I would say yes but you need to think about what you would do with the results. I had decided that I would cull if the results were positive but when it turned out to be only one and the state was not calling for me to cull the birds in the 2 pens that were negative I had to alter my state of mind. I still went beyond their recommendation and culled more than just the one positive bird. I culled the birds that also tested negative in the pen...I culled everything in that pen.Should I have my flock tested then? This is very scary!
It is scary and it's avoidable as much as some folks want to say it's so prevalent. Just don't get in over your head with chickens. Don't multi-age, multi-breed large amounts of chicks in the same brooder and always quarantine incoming birds at least 3-4 weeks. My brooders were too close together in the same space so not separated enough. Some folks are using those GQF towers and just dumping chicks in them as they get them so....
This will be my last post on this thread.
I am prompted to this by a conversation on what is and is not anyone's business when it comes to MG in someone's flock.
If anyone is in the business of selling chickens, large or small scale, I believe it is the public's business what goes on in your flocks. I am disgusted by how much this thread was jumping when folks had birds they wanted to sell or advertise but now they are all silent.
I think that this is big news in an underground way among some folks since there is so little being said publically by any of those truly involved in it's onset. I myself have had interesting conversations with people and been directed to posts by folks who have populated this thread or reside here in NH and honestly believe that this outbreak of MG really started last year late summer early fall and was present in several flocks, not just the 3 suspected farms. I think some folks have had ongoing infections of various varieties for maybe over a year now and it all exploded when these infected flocks hit the swaps as that just disseminated the infection to the general public.
I, myself, am deeply concerned with how little any of the swappers are saying and sharing in regards to this MG outbreak. I really am (to use the same word again) disgusted that folks who are so public when it comes to the money making end of things are so silent now when it comes to sharing with those that may have purchased or done business with them, in any way, any information about what is going on with your individual enterprises now.
I think it's everyone and anyone's business who ever did or who ever will purchase chicks, eggs or adult birds from anyone who participated in the act of selling chickens to the public.
I will never again attend any swaps or go to the stores that are hosing them on those days and I will advise anyone who asks to do the same. I will probably not ever purchase any birds locally from anyone here in NH without some really good research and information on their birds and practices. There are enough folks not in the know to keep this going so those in the biz will have enough customers when they restock and start selling again, and I'd rather stay out of the fray. The idea that this is in anyway normal or can just happen belies the truth that many farms big and small are MG free and maintain that over time.
But some are going right back to the multi-breed, multi-age, multi-brooding practices that encourage this sort of thing. I think everyone should have their birds tested...it may be free till the end of the month I believe.
So a final good luck and happy chicken wishes to y'all
ETA: I have never sold at the swaps but was contemplating it for this year. I have bought chicks there when I first started up 3 years ago but only went to one last year as I was worried about bio-security. I believe my infection was directly from a person who does do the swaps. The state will not call you if you did not purchase at the swaps so private or person to person sales outside of the swaps were not contacted.
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