Itchy eyes, runny noses and coughing were clear signs that mycoplasma
gallisepticum had infected Harry Heinrichs’ new flock of birds.
Heinrichs raises chickens, turkeys, ducks and cattle and grows forage
at Waldeck, Sask. Last summer, he bought birds at a sale, hoping to
raise exotic varieties for meat and resale markets.
That was his first mistake, said Heinrichs, who ended up killing 200 of
the 300 bird flock after disease struck.
Heinrichs said it was the only time the disease has ever hit his farm.
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He advised others to buy from reputable and trusted hatcheries.
If buying from auctions or other sales, he advised producers to
quarantine the birds, learn more about poultry diseases and watch for
disease before placing them with other flocks.
“If it looks like it has a head cold, don’t buy that bird; it will wipe
out the whole flock,” he said, citing tiny bubbles under the eyelids as
early signs of trouble in his birds.
Heinrichs said antibiotics are not effective, comparing it to treating
human herpes.
“It goes away and comes right back,” he said. “The best way is to bite
the bullet and wipe them all out.”
Sandra Stephens of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the
respiratory ailment was once a significant poultry disease, leading to
downgraded carcass quality and loss of egg production. She said modern
husbandry has virtually eliminated it in commercial flocks.
It is seen sporadically in small flocks, where a single bird might be
kept for years. Those buying chicks in the spring and selling in the
fall are at less risk than those maintaining “back yard flocks,” she
said.
In commercial barns, Stephens said today’s mechanized barns are cleaned
after each flock leaves.
In addition, the disease is prevented by blood testing breeding stock
before it can be spread from egg to egg. In the past, egg dipping was
used to kill mycoplasma on eggs.
“If it’s eliminated at that level, you won’t see it.”
It is not a reportable disease but has been monitored closely, she said.
