Tell me I’m making the right choice 😔

[BobletFarmBirds]

My flocks have mycoplasma.

We are moving by the end of the year.

I enjoy hatching eggs and selling chicks. Thankfully there were no sales over 6 weeks before I brought home the unknowingly infected bird. Even with a 30 day quarantine, we know MG/MS infected birds are carriers for life. No symptoms doesn’t always mean no illness. I am grateful for the fact that I have not spread this disease to others, and saved them this heartbreak.

I have decided to cull my entire flock. From 3 years old, down to 2 months. And I am entirely devastated.

I’m really just here to know I’m doing the right thing. I can’t keep a carrier flock. It feels not right. We will cull the entire flock, burn the coops, and restart completely new on the next property.

Please tell me I’m headed in the right direction. The Cloudy Ridge Flock will be on to greener, buggier pastures tomorrow morning

 

[SnackMeat]

So the chicken has mixed with your flock's already?

Here's a good discussion:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mycoplasma-gallisepticum-mg-kill-flock-or-not.455704/


But yes, since you are going to a new property and you want to sell chicks and eggs, yes that is the cleanest solution sadly.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh wow. My heart aches for you. But yes, I think you are doing the right thing. I wish more chicken keepers were as brave and responsible as you, and I will just leave it at that. Bless you.

 

[Eggcessive]

How many birds do you have? Is the one bird just symptomatic? What are the symptoms? Sorry that you are dealing with mycoplasma. Did you get a lab to diagnose it? Which type is it? You cannot knowingly sell birds or hatching eggs with a positive flock, but that doesn’t stop you from keeping the flock and enjoying them. Many people cull the sick birds to control an outbreak. Mycoplasma is not like some diseases, but you may have one or two sick birds, and not see it again in others.

 

[BobletFarmBirds]

So the chicken has mixed with your flock's already?

Here's a good discussion:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mycoplasma-gallisepticum-mg-kill-flock-or-not.455704/


But yes, since you are going to a new property and you want to sell chicks and eggs, yes that is the cleanest solution sadly.

Yes. I bought a new rooster for my Easter egger flock. Kept him quarantined 30 days. No symptoms. Off with the ladies he went. And now we have mycoplasma. He was the only new addition.

Thank you for your input and the info

 

[BobletFarmBirds]

How many birds do you have? Is the one bird just symptomatic? What are the symptoms? Sorry that you are dealing with mycoplasma. Did you get a lab to diagnose it? Which type is it? You cannot knowingly sell birds or hatching eggs with a positive flock, but that doesn’t stop you from keeping the flock and enjoying them. Many people cull the sick birds to control an outbreak. Mycoplasma is not like some diseases, but you may have one or two sick birds, and not see it again in others.

Unfortunately with the heat stress last week, over half of my birds were suddenly symptomatic. Over 50 out of 100 birds. Comfirmed MG and MS through labs.

 

[BobletFarmBirds]

The hardest part is that my favorite color project pullet is non symptomatic. But she was housed with others that were symptomatic. So I cannot in good conscious keep her, with the risk of recurring infection in a new flock

 

[Eggcessive]

It is more difficult in a situation where you want to breed, sell chicks and hatching eggs. There is no guarantee that your new flock will always be free of MG or MS. Wild birds or neighbor birds can bring in in, and it could be how you got it this time. Who knows. Most of us just want chickens for pets and eggs, and many flocks are positive for MG, MS. It is just that very few people get them tested. I would just close my flocks to birds coming in or going out. I don’t bring in birds from another breeder or chicken owner period. My birds stay her until they are all gone, and then I will buy healthy chicks from my nearest OH hatchery.

 

[SnackMeat]

You might find this interesting even if ultimately you decide to cull and start over:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/breeding-for-mycoplasma-resistance.1150873/