Should I add to my flock?

[LalaP]

Hi all,

I could use some advise. I’ve lost 3 of my 5 hens in the last year. They were 4.5-5.5 years old and I was told by a vet that it was either heart failure or cancer for 2 of them. The third was a mystery and the post mortum showed nothing. They were Austrolorps so perhaps not the longest living birds. I’ve known for a couple of years that one of my hens, who is still alive, has mycoplasmosis. She occasionally has a swollen eyelid and once had a foamy eye. I assume she passed it to my other hens and perhaps this was a factor in their deaths. I don’t know. Here is my conundrum… now that I only have 2 hens should I get more to add to my flock knowing they have mycoplasmosis or let my flock dwindle and start over when they are gone? If letting the flock dwindle is the best option how does one do that? At some point I’ll only have one and that isn’t good. Even at this point, 2 hens seems like a sad number.

 

[WingItRanch]

That's a tricky situation. Is the mycoplasmosis confirmed?

 

[Camo chicken146]

I'd make sure they aren't able to spread any sickness, and if what they have can't spread then getting a few more birds should be fine

 

[LalaP]

That's a tricky situation. Is the mycoplasmosis confirmed?

Not confirmed by a vet but the symptoms seem pretty clear to me. Swollen eyelids and foamy eyes are specific symptoms of the disease and not otherwise explainable as far as I know. She also sneezes a lot and always has. I got her from a flock that was being downsized. Live and learn… I won’t do that again.

 

[LalaP]

I'd make sure they aren't able to spread any sickness, and if what they have can't spread then getting a few more birds should be fine

As far as I know there is no cure for mycoplasmosis and it’s always contagious. That’s the problem.

 

[texsuze]

If you'd like to keep chickens I suggest biting the bullet and adding to your flock again. I added 3 pullets to my reduced flock of 2 hens earlier this year. Having only 2, then potentially only 1, wasn't going to provide any 'safety in numbers' for my (during the daytime) free-ranging flock. Plus I haven't decided to end my chicken-keeping life yet.

MG and MS can apparently continue to live in the soils even if no host chickens are present. So short of some superfund decontamination of your premises at some point, you might have to accept living with the unpredictable effects of MG or MS on your flock. If adding chickens try to locate the healthiest birds you can to the best of your abilities/resources and be prepared for possible (or maybe no) effects on your flock.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I am not a medical professional and I do not trust what I read online. If you are in the USA I'd contact your county extension agent and try to find out how long the disease will last in the environment after your chickens are gone. Or talk to a veterinarian. After they are gone, wait long enough to be safe until you get more. From what I read that could be a few months, not years, but I just don't know.

I do not know what the two remaining ones are like, their quality of life or if they are suffering. From what I read they are probably not suffering and I suspect they are pets. That would make eliminating them and starting over after the waiting period really hard. As long as they are alive they are a potential infection point for any chickens or turkeys around you.

I really feel sorry for you, that is a rough place to be.

 

[LalaP]

If you'd like to keep chickens I suggest biting the bullet and adding to your flock again. I added 3 pullets to my reduced flock of 2 hens earlier this year. Having only 2, then potentially only 1, wasn't going to provide any 'safety in numbers' for my (during the daytime) free-ranging flock. Plus I haven't decided to end my chicken-keeping life yet.

MG and MS can apparently continue to live in the soils even if no host chickens are present. So short of some superfund decontamination of your premises at some point, you might have to accept living with the unpredictable effects of MG or MS on your flock. If adding chickens try to locate the healthiest birds you can to the best of your abilities/resources and be prepared for possible (or maybe no) effects on your flock.

Thank you for your reply. How do I find the healthiest birds? I’ve been wondering about this. Local hatcheries or mail order day old chicks from reputable hatcheries? Are there breeds that tend to be more resilient? I’ll be doing some research but any advice is welcome.