California-Southern

[Phage]

It is what it is. Every year something endangers our precious flocks. How about killing off the wild birdlife that carry viruses around from neighborhood to neighborhood -- nobody seems to be addressing THAT issue!

@Sylvester017 I am so confused here. Are you suggesting someone/the state should attempt to kill wild life birds to prevent Newcastles spreading?

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

And again, it depends on whether the close-together-neighborhood houses have chickens/poultry in their yards as to whether there's any danger of viruses spreading. In my neighborhood we're close-together homes too except that my nearest chicken neighbor might be three to four streets away. So again I have to wonder how much wildlife birds have to contribute to being disease/parasite carriers even though they themselves might never display symptoms as they carry viruses around?

i'm like 15/20 minutes from Compton. so, yup an urban backyard. Most properties in la are 7,000 ft. chickens are permitted on lots more than 9,000 sq. ft. in my town. I only have 2 neighbors (left side/right side) and they don't have chickens. my backyard borders a parking lot. i don't know if anyone else has chickens in my neighborhood. i totally imagine they do in my town. i practice biosecurity. but who knows?

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

@Sylvester017 I am so confused here. Are you suggesting someone/the state should attempt to kill wild life birds to prevent Newcastles spreading?

lol. those words are strong, but i am guessing they came from a place of momma bird protecting her flock. killing off all of someone's flock is a strong action. when they come knocking on my door to kill my birds-what will i say? when they knock on your door to kill your birds-what will you say? i do wonder if there is another way to stop ncd from spreading. it is scary.

 

[Sylvester017]

@Sylvester017 I am so confused here. Are you suggesting someone/the state should attempt to kill wild life birds to prevent Newcastles spreading?

Sorry, meant no confusion. I'm just tired of govt agencies going after backyarder's poultry to kill them off when the initiating Newcastles problem lies a lot with small wild birdlife who can transport many diseases to our backyard poultry that the wild birds themselves don't succumb to. Our govt agencies seem so bent on irradicating backyard flocks and blaming migratory birds for spreading AI -- when in Indonesia backyard flocks are directly in the path of migratory ducks/geese found carrying AI viruses yet the grounded domestic poultry flocks located in migratory flight paths never contracted one case of AI.

If govt agencies can release sterile male Mexican fruitflies to mate with female fruitflies to control crop infestation populations why can't the govt agencies come up with a sterile program for wild birds that in my neighborhood are more of a nuisance than chicken predators like stray dogs, raccoons, or possums? Just voicing my frustrations and not really able to understand why year after year we have to put up with a wild invasive species like House Sparrows who are one of the meanest wild birds we have around here -- they are mean and community-oriented in flocks to chase off or kill every other species of wild bird in the neighborhood. We have no House Finches, Wrens, Brewers Blackbirds, or Yellow Finches left any more. I've seen sparrows gang up on one large Crow! These sparrows were imported as cage pets many many decades ago and are not native to the USA but they're the scourge of neighborhoods everywhere! Other wild birds we used to have were tree dwellers and only ventured to mounted bird feeders but sparrows kill off other birds' nests, invade our ground in the yard, our chicken's feed, our garden beds, even swarm inside the hen coop to scrounge for feathers and straw to make their nests, and even our little flock of hens won't confront these bold little pests -- they're a real scourge and no agency seems concerned about these little disease/parasite/lice carriers killing off or chasing off the natural indigenous wild bird species we used to have. They are like little gang hoodlums and swarm in group flocks to do their destructive behavior. Only hummingbirds seem fast or smart enough to evade the death attacks of House Sparrows. We used to have resident hummingbirds nesting in the neighborhood but now only see migratory hummies as the Sparrows will destroy any established bird nests they discover. i guess govt agencies don't consider an invasive/destructive bird species killing/chasing off indigenous wild birds important or crucial enough to do anything about it yet?!

One thing I've noticed over the years is that backyarders see and understand things way faster/better than govt agencies do. I mean, when you think about it: Industrial commercial poultry farms have the highest bio-security one could possibly imagine -- wearing special suits and shoes and washing off before entering or exiting poultry houses -- so how is it that cases of Newcastles or AI infiltrate their pristine industry? No other way possible except by an influx of wild bird species like the innocent-looking but destructive house sparrow infiltrating a poultry house or cage-free poultry yard and feeding off the farm's feed and water sources and then leaving their infected droppings behind. Birds are forever flying into warehouses, garages, retail stores, and it's rarely Mourning Doves or Finches you see -- but those nasty sparrows 9 times out of 10! They can fly sneaking anywhere they choose.

Well, that's my rant for the day LOL! Sorry if I offended anyone - Smiles

 

[VyeFye]

When I moved from the “city” to where I am now, I was so surprised at all the different types of songbirds. All we had where I lived before were sparrows, pigeons and the occasional robin.
There is a breeder that lives about an hour away from me that swears by feeding the birds on the opposite side of his property from the chickens. He says it keeps them out of his chicken feed and keeps them from getting near his flocks because they are too busy eating in the north 40.

 

[VyeFye]

Also, @Sylvester017 I definitely had the task of removing a live sparrow from the inside of an in n out I worked at. Those buggers have no fear.

 

[calichicken]

hi all.
did you see this crazy info???

Week of November 16 - November 22, 2018
Message from State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones for Residents on VND-affected areas in Compton, Muscoy, and Mira Loma

Due to progression and duration of a virulent Newcastle Disease (VND) outbreak in parts of Southern California, the State Veterinarian has ordered mandatory euthanasia of birds in neighborhoods in Compton (Los Angeles County), Muscoy (San Bernardino County), and Mira Loma/Jurupa Valley (Riverside County). Unfortunately, even if birds and flocks have previously tested negative but now happen to fall within a designated mandatory euthanasia area, the birds must be euthanized. USDA/CDFA staff will contact affected bird owners.

While this action is difficult for all involved, it MUST be done to erradicate VND. Otherwise, the disease will continue to spread and kill additional flocks.

For more information please refer to: Virulent Newcastle Disease FAQs or call the Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-2473

Unfortunately yes! It's so sad that in attempting to get rid of the disease, they will just kill a person's entire flock....even if they test negative for the disease! If you are unfortunate to live in a hot zone with a flock testing positive ....your flock is at risk for being euthanized just for living in the area... so sad!

 

[Sylvester017]

When I moved from the “city” to where I am now, I was so surprised at all the different types of songbirds. All we had where I lived before were sparrows, pigeons and the occasional robin.
There is a breeder that lives about an hour away from me that swears by feeding the birds on the opposite side of his property from the chickens. He says it keeps them out of his chicken feed and keeps them from getting near his flocks because they are too busy eating in the north 40.

Also, @Sylvester017 I definitely had the task of removing a live sparrow from the inside of an in n out I worked at. Those buggers have no fear.

I love birds, had English Budgies, Cocktiels, Blue-fronted Amazon, American Budgies, and now Chickens. I grew up on my folks' farm with Ducks, Geese, Chickens, and other assorted livestock. Sis and I always loved birds -- even the gawky ugly funny buzzards have a useful purpose in life.

So years ago when I started our little backyard flock we thought it was so cute watching the House Finches, Brewers Blackbirds, Yellow Finches, Mocking Birds, Mourning Doves, Hummingbirds, and House Sparrows visiting our yard. But we noticed gradually over the last decade that there were fewer and fewer wild bird species but the House Sparrow populations got bigger every year until we notice now that even the prolific Mourning Doves have stopped visiting because of the aggressive and very numerous House Sparrow groups.

I'm afraid trying to feed House Sparrows in another area just propogates/increases their population and eventually the increased sparrow population in another area will just spill back over to our area of property as the number of birds grows and they spread out into other territory. Feeding sparrows elsewhere on a property doesn't eliminate their population -- it helps to feed and INCREASE their nests as the food supply increases period. The males need to be sterilized to stop fertilized eggs from hatching. It works for the Mexican fruitfly infestation recently discovered in SoCalif so why not the Sparrows who are invading and chasing off the indigenous wild bird species -- not to mention they aren't exactly nice to our backyard flocks either!

I'm getting really disgusted cleaning up sparrow droppings all over my raised garden bed plants, lawn furniture, and patios! We had to switch to Brite Tap nipple valve waterers to keep the little pests from pooping in our chickens' drinking bowls. I have two treadle feeders to set up this year to keep the sparrows from eating our chicken feed. But it's a real pain getting our hens accustomed to using the new feeders. Only a couple hens caught on to using them and the others are just too scared to step on the treadle. As you may have noticed from my posts, I'm quite at my wits end!

 

[VyeFye]

Understandably so. My only feed eater I have had to deal with so far are my dogs. While it is a huge nuisance, they do a good job keeping birds away. Teaching chickens to do anything new can be very difficult I am learning.

 

[LittleRock]

WOW! This is news to me. I tend to stay away from all social media and news coverage, it doesn't always work out. I would be devastated to have to euthanize my flock.