Sick polish

[Shadrach]

@pugspigchicks
I'm sorry to read that Mazzy died.
It seems to me you did all you could to try and save her. Sometimes there is just nothing one can do to save them.

 

[pugspigchicks]

Now I have a chicken with what appears to be Mycoplasma. Bubbly eye/swollen face :-(

My polish didn’t have any of those symptoms. Do you think they are related?

Further, I’m unsure where Mycoplasma came from. We took in a rescue over a year ago and my girls are stressed since there is construction next door. Can I use a vaccine for new birds? I have eggs in the incubator now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Now I have a chicken with what appears to be Mycoplasma. Bubbly eye/swollen face :-(

My polish didn’t have any of those symptoms. Do you think they are related?

Further, I’m unsure where Mycoplasma came from. We took in a rescue over a year ago and my girls are stressed since there is construction next door. Can I use a vaccine for new birds? I have eggs in the incubator now.

I'm sorry to hear you have another sick chicken.
Is vet care possible?
Photos may be helpful.

Mycoplasma can be transferred on dust, dander, clothes, bird-to-bird and from wild bird flocks as well.
Talk to your vet about vaccination. I do believe you may be able to order a vaccine for MG, but you would need the correct equipment to administer it-I believe it is sprayed and administered in healthy birds 9wks or older, but there are probably other vaccines too - I really don't know, I don't vaccinate.

There is no way to know for sure if the Polish and now this sick bird is related or not. Only necropsy/testing could have given you that information.

IF you believe your chicken is sick from MG, you can try Tylan50 to see if that helps. Dosage is .25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days. It's important to also flush the eye several times a day with saline. You can also apply Terramycin eye ointment 2X a day.

Bubbly eye/swollen face would be indicative of MG, but there are other respiratory diseases that can start similar. Also infection of the eye from another source (dirt/feces in the eye), an injury (look for a small scab), molds and ammonia from poor ventilation and excess feces in coops should also be looked at.

Here's a link to your state lab - they may be able to take some swabs to find out what you are dealing with. https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/

 

[pugspigchicks]

I'm sorry to hear you have another sick chicken.
Is vet care possible?
Photos may be helpful.

Mycoplasma can be transferred on dust, dander, clothes, bird-to-bird and from wild bird flocks as well.
Talk to your vet about vaccination. I do believe you may be able to order a vaccine for MG, but you would need the correct equipment to administer it-I believe it is sprayed and administered in healthy birds 9wks or older, but there are probably other vaccines too - I really don't know, I don't vaccinate.

There is no way to know for sure if the Polish and now this sick bird is related or not. Only necropsy/testing could have given you that information.

IF you believe your chicken is sick from MG, you can try Tylan50 to see if that helps. Dosage is .25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days. It's important to also flush the eye several times a day with saline. You can also apply Terramycin eye ointment 2X a day.

Bubbly eye/swollen face would be indicative of MG, but there are other respiratory diseases that can start similar. Also infection of the eye from another source (dirt/feces in the eye), an injury (look for a small scab), molds and ammonia from poor ventilation and excess feces in coops should also be looked at.

Here's a link to your state lab - they may be able to take some swabs to find out what you are dealing with. https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/

Thank you. My polish is being shipped to A&M at lunch. My other bird was started on Tylan this morning. This is so frustrating and sad. I keep a very clean coop. I’m building them a luxury coop now with AC etc so they are likely stressed from construction. I’ll research the Mycoplasma vaccine- I’m an advanced practice nurse but no vet thanks so much.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you. My polish is being shipped to A&M at lunch. My other bird was started on Tylan this morning. This is so frustrating and sad. I keep a very clean coop. I’m building them a luxury coop now with AC etc so they are likely stressed from construction. I’ll research the Mycoplasma vaccine- I’m an advanced practice nurse but no vet thanks so much.

How hot does it get where you are ?
Not sure about providing A/C would not that require a closed coop with no ventilation to keep the cold air in? What happens when they go outside in the heat? Heat exhaustion?

Chickens need lots of moving fresh air and ventilation - a closed coop is asking for respiratory illnesses to thrive.

I hope you get some answers soon from A&M.

 

[pugspigchicks]

100+ all summer. So they free range and I Have an enclosed airy run and They have 2 coops(1 is being built). The new coop will have 3 windows, AC unit for mostly night time and I’ll use the fan function during the day to circulate air. I have an exhaust vent too. I had 2 with heat strokes last summer. It’s very hot and humid in south Texas and they seemed miserable last year.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

100+ all summer. So they free range and I Have an enclosed airy run and They have 2 coops(1 is being built). The new coop will have 3 windows, AC unit for mostly night time and I’ll use the fan function during the day to circulate air. I have an exhaust vent too. I had 2 with heat strokes last summer. It’s very hot and humid in south Texas and they seemed miserable last year.

Sounds good

 

[ChickNanny13]

Lucky birds

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Lucky birds

X 2!!!
Sorry to hear you have another sick bird, I really hope the Tylan helps and the autopsy gives you some helpful answers.

 

[pugspigchicks]

My one chicken Luna is responding to Mycoplasma treatment. The poultry director at Texas A&M said I can vaccinate new birds. It’s ubiquitous and treat any with symptoms. No need to cull birds.

As far as the necropsy for my polish Mazzy. Quite interesting. She only had 1 kidney and that kidney failed. She had urates in her joints, trachea etc. He said she was coming into reproductive age and the change in hormones and extra calcium was too much for her enlarged kidney :-( glad to have an answer. I’m also sad because I’ve lost 3 polish- I think poor genetics.