Salmonella Outbreak--- Mt. Healthy Hatchery!!! Help!

Katt66 said:

Ok, so, if my options are cull the flock or keep the flock, isolate them for life and be VERY careful with biosecurity and safe handwashing, decontaminating, etc, now what?

If I choose cull the flock, then what? Once the possibly infected chickens are gone what do I do before getting new chickens?

How to I sanitize the coop and run area? My chickens have been free ranging in the yard as well for the past few weeks. Is my whole yard infected? And if so how do I fix it?


Thanks so much TSC! Just how I wanted to start my flippin' summer off! :C

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full instructions on what to do to sterilize and quarantine your coop, etc. can be found by going to the Chicken Whisperer page and listening to his archived internet radio broadcast, the second one I think? So sorry you are one caught in this mess.

Oh, and you can use Oxine instead of bleach. This is the same thing used by the poultry industry to sanitize water systems, clean facilities, etc. It's the only thing I use myself. It appears expensive but a gallon is extremely concentrated and really lasts the small flock keeper a long time. It is actually extremely safe and biodegrades harmlessly without harming animals or plants unless you "activate" it with citric crystals, but even then it's only the fumes. pretty cool. Full instructions for use is usually right on the jug.

MeatNeggs2012 said:

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/live-poultry-05-14/index.html

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great link!

BTW-the Chcken Whisperer is the national spokesman for biosecurity for the USDA.

I bought 6 Chicks from Tractor Supply in Pikeville, Ky around the end of April (Not positive on the actual date) it was after Easter! I have almost 80 chicks that I've either bought or hatched since then! I have a small fortune in my chickens! I also bought 10 more from Co-Op in Rogersville, Tn a couple weeks after (mid May) My question is and I can't seem to find a answer to this is how do we know what hatchery our chicks came from? I've called TS numerous times and still no clear answer I've been told most of the outbreaks are on the west coast?!? We'll I just read different, and then I was told to call CDC? I can't get ahold of anyone with them? I just want to know for sure if the chicks I bought at TS in Pikeville Ky and the ones at Rogersville Tn CO-OP are from Mt Healthy Hatchery and if they are some of the ones affected! I have 2 boys under 2 years old who have touched these chicks! If they are affected what do we about getting our money back? I mean I just paid 400.00 for chicks I ordered from another rare breed hatchery including turkey's! Will they refund your money or compensate for their negligence and peoples culled flocks? Again if mine are sick they've infected almost 80 other chicken and turkey's and I'll be highly upset not only about my flock but for my children being around them!

I've talked to my Cooperative Extension and 4-H, and they don't seem too concerned... For all anyone knows, your current flocks could be infected w/ some strain and you don't even know it. And, apparently, if it was really proven and a huge issue, they would not be permitted to sell chicks.

I will copy and paste the letter;




Thanks for your inquiry. I don't believe the type of Salmonella is "pullorum". If they come from the hatchery, I'm sure they will be healthy birds. The hatchery would be prohibited to sell birds until they cleaned up the problems with the flock. You must have a receipt stating that they are pullorum negative if you buy chicks. We test adult birds via a "clinic" that the 4-H will arrange. I don't think you have to worry. If I find out anything other than that, we will be sure to let all the cooperative extension personnel know about it. I appreciate you thinking ahead about this sort of thing. See you at the fair.

I'm not concerned. Just practice sanitary (well, as much as you can with poultry....) and healthy habits.

BarnChickyOO said:

I've talked to my Cooperative Extension and 4-H, and they don't seem too concerned... For all anyone knows, your current flocks could be infected w/ some strain and you don't even know it. And, apparently, if it was really proven and a huge issue, they would not be permitted to sell chicks.

I will copy and paste the letter;




Thanks for your inquiry. I don't believe the type of Salmonella is "pullorum". If they come from the hatchery, I'm sure they will be healthy birds. The hatchery would be prohibited to sell birds until they cleaned up the problems with the flock. You must have a receipt stating that they are pullorum negative if you buy chicks. We test adult birds via a "clinic" that the 4-H will arrange. I don't think you have to worry. If I find out anything other than that, we will be sure to let all the cooperative extension personnel know about it. I appreciate you thinking ahead about this sort of thing. See you at the fair.

I'm not concerned. Just practice sanitary (well, as much as you can with poultry....) and healthy habits.

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About the not allowed to sell part---not true. They've actually violated no law by selling salmonella chicks. This is the third year in a row that a salmonella outbreak has been traced directly back to Mt Healthy (talk about an oxymoron!). The receipt is also not true. This must be local or state regulation, not federal. Once again, I refer to the Chicken Whisperer FB page for a convenient "one stop" place to find all the info put out by the FDA, CDC, etc. on the issue.

chickisoup said:

About the not allowed to sell part---not true. They've actually violated no law by selling salmonella chicks.

This is the third year in a row that a salmonella outbreak has been traced directly back to Mt Healthy (talk about an oxymoron!). The receipt is also not true. This must be local or state regulation, not federal. Once again, I refer to the Chicken Whisperer FB page for a convenient "one stop" place to find all the info put out by the FDA, CDC, etc. on the issue.

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Ok.
Weeellll, I'm pretty sure that a licensed veterinarian USUALLY knows what she's talking about...
I will just chose not to worry, at this point. Whatever you want to do, well, that's what you want to do.

Though I am still concerned, i'm just gonna take that risk and see what happens.

We'll see now, won't we!

Someone just needs to remember to slap me if, a few months down the road my birds all get sick, or I'm not allowed to exhibit at fair. Allrighty, then?

Salmonella is a naturally occurring bacteria on chickens, just like Staphylococcus is on mammals. Normal healthy individuals that wash their hands after handling chickens or other poultry have little to be concerned with. Young children, the elderly,, or those with compromised immune systems should avoid handling poultry if possible, and should be extra diligent with safety procedures in other cases. I have never had a problem with chicks from Mt Healthy. That said, I raise my chickens free range, so they get dirt baths in real dirt, plenty of fresh water exercise, high quality forage and supplemental feed. Most fatalities at my place are from local critters, stray dogs, and gunshot wounds. I did have one die from old age. That one was 5, given to me by a neighbor who was moving, and it was a cornish cross to boot, I'm surprised it lasted that long.

I've read a news article on this and they have been given RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THREE YEARS ON HOW TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. From the news reel I read it said THEY DID NOT DO THE RECOMMENDATIONS. I'm not familiar personally with the hatchery, and recognise that it can be naturally occuring, however they were given help and suggestions on things to change to prevent the outbreaks from happening and THEY DIDN'T DO THEM. That's the only issue I can't get over..kind of ironic it's called Mt. Healthy. Something sure seems to be going on or some practice that was suggested to be changed three years in a row but wasn't changed apparently. I have no real option as I've never gotten their poultry and only know what I've read on the news site but it seems that if they were concerned they might want to take the suggestions to help prevent this.

I have never had a problem with Mt Healthy. Salmonella happens. It is a naturally occurring bacteria on chickens, just like staphylococcus with humans. Normally it's benign but occasionally a new strain will be harmful. If you flock doesn't show signs of infection, they are probably safe. Part of the issue is the new VFD regulations that just went into effect this year. A lot of antibiotics are no longer available due to the VFD and even commercial operations are having problems. Prophylactic use of e.g. oxytetracycline, is no longer allowed. To be fair, I can get medicated feed for my chickens, but water soluble powder is no longer available. I prefer putting it in the water, as the mixing instruction on the feed are not well written.