Myco -exactly what is it and how do you treat?

chrismahon

chrismahon

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Poor Isabella sneezed this morning and both her eyes filled completely with bubbles. She's been chesty but that has stopped now. She is very run down but quietly eating a bit. We are treating her for Canker with Flagyl at the moment. She obviously has Myco as well, brought on by her run-down condition -think her daughter has it as well.

I've been searching frantically for the somewhat vague article that PP had around Christmas on it. Can I find it? No chance, been looking for an hour!

So does anyone know how to treat it, apart from improving her physical condition with tonics? As far as I know it is a virus and so antibiotics do nothing except prevent secondary infections. I assume all our hens have it, but with their general good condition it can't gain a foothold.
 
You are quite correct Chris - Myco is a virus and while antibiotics cannot fix it, they do keep secondary infection away. I usually use Tylan administered in their water.

Tonics are the way to go, warmth (with the inevitable plenty of ventilation cry!) and as little stress as possible. It is possible to get Myco under control, but once you have it in your flock, it is there to stay.

That said, I have myco here (my flock was myco free when I moved here two years ago, but 1000 pigs out back, put paid to that!)and as long as I keep an eye on things, make sure they get their multivits every so often, wormed regularly, I very seldom have a problem. When I do I use either Respite or Oristrim (I think that is how it's spelt - too lazy to get up and find the bottle!) and caught early, seems to knock it on the head.

I find it rears it's head when there has been a spell of cold damp weather, the sort where the damp gets in everywhere. One or two will start to rattle and then I know it's time to up the tonics again!

Hope this helps!
 
Thanks Philcott. Exactly as I thought. We'll give the two 'a little shot of sunshine' -Cod Liver Oil with multivitamins- for now.
 
As most people know I have recently been treating my birds for Myco and they also had IB at the same time. Three different types of antibiotics have been used over the past few months or so, Baytril didn't work, Denegard didn't work, but the best result was with Tylan injected. Only one injection was given and although hasn't completely stopped the sneezing, the wheezy breathing has gone and the sneezing has been markedly reduced. I also put LC Energy in their water (purchase from the Chicken Vet website). The bird who was the worst affected was never actually ill (apart from the sneezing), she never went off her food or showed any signs of being under the weather!

All my birds were vaccinated against Myco and IB by the breeder.
 
Ours have had IB immunisation which can flare up, as ILT does. Apparently that can be the trigger according to the PP article which I have now found and read twice again. So you can't do right for doing wrong! Underlying problem with Isabella is being kept in the run for a week whilst being wormed and we won't do that again for them. Their run is too small, even for placid Orpingtons, with 7 in 4.5 square metres with a full length perch which they do use. They just like to be out and any longer in the run than half a day stresses some of them (at the bottom of the pecking order). So it will be the oil and Flubenvet mix for 7 for 7 days -bit of a pain.
 
Hi, I have had myco in my flock for 2 years now. The best treatment for me was tylan but now I don't treat and haven't for a year. The birds get a much better resistance to it as well and now when it comes back (usually winter) they don't show many symptoms and soon get over it on their own. The only time I use tylan now is if a bird can't seem to shift it or I hatch some chicks and they show symptoms at an age I think needs treatment. I have read tylan also helps them build up resistance to it compared to other abtibs that will just treat the infection. I had a 100g bottle and it will last a long time and has a shelf life of 3 years which is handy for when it does come back and you want to treat them again. Hope this helps and your chooks get better soon.
 
We didn't go down the antibiotic route. Just kept her eating all her favourites. Today she had both eyes open but did have half an asprin in a grape yesterday. If it brihtens up later we will try the 'peer pressure' method of getting her to eat. If she sees other chickens eating she will want to as well is the theory, which does work sometimes.
 
We left her out too long and she's gone downhill. Still eating cucumber and grapes but her face is swelling and her eyes are running even more. Gone onto Baytril course as that's all we have here. Will ask vet about Tylan.

She still had enough fight in her to chase daffodil away from the food though!
 
Chris, it was Tylan than seemed to work the best for mine. Do you have a vet who will let you have the injection to give yourself? Mine did and so it worked out much cheaper, about £6 I think it was. It only took the one. You can give 2 or 3 injections 24 hours apart if necessary.
 
If it is Myco I have always found Tylan 200 injected into the breast muscle twice 48 hours apart will do the trick, providing the bird has'nt been left to cope for to long.
If left to long infection can become so deep seated that they do not respond to any medication.
 
I fear you are right CCM. She isn't responding to Tylan by mouth, sorry beak. Neither are her Cankers responding to Nystan. They are stable, whereas they grew with Flagyl. She is really miserable being pumped full of stuff all the time so we are stopping medication completely and will just concentrate on keeping her eating. We are of the opinion that all this medication is bringing her down anyway so if she goes more downhill it's unfortunately one less to France. She even makes Botty miserable!
 
Sorry to hear she's not responding to the treatments Chris. Sounds as though stopping all medication is probably the best course of action in her case and hopefully she will then get stronger. At least you've tried everything you could do for her.
 
chrismahon said:
Ours have had IB immunisation which can flare up, as ILT does. Apparently that can be the trigger according to the PP article which I have now found and read twice again. So you can't do right for doing wrong! Underlying problem with Isabella is being kept in the run for a week whilst being wormed and we won't do that again for them. Their run is too small, even for placid Orpingtons, with 7 in 4.5 square metres with a full length perch which they do use. They just like to be out and any longer in the run than half a day stresses some of them (at the bottom of the pecking order). So it will be the oil and Flubenvet mix for 7 for 7 days -bit of a pain.
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So, Chrismahon, what is this PP article? Can you direct me to it please?
 
Practical Poultry issue 96 /March 2012 pages 42, 43 and 44. It appears Myco goes hand in hand with immunisation for IB and ILT. They omit to add 'chestiness' in their signs as we spotted that first and the bubbly eyes started 2 days later. No apparent certain cure but quickly administered Tylan seems to effect recovery. Thereafter they will be carriers though.

I think it's something you just live with.
 
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