BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[DesertChic]

I don't know how they get them so small, must breed them to bantam NN. Everything I've read says silkies are best stewed, I'm going to head over to that thread and ask if the NN makes them better roasters and fryers.

LOL! Troublemaker!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Not dumb at all...It's referring to the black pigmentation in the chicken skin. I believe the complete terminology is "fibro melanistic" or "fibromelanosis" . Is that right @Kassaundra ? @Kev ?

Ahhhh. Thanks! It all makes sense now!

One of my high school classmates has a business selling specialty meats to restaurants. He offers Silkies. I presume it's for the black meat novelty. They are not one of his higher priced poultry items.

 

[dfr1973]

Everything I've read says silkies are best stewed, I'm going to head over to that thread and ask if the NN makes them better roasters and fryers.

Let us know what kind of answers you get ...

 

[Kassaundra]

Dumb question: What does fibro mean?

fibro or fm are short for fibromelanistic which is dark pigment to skin, bone, flesh organs, like silkies (and several other breeds)















Sorry for pic overload

 

[Kassaundra]

Ahhhh. Thanks! It all makes sense now!

One of my high school classmates has a business selling specialty meats to restaurants. He offers Silkies. I presume it's for the black meat novelty. They are not one of his higher priced poultry items.

W/ the oriental peoples it is not a novelty, it is medicinal. Eating soup especially made from fibro chickens (silkies mostly) is a looooong time custom.

 

[dfr1973]

W/ the oriental peoples it is not a novelty, it is medicinal. Eating soup especially made from fibro chickens (silkies mostly) is a looooong time custom.

Exactly. The family that buys my cull Silkie cockerels is Chinese.

As for the distaff side of the Silkie equation, hubby managed to get this pic (they NEVER pose like this for me!):

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Exactly. The family that buys my cull Silkie cockerels is Chinese.

As for the distaff side of the Silkie equation, hubby managed to get this pic (they NEVER pose like this for me!):

In my experience, it's the cockerels that sit on top of the hen. Interesting, huh?

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Look up showgirls they are a new designer breed of jest that

I don't know how they get them so small, must breed them to bantam NN. Everything I've read says silkies are best stewed, I'm going to head over to that thread and ask if the NN makes them better roasters and fryers.

So maybe look for showgirls instead or additionally. The showgirls would give you a jump start and since they have already been crossed you might be able to find them bigger then the silkies.

Gheesh! I spent one day setting up my garden and came back to find 58 new posts! You guys have been busy.

@Fire Ant Farm If you decide to try purchasing Show Girls instead of large Silkies I know of a breeder here in AZ who may be able to help you out. She's only been working with Show Girls for a few months, but she takes excellent care of her birds. I'm not sure if she's breeding for size though....and she definitely falls into the category of "chickens = pets", but I know of several people who've bought various breeds from her and rave about her birds.

Thanks! I like the look of Showgirls, I may consider that, but everything I've seen for them and their development has been so... well... FUSSY. Then again, Silkies are already noted for tolerating heat well... Would anyone with dark fibro NNs consider sending me hatching eggs? (I have a 'bator now!) Or if you're close, I could drive!

Yes, before you ask, I'M NUTS!!!!! (Sez the woman who has ordered the book "Urban Quail Keeping" with an eye to starting up with them soon...) POULTRY MATH!!!!

I think I need to back away from the keyboard, nice and slow...

- Ant Farm

 

[lpatelski]

state

county

Premise type

Number in flock

Date tested

AI strain
IA

O’BRIEN

BACKYARD

UNAVAILABLE

5/6/2015

H5N2
IA

Osceola

Backyard

unavailable

5/12/2015

H5N2
IA

SIOUX

BACKYARD

UNAVAILABLE

5/14/2015

H5N2
IA

SIOUX

BACKYARD

UNAVAILABLE

5/19/2015

H5N2
IA

SIOUX

BACKYARD

UNAVAILABLE

5/20/2015

H5N2
IA

SIOUX

BACKYARD

2,500

6/9/2015

H5N2
ID

Canyon

BACKYARD

30

1/16/2015

H5N2
IN

Whitley

BACKYARD

UNAVAILABLE

5/10/2015

H5N8
KS

Leavenworth

BACKYARD

10

3/13/2015

H5N2
MN

PIPESTONE

BACKYARD

150

4/22/2015

H5N2
MO

LEWIS

BACKYARD

POND FLOCK

5/5/2015

H5N2
MT

JUDITH BASIN

BACKYARD

40

4/2/2015

H5N2
NE

DIXON

BACKYARD

UNAVAILABLE

6/4/2015

H5N2
OR

DESCHUTES

BACKYARD

70

2/17/2015

H5N2
OR

DOUGLAS

BACKYARD

130

12/19/2015

H5N8
WA

BENTON

BACKYARD

140

1/3/2015

H5N2
WA

BENTON

BACKYARD

590

1/9/2015

H5N2
WA

CLALLAM

BACKYARD

110

1/16/2015

H5N2
WA

OKANOGAN

GAME BIRD

5,830

1/29/2015

H5N2
WA

OKANOGAN

BACKYARD

40

2/3/2015

H5N2
WI

JUNEAU

BACKYARD

33

4/17/2015

H5N2
DOUGLAS OREGON 12/19/2015 FLOCK OF 130 WAS THE LAST BACKYARD REPORTED.

Sorry I meant to post the link...

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_h...ownloads/hpai-positive-premises-2014-2015.pdf

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, H7N8, was identified on a commercial poultry farm in Dubois County, Indiana.
Low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H7N8 was also identified.
This is the first time H7N8 viruses have been found in birds in the United States. When infected flocks are identified, the birds are quarantined, and any exposed birds are depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.

What is avian influenza?
Avian influenza refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

How is H7N8 spread?
Avian influenza viruses are spread through direct contact with infected birds or their waste, including contaminated bedding, feed or water. Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, mucous and feces.

Does your feed mill or feed store have Bio Security? Or do they have birds flying around leaving droppings on the bags?

USDA Issues Updates to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Fall Plan

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 01/22/2016 02:30 PM EST

USDA Issues Updates to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Fall Plan​

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued updates to its Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Fall Plan. The updates include additional detail around reimbursement for any virus elimination activities and the results from an August 2015 industry survey on preparedness. APHIS has also finalized its vaccination policy, which was previously released as a draft policy. These updates will help APHIS, states, industry and producers to be even better prepared to address the HPAI virus if it returns this winter or spring.

In the original fall plan, released in September 2015, APHIS outlined its intent to use a flat rate reimbursement for virus elimination activities (cleaning, disinfecting) on infected properties. However, the details were still being finalized. The updated plan provides greater detail about how flat rate reimbursement will work. APHIS will provide a flat rate to the producer, based upon the type of facility and the number of birds in the flock. The flat rates are based upon averages and lessons learned during the spring outbreak. They cover the cost of barn preparation, dry cleaning and heat disinfection. The flat rates are:

• Turkey $3.55 / bird
• Layer $6.45/ bird
• Broiler $1.15 / bird (This is an estimate based on industry averages because no broiler flocks were affected in the previous outbreak)

The producer will be able to use the funds provided to do the work themselves or to hire an outside contractor. They can also use the flat rate money to help fund alternate effective virus elimination methods after consultation with APHIS representatives.

The survey on industry preparedness was in progress when the original version of the plan was published, so APHIS is including the results in today’s update. The survey found that the poultry industry has made important efforts in implementing preparedness and response capabilities for future HPAI cases. However, APHIS is recommending some additional actions, such as increasing the use of premises IDs and having these entered in APHIS’ emergency database, which would greatly facilitate response activities.

The original fall plan included a draft vaccination policy, which has since been updated and finalized over the past several months to clarify a few points. The policy updates include:

• Clarifying that while USDA will cover the cost of purchasing vaccine, it will not incur the costs associated with administering the vaccine.
• Clarifying that should USDA decide to vaccinate, there may be justification for not vaccinating certain commercial subpopulations within an area, such as short-lived birds (broilers, ducks) or primary breeders that are under high biosecurity or compartmentalization
• Clarifying that surveillance testing for layer flocks would be through serological testing of vaccinates and dead bird surveillance using rRT-PCR followed by confirmatory testing at NVSL.

The changes APHIS made to the HPAI fall plan are important and support continued preparation for any future HPAI outbreak that might occur. The current version of the plan is available at the top of our Avian Influenza Web page.

 

[DesertChic]

USDA Issues Updates to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Fall Plan

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 01/22/2016 02:30 PM EST

USDA Issues Updates to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Fall Plan​

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued updates to its Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Fall Plan. The updates include additional detail around reimbursement for any virus elimination activities and the results from an August 2015 industry survey on preparedness. APHIS has also finalized its vaccination policy, which was previously released as a draft policy. These updates will help APHIS, states, industry and producers to be even better prepared to address the HPAI virus if it returns this winter or spring.

In the original fall plan, released in September 2015, APHIS outlined its intent to use a flat rate reimbursement for virus elimination activities (cleaning, disinfecting) on infected properties. However, the details were still being finalized. The updated plan provides greater detail about how flat rate reimbursement will work. APHIS will provide a flat rate to the producer, based upon the type of facility and the number of birds in the flock. The flat rates are based upon averages and lessons learned during the spring outbreak. They cover the cost of barn preparation, dry cleaning and heat disinfection. The flat rates are:

• Turkey $3.55 / bird
• Layer $6.45/ bird
• Broiler $1.15 / bird (This is an estimate based on industry averages because no broiler flocks were affected in the previous outbreak)

The producer will be able to use the funds provided to do the work themselves or to hire an outside contractor. They can also use the flat rate money to help fund alternate effective virus elimination methods after consultation with APHIS representatives.

The survey on industry preparedness was in progress when the original version of the plan was published, so APHIS is including the results in today’s update. The survey found that the poultry industry has made important efforts in implementing preparedness and response capabilities for future HPAI cases. However, APHIS is recommending some additional actions, such as increasing the use of premises IDs and having these entered in APHIS’ emergency database, which would greatly facilitate response activities.

The original fall plan included a draft vaccination policy, which has since been updated and finalized over the past several months to clarify a few points. The policy updates include:

• Clarifying that while USDA will cover the cost of purchasing vaccine, it will not incur the costs associated with administering the vaccine.
• Clarifying that should USDA decide to vaccinate, there may be justification for not vaccinating certain commercial subpopulations within an area, such as short-lived birds (broilers, ducks) or primary breeders that are under high biosecurity or compartmentalization
• Clarifying that surveillance testing for layer flocks would be through serological testing of vaccinates and dead bird surveillance using rRT-PCR followed by confirmatory testing at NVSL.

The changes APHIS made to the HPAI fall plan are important and support continued preparation for any future HPAI outbreak that might occur. The current version of the plan is available at the top of our Avian Influenza Web page.

Wow....such generous compensation. (Yes...that was sarcasm.)