The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Eggcessive]

Sure can. Literature studies back it up. Discussed it in a thread here too. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/600566/mg-certified-hatcheries-breeders/30#post_10211094

It's like herpes viruses. Everyone and everything has been exposed at some point. Mycoplasma is ubiquitous in the environment,

I have read these studies in Iran and Pakistan earlier today, plus ones in Argentina and Paraguay as well. In Diseases of Poultry they discuss how studies have been done in California of backyard chicken owners having MG in their flocks causing outbreaks in a nearby commercial poultry houses. I also was reading that MG can live on hair for 3 days, rubber and cloth for 2-3 days, and in the nasal passages of people for 24 hours. They also say that an MG test can be negative on a hen that has chronic long-term MG. Much of the disease spread can be traced to disease inspectors which is really scarey.

 

[delisha]

Another pic of her

She looks like a cuckoo marans..I am not positive..but it looks like she has a dark line on her leg where feathers will be or were.

 

[Eggcessive]

This is another reference on coccidiosis that is dated but very informative: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4616

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

She is 8 weeks old, single comb, barred black and white

 

[aoxa]

She is 8 weeks old, single comb, barred black and white

She has yellow legs, so I say hatchery barred rock.

 

[aoxa]

4 more dead chicks

 

[Eggcessive]

SunnySkies, welcome to the thread! You seem to have some really great poultry experience as a vet. I enjoyed reading your posts about the disease outbreak in Delaware in 2004, and that you know our good friend BullDogma. My step daughter was a large animal, now a small animal vet in Montana, and she can never help me out with my chicken questions. I am trying to teach her right now, hoping she will get her own flock. You can really teach us a lot about biosecurity and chickens.

 

[lalaland]

Justine, so sorry you and Susan are running into this problem. At least if the feed store owner is having the same problem, you can probably rule out anything you are doing or not doing.

Glad you are getting lots of advice here, keep us posted on what you try and how it goes.

 

[Shan30]

Sure can. Literature studies back it up. Discussed it in a thread here too. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/600566/mg-certified-hatcheries-breeders/30#post_10211094

It's like herpes viruses. Everyone and everything has been exposed at some point. Mycoplasma is ubiquitous in the environment,

Thank you for the info, very interesting.

I am, however, planning on breeding the birds in the coop showing no symptoms. I was planning on doing the same with my silver laced polish but that will depend on the test results.
If the first group comes back positive for anything that will leave them as carriers, I will be having blood work done on the others and even the chicks. If everyone is infected I will consider my options but most likely I will start over or take some time off. I am not sure I can afford to purchase a whole new flock. Or if I would be able to figure out a safe place to get them without worry. I probably shouldn't even think about that until the testing is done. It just makes me depressed.

As much as I could live with a closed flock with a virus, I could not feel right going to the feed store or friends farms knowing what I could be carrying.

The lab wants three birds showing the worst symptoms which unfortunately are three of my favorites remaining after the bear attack. Including little Butter Chicken, our only broody hatched kiddo. I feel horrible.

It's been a rough spring for us, bears, sick birds, family issues oh and my barn cat was treed by raccoons 5 days ago and will not come down.

At least it's sunny! Ok someone post something so cheerful it changes my entire outlook!

 

[delisha]

Justine..I would take a fecal sample into the vets office.