Avian influenza found in South Carolina

[Iluveggers]

I totally get that.
What I don't understand is why a backyard flock is a threat to him. It sounds like the wild birds particularly the water fowl and those birds that visit both the water fowl and his commercial flock are the danger.
Surely the backyard flock gets sick and dies and doesn't pass it on to anyone.
I will be the first to admit I am no expert on this, but I can't quite make sense of it to all.

I think it’s because the backyard flock can pass the flu on to other birds in the yard, and to other people in stores like TSC if the owner wears their shoes there.

 

[MadGardener]

Commercial birds live short lives, making herd immunity nigh impossible. Of course the reported mortality rate oh H5N9 does the same. Sadly, the world's ability to feed the human population is dependent on "industrializing" agriculture. This increases fragility. Someone is focusing on the greater good here. Whether that's good, or whether they should, is a whole different rabbit hole.

 

[3KillerBs]

I totally get that.
What I don't understand is why a backyard flock is a threat to him. It sounds like the wild birds particularly the water fowl and those birds that visit both the water fowl and his commercial flock are the danger.
Surely the backyard flock gets sick and dies and doesn't pass it on to anyone.
I will be the first to admit I am no expert on this, but I can't quite make sense of it to all.

Say my flock is sick and I'm irresponsible enough to hide them from the authorities.

And if I'm that irresponsible I'm probably not bothering to keep them undercover and away from wild birds.

So the wild birds are infected and they go to my neighbors' feeders to spread the disease.

And I wear my only pair of muck boots that I usually use for the chickens to work in my garden and run to Southern States to pick up some more lime -- politely holding the door for you as you go in for a bag of feed. I have to walk right past the chicks to the garden center.

You and everyone who comes in contact with the dirt from my shoes -- plus the lady buying birdseed that's right next to the lime carry the infection to your homes to spread among wild birds and backyard flocks.

Then my pastor drives his truck into the parking spot I used and steps right out into the mud from my boots -- taking it home to his farm where it gets into proximity with his flock. Yes, he practices excellent biosecurity, but the commercial cases prove that is no guarantee.

Culling all infected flocks is not a pretty answer to the problem of a virulent and deadly agricultural disease, but it's the best answer we have.

 

[Barn yard chicks]

I see the label saying Avian Encephalomyelitis and Fowl Pox.
Why do you say the vaccine is for picornavirus? Is that the one that causes Fowl Pox?

I agree that Avian Influenza (subject of this thread) would not be prevented by a vaccine for any other diseases.

According to the chicken doctor, it does.
Call his numbers

 

[Painted Calls]

According to the chicken doctor, it does.
Call his numbers

Does Animal Med Gary know you're sharing his phone number with the world?

 

[Molpet]

Say my flock is sick and I'm irresponsible enough to hide them from the authorities.

And if I'm that irresponsible I'm probably not bothering to keep them undercover and away from wild birds.

So the wild birds are infected and they go to my neighbors' feeders to spread the disease.

And I wear my only pair of muck boots that I usually use for the chickens to work in my garden and run to Southern States to pick up some more lime -- politely holding the door for you as you go in for a bag of feed. I have to walk right past the chicks to the garden center.

You and everyone who comes in contact with the dirt from my shoes -- plus the lady buying birdseed that's right next to the lime carry the infection to your homes to spread among wild birds and backyard flocks.

Then my pastor drives his truck into the parking spot I used and steps right out into the mud from my boots -- taking it home to his farm where it gets into proximity with his flock. Yes, he practices excellent biosecurity, but the commercial cases prove that is no guarantee.

Culling all infected flocks is not a pretty answer to the problem of a virulent and deadly agricultural disease, but it's the best answer we have.

This is a true concern.

Since it's mainly spread by wild birds should they be eliminated also? That would be unthinkable to me. Although I started discouraging wild birds awhile back due to lice right after the black birds landed, but I don't kill them.
Although I thought about it when a pair of ducks were in the creek.

 

[Barn yard chicks]

Does Animal Med Gary know you're sharing his phone number with the world?

It's a free service to the public.

 

[Painted Calls]

It's a free service to the public.

It's a screenshot of your contacts list. Does this Gary have a website?

 

[Barn yard chicks]

Yes... I saved his numbers
Go to Jeffers.com they have a free Dr. Service over the phone.

 

[Barn yard chicks]

https://www.jefferspet.com/