[tracy66]

 Hi all

Can't believe less than 2 weeks since we got our girls and we took them to the vets ( runny nose, bubbly eye, cough etc)today and they have been diagnosed with Mycoplasma

We found a very good chicken vet close to us and they have been prescribed tylan soluble so hopefully this will help clear it up as April is quite poorly but they are all still eating and drinking well so that's a positive.

Just want some advice please as to what to do
From what I understand myco never goes and will come out in times of stress and we have been advised to take them back to the breeder but even though we've only had them less than 2 weeks we've become very attached to them with their own little characters and I'm pretty sure we know what will happen if they go back

Is it manageable?, can you still eat the eggs after they have had myco?

Any advice/feedback would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks

Tracy's OH

[joyfull]

after the antibiotics are finished then yes you can eat the eggs. Myco is manageable, keep things as stress free as possible and just be vigiallent at times of stress such as moulting etc. never breed from these birds as the myco can be passed down through the egg.
I had one hen who had myco a couple of weeks after getting her and after the antibiotics  she never had another bout.

[tracy66]

Many thanks for the reply Joyfull, that's cheered us up a bit
We had heard that you cannot use eggs for 28 days after you finish antibiotics but that sounds better.
Ours haven't started laying yet anyway but good to know for the future.

[Lindeggs]

Do get back to the breeder though and let them know of your experiences.  A good breeder would be very concerned to hear they had been selling sick livestock.  They should really warn all prospective buyers so people have the option not to buy infected chickens.

This also reminds us all to quarantine any new purchases from our existing birds.

[helens-hens]

I had a similar experience last year where 1 of 2 hens I bought came down with mycoplasma type symptoms very soon after we got them (am putting this partly down to her getting v.stressed on the journey). She got over it herself but then passed it to the other one.

You did absolutely the right thing by taking them quickly to the vets. I must admit I didn't think either of mine looked bad enough to be taken to the vet (they were perky, eating & drinking and the symptoms weren't too bad) but in retrospect I would as I think (and the vet too) that it may have affected her reproductive system as she has had a lot of problems recently with soft shell eggs.

As Joyful says keep them as stress free as possible and I am sure they will be fine. Fingers crossed they have not had a bout of it since - I am sure yours will be fine too!

[joyfull]

the waiting times depends on the antibiotic My vet prescribed aureomycin which has a no waiting after the course was completed. Check with your vet as to the waiting time 

[tracy66]

Many thanks for the replies you've put our minds at rest a bit
We are going to the breeder at the weekend to inform them and see if they will offer any compensation but we'll definitely be keeping our girls they won't be going back!!

[Helenaj]

I've used Tylan soluble for my hens when they had Myco and I usually buy the 500g bottle which has the manufacturer's instructions on it. There is no egg withdrawal period for the soluble Tylan (only the injection type). You can safely eat the eggs, but you are not allowed to sell them.