California-Southern

[CheekyChickenLady]

Long Beach, CA, urban backyard chickens and loving it!

 

[Jessimom]

Morning everyone! I have some gorgeous roos that are going to the feed store tomorrow (hopefully). Anyone here want a Black Copper Maran, A blue Copper Maran, A splash Isbar looking roo, a Blue Maran (that doesn't have any copper yet), a very light blue Maran, 2 F4 Olive egger with cute puffy cheeks or an ABSOLUTELY gorgeous Blue Silverudd Blue rooster.

 

[VCBirdmom]

Hello,Anybody here in the San Diego county area??
You mention chicken around here and people think Kentucky fried....

Very Sad

I'm in Valley Center. New Silkies flock going out to coop today!

 

[Justin Joy]

Vista Ca Here I am new to Chickens thanks to the wife and Kids.

 

[VCBirdmom]

Vista Ca Here I am new to Chickens thanks to the wife and Kids.

Welcome! I'm new here, too. And you're a North County neighbor; I'm in Valley Center.

 

[Trux]

Welcome to BYC Everyone

 

[Trux]

Anyone in the SoCal area I'm looking to rehome a couple Jersey Giant ladies 11 months old. Good dispositions and good layers. I'm making room for more Orps. Oh and they are free

 

[Latitude33]

Long Beach, CA, urban backyard chickens and loving it!

Due North of you in Lakewood. Currently have two Red Sex Link hens and two mixed White Leghorn/Rhode Island Red pullets...thinking of adding two more...chicken math.

 

[Trux]

Due North of you in Lakewood. Currently have two Red Sex Link hens and two mixed White Leghorn/Rhode Island Red pullets...thinking of adding two more...chicken math.

Wish I would have gotten this before I left...would have saved me 2 hrs driving time. They are already gone, sorry. your like 5 minutes away. I am going to be breeding Orps in the future if your interested. will have Eggs and or chicks.

 

[Jessimom]

Just got this email from UC Davis, Newcastle disease has been found in LOS ANGELES COUNTY backyard flocks. Please read!

Hello backyard poultry enthusiasts,

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has identified a case of virulent Newcastle disease in a small flock of backyard exhibition chickens in Los Angeles County. The case was detected at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS) when a private practitioner submitted a sick bird for testing. This is the first case of virulent Newcastle disease, previously referred to as exotic Newcastle disease, in the U.S. since 2003. CDFA is working with federal and local partners as well as poultry owners to respond to the finding. State officials have quarantined potentially exposed birds and are testing for the disease.

Virulent Newcastle disease is a highly contagious and deadly virus in birds; the virus is found in respiratory discharges and feces. Clinical signs in birds include:

• sneezing
• coughing
• nasal discharge
• green watery diarrhea
• depression
• neck twisting (example attached)
• circling
• muscle tremors
• paralysis
• decreased egg production
• swelling around eyes and neck
• sudden death.

It is essential that all poultry owners follow good biosecurity practices to help protect their birds from infectious diseases such as Newcastle. These include simple steps like washing hands and scrubbing boots before and after entering a poultry area; cleaning and disinfecting tires and equipment before moving them off the property; and isolating any birds returning from shows for 30 days before placing them with the rest of the flock.

For backyard flock owners, biosecurity measures are to use dedicated shoes and clothes when caring for them and not to use/wear those clothes/shoes in other areas.

Additional information on biosecurity can be found at:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian-influenza-disease/birdbiosecurity

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/BioSpecies/BioPoultry.html

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/pdfs/AI/BiosecurityForBackyardAndPetBirds.pdf

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian-influenza-disease/birdbiosecurity

http://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/biosec/

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should report sick birds or unusual bird deaths through California’s Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473). Additional information on VND and biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Newcastle_Disease_Info.html

Sick or dead backyard birds can be submitted to CAHFS laboratories for post-mortem examination ($20 plus shipping and handling). Information on this program can be found at:
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/pdfs/CAHFS_NecropsyFactsheet.pdf

For additional information on who to contact for issues regarding backyard poultry, see:
http://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/contact/

Virulent Newcastle disease is not a food safety concern. No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry products. Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat. In very rare instances people working directly with sick birds can become infected. Symptoms are usually very mild, and limited to conjunctivitis and/or influenza-like symptoms. Infection is easily prevented by using standard personal protective equipment.

Please feel free to share widely.