Australorps breed Thread

[MrsBrooke]

MrsB, call your department of ag and check on what they do in your area. Here in Florida, the testing is free. The vet comes and takes quick little blood sample only from the birds you intend to show and/or breed, not the whole flock. They don't really inspect, take soil samples, or anything like that. They just take the blood sample from the birds you present to them, and that's it. They don't test for everything, just for some of the worst, most communicable diseases, then they send you a number that is good for a year. I would hate to go to a show with all those birds there, and some of them be contaminated with something awful, that can not be treated, or is not easily treated, and my birds catch it, then be ruined or die so I couldn't sell their eggs, and offspring as having come from SOP showbird lines. You would hate that too.

I dunno. I'm on the fence about it. Part of me feels that for HUNDREDS of years, people got along just fine without a number to show animals. Then again, the other part of me that partook in public education and has been trained to obey authority wants to comply with the rules in order to show and sell my birds "legally."

In Texas, it is not free. I believe there is a $25 application fee and you have to pay for the test. There are four poultry "inspectors" who travel the state and do the blood work. I have no problem paying, I just have enough spunk in me to fight town hall, I guess, over bureaucracy and rules and regulations. Regardless of your customer's willingness to accept the risk, you cannot ship birds out of state without the NPIP. I feel that is the state sticking its nose into private commerce. My guarantee that my birds are healthy and disease-free, along with the acceptance of risk by the recipient, should be enough, IMHO.

On the other hand, I do understand that it would be devastating to lose your entire flock for the illness. I'm wondering, though, if it is possible to contract a wicked disease after being NPIP certified due to, say, a neighbor's rooster getting in your yard, and therefore passing that disease unknowingly to other people's birds at a show. I would hope that a responsible flock owner would be able to see that his birds are unwell and remove them from circulation.

Again, I am super new to all this, so I have no idea if the diseases tested for would be visible to the naked eye in the form of symptoms and such. I imagine an infected bird would at least exhibit some kind of lethargy, respiratory illness, or telling signs in their poop. If that's the case and the flock owner shows a bird they KNOW is diseased, no amount of paperwork or certifications will save your bird sitting in a cage next to that one (or your flock once you bring the bird back home).

I have no problem treating/culling birds that show illness. I have a problem when the nanny state demands I invite them into my home to inspect what I have, because I cannot be trusted as a responsible flock owner. A lot of this is an extension of how I feel regarding the US government.

I suppose this is why we can't have nice things.

Opposing views are welcome and appreciated.

- MrsB

 

[adam73]

Have observed anytime gov. Sticks it's nose into anybody else's business it never turns out good...we are very happy out here..in sticksville usa..enjoy your new coop & flock

 

[adam73]

.............keep calm raise chickens

 

[4chickymama]

I'm the newb, so I'm not speaking from experience here, but I can see both sides. Its nice to have standards to a certain level for safety, but also nice to not have government involvement. I recently closed a business making and selling handmade children's items because of the testing and safety requirements. It just wasn't worth it, the little profit I used to make was suddenly pulled into labeling and testing, so I was working for nearly free. I can imagine something like that with chickens as well. Just let me be, let me raise my own meat and eggs so that I know what I'm eating, and stay out of my business! If only it worked like that.

 

[BethanyS]

allot of small scale farmers get around red tape by starting CSA (community shared agriculture) groups.We are part of a milk CSA and basically own stock in cows pay the farmers for operating cost and get milk for "free".If someone wanted to produce meat or eggs they could do something like that. The other cool thing about CSA is farmer's don't go broke if crops fail.We understand farming isn't always successful...a cow was killed be a predictor last week so we only got half our normal amount.We have had health inspectors ask us about it at market and tell them we own cow shares and the milk is free.nothing they can do but frown upon us hahaha

 

[BethanyS]

for those who can't sign onto CSA you can sell the containers and fill them with FREE products just stress the fact when they buy a $3EMPTY egg carton you will GIVE them a dozen unregulated totally uninsured eggs.most people love stuff like this and gladly take free eggs with a overpriced carton lol

 

[BethanyS]

ok most ppl at the farmers market understand local food is better than commercial junk. some people are insistent on USDA grocery store lies ...

 

[Turk Raphael]

for those who can't sign onto CSA you can sell the containers and fill them with FREE products just stress the fact when they buy a $3EMPTY egg carton you will GIVE them a dozen unregulated totally uninsured eggs.most people love stuff like this and gladly take free eggs with a overpriced carton lol

I'm not so certain the eggs from any of the major food purveyors are being offered with much in the way of guarantees...with the likely exception that when you crack one egg, it will spread all over an 18'' skillet!

 

[ronott1]

for those who can't sign onto CSA you can sell the containers and fill them with FREE products just stress the fact when they buy a $3EMPTY egg carton you will GIVE them a dozen unregulated totally uninsured eggs.most people love stuff like this and gladly take free eggs with a overpriced carton lol

In California, we have an egg seller program. We just fill out a form, pay a fee and then we get a number.

It is not part of NPIP.

 

[NHChickenOwner]

Hi,

I'm new to chickens, and my husband and I are planning our coop. We are also planning our flock… we can only have 4 chickens and I would love to have one as an australorp because of how friendly I hear they are (the egg laying is just an amazing benefit.) The thing is - we aren't planning on breeding and I have been advised that these birds are just too broody for a 4 chicken, non-breeding flock. What are your thoughts?