A question about NPIP

[Poetical Peeps]

I am fairly new to keeping chickens, but at some point in the future would like to have my flock certified. Unfortunately, I have not kept meticulous records up to now and am fairly certain that one of the recent sources I purchased hatching eggs from was not certified. As NPIP requires that I purchase only from NPIP sellers, I am wondering if it will be possible for my flock to be certified -- provided all testing is okay and I promise to stick with NPIP stock in the future. Has anyone here had experience with this?

My primary interest will probably be selling hatching eggs online. It seems a lot of people do this without being certified, so I am not clear on the laws about it -- or how important it actually is to most would-be buyers.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You need to talk to your county extension office about getting certified. That phone number should be in the phone book under county government. Each state is different so I can't tell you the rules in Wisconsin, but usually they test the flock and after that test you have to purchase from NPIP certified sources.

The NPIP program was set up primarily to stop one chicken disease, Pullorum. Different states have added other requirements to their individual in-state programs. It's not unusual for the individual state to require additional testing for other diseases. In some states you can easily becomne a certified tester so you can test your own flock. That's why you need to check on Wisconsin's requirements. By law, you need to follow your states requirements plus the state requirements of the state you are shipping to.

Pullorum used to be pretty common in chicken flocks. NPIP is one program that has worked pretty well. Enough people have followed the NPIP requirements so that Pullorum is pretty rare now. You always get some people that are unaware of the law so they don't follow the requirements. You also find some people that feel they are above the law and don't bother. They don't care who they put at risk. I don't know what the penalties are if you are caught violating this requirement. I'm just glad enough people follow the requirements that Pullorum is now pretty rare.

 

[mycountrygirls]

Before I knew much about chickens, it didn't matter to me who or where my eggs or chicks came from. But now that I've had chickens for quite a few years, I look for the NPIP # before I buy - even though I'm not certified yet either.

Ridgerunner is right, I think most states don't care where your chickens came from before you're certified, but after you're tested and certified, you can only buy from other NPIP sources.

Good luck on your certification, it should go fine!

 

[Poetical Peeps]

You've both been hugely helpful -- thank you!