Ok, I feel like ranting. Feel free to join in
A couple of friends of mine have 100+ chickens. They practice ZERO biosecurity. (and I dont even go to their house to visit for this reason...but shhhh....dont tell them that) I spoke with them last time their flock was infested with fowl-pox about it, but it seems any advice I have (when there's not a problem) goes straight in one ear and out the other. They constantly bring any stray chicken someone doesn't want into their flock. If I had to bet I'd say they bring in new birds from other flocks on a nearly weekly basis. They are not tested and dont care if the people they get their birds from are tested. They don't quarantine new birds either.
So these folks went out of town for 2 wks. and had someone caring for their birds that knows nothing about chickens. (Granted I'm thinking I do the same thing -albeit not for 2 wks at a time. How hard can it really be? They free range, give them clean food and water and they should be ok....right?!)
Upon returning, ALL of their 100+ birds are coughing and making gurgling sounds. Their house sitter did not even mention to them that the birds were sick. She seemed irritated when I asked "Did the person caring for them while y'all were gone not notice that they're sick?" and mentioned the importance of biosecurity. Subsequently she never responded to my message..I tried to be as polite as possible, saying that I'm sorry she was having to deal with all that right after getting back to Texas, but really it's gotten to the point where I just want to say
"WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?!"
Anyone else know someone who just wont grasp the importance of making sure their flock is healthy and bio-secure?
A couple of friends of mine have 100+ chickens. They practice ZERO biosecurity. (and I dont even go to their house to visit for this reason...but shhhh....dont tell them that) I spoke with them last time their flock was infested with fowl-pox about it, but it seems any advice I have (when there's not a problem) goes straight in one ear and out the other. They constantly bring any stray chicken someone doesn't want into their flock. If I had to bet I'd say they bring in new birds from other flocks on a nearly weekly basis. They are not tested and dont care if the people they get their birds from are tested. They don't quarantine new birds either.
So these folks went out of town for 2 wks. and had someone caring for their birds that knows nothing about chickens. (Granted I'm thinking I do the same thing -albeit not for 2 wks at a time. How hard can it really be? They free range, give them clean food and water and they should be ok....right?!)
Upon returning, ALL of their 100+ birds are coughing and making gurgling sounds. Their house sitter did not even mention to them that the birds were sick. She seemed irritated when I asked "Did the person caring for them while y'all were gone not notice that they're sick?" and mentioned the importance of biosecurity. Subsequently she never responded to my message..I tried to be as polite as possible, saying that I'm sorry she was having to deal with all that right after getting back to Texas, but really it's gotten to the point where I just want to say
"WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?!"
Anyone else know someone who just wont grasp the importance of making sure their flock is healthy and bio-secure?
