was coryza, you could smell it. I think wild birds can bring MG on to your farm, and if your birds free range, they could be exposed. If she's not eating or drinking you should probably do injectable drugs. I think it responds to tetracyclines? Maybe Tylan, too. I'm not sure though. I'm pretty sure most strains are resistant to penicillin-type antibiotics. Treating for parasites is probably a good idea if you suspect she's infested. Make sure her immune system has the best possible chance to fight off the bug.

 

[wildflower]

O.K. now I am really scared........Should I totally quarenteen the two sickies? If this is bacterial it is contagious.....right? It seems they were a bit peerkier this evening and both desperatly wanted to roost with the rest, so I let them in...eeek, should I keep them away? I have had them seperated in the secured outside yard that is wired above, and below. We have two bunnies that live out there as well. They come into the coop at night and burrow their little hearts out.......the floor is wired deep down, so they can dig and not get out. The birds don't smell. They are eating and drinking. I have never seen any wild birds land in the area, I am out there alot. So, I should treat for parasites and Mg/MS? It seems like I have been really on top of keeping up with their needs and I am so sad that we are having this trouble. Thank so much for the advice, it is really is helpful for those of us that are at it for the first time!

 

[chicknmania]

Hi Wildflower. Snugglepup is right; that's what it is. It is supposed to be one of the most common illnesses among domestic poultry in the Country. And yes, it's spread by wild birds. And yes, Snugglepup is right again; the correct treatment is injectable Tylan. And get it quick, cause if yours are sick, and that's what it is, I speak from experience, you don't have too long. I was told not to treat the whole rest of the flock with water soluble Tylan, unless they are sick. Treating the whole flock, sick or not, is the knee jerk reaction I want to take; but, apparently, it's best to just watch the others and if they're ok, let them build up a resistence to it, cause it is so prevalent. Our problem is, we can't TELL if they're sick, til they're far gone! We don't have any others sick, (I don't think), but I must look silly to our neighbors going around three times a day talking to our birds, accounting for everyone, staring at their noses....

Anyway, your whole flock's probably already been exposed, so quarantine might be a bit late. What you can do is get some Oxine; put 7 - 15 drops per gallon in their drinking water; it sterilizes the water. And sterilize your feeders and waterers and everything else you can with Oxine. You can also mist the birds themselves with a solution of Oxine and water (can't remember the proportions for that, will have to check.) We ordered some water soluble Tylan anyway, just in case we have more sick ones...if we do, we probably will go ahead and treat the whole flock, I guess. I have never used the injectable. My experience with our birds in the past has been....these viruses or diseases sound horrible, but it's remarkable how some birds just keep going and going and never catch anything. Also, make sure your birds are de-wormed, and we have also ordered some Aviacharge for our flock.

 

[chicknmania]

Snugglepup, what does Coryza smell like? Ours don't smell like anything, either. And oh, I also read that one of the symptoms of MG/MS is poor egg shell quality. And that's exactly what one of our hens (probably Snowflake) had; ten days or so ago; some of the eggs were all rough and strange.

 

[dlhunicorn]

have you had respiratory illness in your flock before? I am confused becuse in the subject line you said there were no "symptoms" per se except they were acting a bit odd and that they died very quickly once you noticed ...did I misunderstand?
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...ction-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens
"...Infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum is associated with slow onset, chronic respiratory disease in chickens, turkeys, game birds, pigeons and other wild birds. Ducks and geese can become infected when held with infected chickens. In turkeys it is most associated with severe sinusitis ....The route of infection is via the conjunctiva or upper respiratory tract with an incubation period of 6-10 days.....
Signs

Coughing.
Nasal and ocular discharge.
Poor productivity.
Slow growth.
Leg problems.
Stunting.
Inappetance.
Reduced hatchability and chick viability.
Occasional encephalopathy and abnormal feathers......"

 

[chicknmania]

dlhunicorn, I don't know which of you are talking to now, but in my case there were no symptoms for the first one who died, our silkie hen. I shouldn't say "no"...she had sick bird syndrome for a day, but my son didn't pay much attention as she was also broody. She died a day or two later on the nest. (with no other symptoms). The other hen had no apparent symptoms til the day before she died...then she wouldn't eat, and was exhibiting sick bird syndrome. When we finally caught her, that's when I noticed the nasal discharge. She died that night. And one of the hens (probably her) had weird texture on the eggs for a week or so before.

Today I noticed one of our white leghorn hens has a faint purple around part of the edge of her comb, but I may be being paranoid. She acts fine.

What is the incubation period for MG/MS; and also is it associated with death? Someone I talked to said death from MG/MS is unusual.

 

[chicknmania]

OK, sorry, I see the incubation period. Reading that description, it doesn't sound much like what we have.

 

[wildflower]

ok, I have ordered dewormer and aviacharge 2000. The two sickies are up and around today, still not perky, but eating and drinking on their own, the Cochin was still roosting late this morning. I have thrown away all old feed, started fresh, disinfected all waterers and feeders. There hasn't been any type of nasal dripping at all, nothing other than droopy heads and closed eyes. Is this related to the Mg/Ms we have been talking about. Does a regular vet do chicken fecal testing? I sure do appreciate all this good information. I am feeling better about their condition, but want to prevent any other illness. Oh, we have had a few brown eggs that are slightly textured and speckled, but I'm not sure who is laying those. Pearl lays white and hasn't layed since last thursday and I'm not sure what color egg a partraige Cochin lays.

 

[wildflower]

So having just called local vets, no, they do not work on chickens, there are however specialty centers. $45 a bird to have a looksie, and $63 per bird for stool samples......ouch! They said it was state law that the individual bird is seen. Wow.....I hope all the home care works!

 

[snugglepup]

Anybody with a microscope can check a chicken fecal. Coccidia in chicken poo looks pretty much the same as coccidia in kitten poo or puppy poo. The eggs from common GI parasites look pretty similar, too. They may not be able to tell you the species, but you could get a yes or no.

$63 for a stool sample?? Oh my! I wonder what they are doing with the poo? You could get a microscope and do your own!

I know how it works in NC, and to prescribe drugs, they have to have a "current doctor-patient relationship" just like for people. That is usually interpreted to mean they have to have at least seen they patient and done some kind of physical exam.