The Poultry Keeper

VM · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Manchester

I'm trying to find out more about Mycoplasma - how serious it is and how common it is.

I have been keeping chickens for just a few weeks. Have 5 birds so far and was shortly to collect two more. The breeder has told me that a couple of her other birds have mycoplasma and so she'll understand if I don't want to buy the two from her. The flock have all been treated with anti-biotics.

Some people have said to me that it's very common and our chickens could easily pick it up from wild birds (they are in a fixed run at our allotment, where there are lots of pigeons and other birds) - and therefore that there isn't really any extra risk in getting birds from a flock where there has been the disease.

Is this right? Would you get them if you were me?

strangey · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Cumbria

I don't know if this is any help to you

http://www.vetstoria.co.uk/templates/poultry_chronic_respiratory_disease-9-331-familyfarm.html

VM · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Manchester

Thanks for this

Debbie · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 113 Location: Moncoutant

What have you decided to do? I think this is what some of my little flock may have, particularly gigner. They have all been treated with antibiotics, but she has just not recovered 100%. I am wondering whether to dose them all again.

BLUELACED · Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 66 Location: Leicestershire

Apparently even if the effected bird is treated it can become a carrier and pass it on Surprised

I have had it and was told to cull all my birds and start again Surprised

. Because it is so easily passed on I would have thought it would be impossible to ever steer clear from it 100%. All my birds were treated with antibiotic injection and I culled the worst (happened to be Xmas dinner I had to cull early!) Touch word symptoms are gone.