Stinky Acres Farm

[StinkyAcres]

I just had a respiratory PCR panel done on one of my hens and it came back positive for Mycoplasma gallisepticum. This is, of course, upsetting as I'll have to change my plans and close my flock until they all die. But it's also good to know and it explains a lot of the symptoms I'm seeing. I believe they've had it since 2017 and it's been fairly mild, it seems. It has gone through all of my new chicks but they are getting over it and looking better now. If anyone has gone through this I'd love advice and support.

 

[thistlewick]

Your chickens most likely will not die. They are just infected with an extremely common backyard chicken bacteria that almost all backyard flocks have.

One of my chickens, Pudding, had foamy eyes one day last year. I quarantined her and then got to calling and calling and calling all around everywhere locally.

I finally got to talk to our regional USDA lab tech that regularly tests local large scale farms for H5N1, etc Name of Charles Ivey, I saved his details in my phone. He as SO helpful and assuaged my fears.

He told me that I should quarantine her for 45 days, but that it's not a big deal at the end of the day, as nearly every single backyard flock as Mycoplasmosis and it's just something that you deal with and it's not really very deadly, either. They might lay a little less.

I did quarantine her, it was sad - the whole 45 days she was alone in a sad little place far away from all the other birds. She was very bad for about a week, slept all the time. But she got better. After 45 days I put her in our 'brooder' area for re-integration and after like 3 days in there she was fine and everyone was fine, they remembered her and no one was even mad she was there.

That was back in October 2024.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Your chickens most likely will not die. They are just infected with an extremely common backyard chicken bacteria that almost all backyard flocks have.

One of my chickens, Pudding, had foamy eyes one day last year. I quarantined her and then got to calling and calling and calling all around everywhere locally.

I finally got to talk to our regional USDA lab tech that regularly tests local large scale farms for H5N1, etc Name of Charles Ivey, I saved his details in my phone. He as SO helpful and assuaged my fears.

He told me that I should quarantine her for 45 days, but that it's not a big deal at the end of the day, as nearly every single backyard flock as Mycoplasmosis and it's just something that you deal with and it's not really very deadly, either. They might lay a little less.

I did quarantine her, it was sad - the whole 45 days she was alone in a sad little place far away from all the other birds. She was very bad for about a week, slept all the time. But she got better. After 45 days I put her in our 'brooder' area for re-integration and after like 3 days in there she was fine and everyone was fine, they remembered her and no one was even mad she was there.

That was back in October 2024.

Thanks, yes, like I said it seems to be mild in my flock and no one has died from it nor has anyone become super sick from it. I was just saying, from what I've read, it looks like I will need to isolate my flock until they have all passed. I was planning on adding and selling birds but now I don't know if that is a good idea. Of course, I would disclose to the buyers that they are infected.

 

[thistlewick]

Thanks, yes, like I said it seems to be mild in my flock and no one has died from it nor has anyone become super sick from it. I was just saying, from what I've read, it looks like I will need to isolate my flock until they have all passed. I was planning on adding and selling birds but now I don't know if that is a good idea. Of course, I would disclose to the buyers that they are infected.

That's the thing, almost every backyard flock is infected.

It's not a serious thing - they don't test for it for NPIP, which tests for Salmonella, Typhoid and H5N1.

 

[StinkyAcres]

That's the thing, almost every backyard flock is infected.

It's not a serious thing - they don't test for it for NPIP, which tests for Salmonella, Typhoid and H5N1.

Right. I guess I would just like to know peoples' opinions on how to manage a flock with MG. While it isn't particularly serious it seems many people think it's a big no-no to rehome infected birds or even add more birds to an infected flock. I'm a little confused.

 

[thistlewick]

Right. I guess I would just like to know peoples' opinions on how to manage a flock with MG. While it isn't particularly serious it seems many people think it's a big no-no to rehome infected birds or even add more birds to an infected flock. I'm a little confused.

Yes, I think if a bird was sneezing its brain off, people wouldn't like to buy that one.

But this is one of those things where it's almost impossible to keep from your flock, people *most likely get it from hatcheries where they buy their chicks from* and just don't realize it.

So, I don't know, I am not fussed. I wish I could impart the chat I had with the vet that *completely* assuaged my fears and worries about it with you. It helped a ton. I was in *exactly* your spot when it cropped up with Pudding.

It has been a 100% non-issue since her. No one else ever showed any symptoms, despite the fear mongering that says "EVERY BIRD NOW HAS IT YOU HAVE TO CLOSE YOUR FLOCK" well, that may be true. But their flock probably has it too.

Ever gone to a small animal auction in your county?

A swap meet?

People are *not* worried about these minor things. They're mostly long-experienced farmers who already know that it's not really a big deal.

I personally would not let it stop you from adding to your flock.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Yes, I think if a bird was sneezing its brain off, people wouldn't like to buy that one.

But this is one of those things where it's almost impossible to keep from your flock, people *most likely get it from hatcheries where they buy their chicks from* and just don't realize it.

So, I don't know, I am not fussed. I wish I could impart the chat I had with the vet that *completely* assuaged my fears and worries about it with you. It helped a ton. I was in *exactly* your spot when it cropped up with Pudding.

It has been a 100% non-issue since her. No one else ever showed any symptoms, despite the fear mongering that says "EVERY BIRD NOW HAS IT YOU HAVE TO CLOSE YOUR FLOCK" well, that may be true. But their flock probably has it too.

Ever gone to a small animal auction in your county?

A swap meet?

People are *not* worried about these minor things. They're mostly long-experienced farmers who already know that it's not really a big deal.

I personally would not let it stop you from adding to your flock.

Thank you. That does make me feel better. I was really looking forward to adding more to my flock. Unlike your flock, all of mine have shown symptoms. But it's gone in a few weeks for most of them. The current bird I wanted to sell has no symptoms that I can see, but I will probably dispatch to be safe.

Wow, I didn't know that it could come from hatcheries, at least not the big, well-known hatcheries. I have never been to a swap meet or animal auction and never will because the risk of disease is too high for me.

 

[Callender Girl]

I am sorry you are having to deal with this illness. I don't know anything about it, but I know how stressful and painful it is to be concerned that your flock has a disease. However, it sounds as if this bacteria isn't overly serious.

A few years ago, I lost a hen and the vet THOUGHT it could be from Marek's but didn't test or autopsy, so there was nothing conclusive. I waited, sadly, for my chickens to get sick and die. They had other plans and didn't.

It sounds like your flock is going to be all right, too. Hurray!!

 

[StinkyAcres]

My youngest chicks now appear to have coccidiosis. First time I've ever dealt with it in my flock. I won't be able to get Corid until tomorrow or Tuesday. It hasn't been a good year at all for me...

 

[thistlewick]

Stinky I swear I'm so sorry all the bad news

How old are these young ones?