Sick Chicken---Bubbling eye, and swelling of lower eye lid

[Breedloveacres]

I am confused. I have a flock of chickens, from 3 different sources. Unfortunately, the first source was not a good one and she passed birds on to me that I have now confirmed have MG. I have culled the 2 birds that came from her but the vet at the state campus told me that chances that my other birds are infected (even ones in another coop) are 100% in his opinion, simply because I go back and forth between their locations. He said the chance that any are free of it are probably no chance. They other chickens tested negative for titors in blood but we are doing swabs from their mouths to look for live virus. He said if I am lucky enough to have those come back negative, I should check again in 2 months. He said if they test positive, as he suspects they will, my best option is to cull all of my birds (I have about 50..ages 10 days to adult). He said my only other option would be to immunize them but this would just suppress the MG not get rid of it. He said they would always carry it and would be likely to pass it through their eggs. I don't know what to do. The forum here sounds like you can treat them with Tylan 50 antibiotics and get rid of it??? Please reply. It was aweful killing the 2 birds today..I have never had to do that before. Thank you.

 

[pips&peeps]

Unfortunately you cannot get rid of MG. It stays in the bird for life. It is also possible to transmit MG through the egg if the hen or rooster is sick when the egg is laid or fertilized.

If you want to rid your property of MG and the other birds come back with positive results, the only way is to cull. However, you can medicate all the birds and collect and start incubation on as many eggs as you can before that happens.

By medicating you can prevent the disease from spreading in the egg.

I would wait for results from the lab and check into what you state regulations are. You can keep a flock with MG, you just don't want to sell anybirds and infect others.

 

[silkie_sue]

Hello

This is very interesting. Also new here. What would one medicate a chicken that had MG with that
would prevent the MG from passing to the egg (chick) if incubated?

Thanky, Sue

 

[silkie_sue]

I'm really curious. I read a post somewhere on BYC that there was a way to eliminate transmission
of MG to the embryo. But it wasn't explained in full. It had to do with using Tylosin and/or heat to
eliminate egg transmission of MG to the embryo. And I would suppose one would incubate said eggs.

Anyone know anything about this?

Thanky, I know

I'm waaayyy too curious