CHICKEN SWAPS OF NH SWAP LISTINGS

[Snakedoc]

NPIP is a national program, not a state one. To change the NPIP rules it would have to be done nationally. You are more than welcome to spearhead a campaign to do so. Currently testing is done for disease that can affect humans.

I don't want to come off as combative, but I do want to clarify what you've written here. I knew this wasn't all entirely correct based on what I was told by the state vet tech, but I had to do some serious digging to sort out the realities. There's a lot of misinformation out there, and I think I've sorted out the truth, but if anyone can point me to a valid source to refute what I've outlined, I would love to see it as it can only help us all. I did post links to my sources at the end of this post.

Yes, NPIP is a national program, but the only testing that is required to participate on a national level is for Salmonella pullorum. This is NOT a zoonotic disease (meaning one that can be transmitted to humans), but is very fatal to baby chicks and thus very expensive for the poultry industry. According to the USDA requirements for participation in NPIP for backyard flocks, that is the only disease they require, and there is a list of additional diseases that are suggested. MS and MG are listed among those diseases. NPIP is a voluntary program.

However, every state is allowed to assemble its own panel of required diseases. This is not, technically, the same as NPIP -- NPIP is a national, voluntary program, while this is a state law that states that birds must be tested and certified free of these diseases in order to participate in public events such as fairs and swaps. To that end, New Hampshire requires that birds test negative for Salmonella pullorum and also Avian Influenza (which IS a zoonotic disease) in order to legally participate in events such as swaps. Again, this is not a national requirement; it is a state law. Because all that is required to participate in NPIP is to be tested and certified free of Salmonella pullorum, by default, everyone who gets their birds tested by the state of NH in order to sell birds at swaps is automatically NPIP certified.

Thus, if you really wanted to change the rules, I would suggest you write New Hampshire and petition them to add MS and MG to their list of diseases that birds must test negative for in order to show/sell at swaps/fairs. (In effect, it would be adding MS/MG to NH's "version" of NPIP, though that really isn't an accurate way to portray it.) That's even stricter than changing the national NPIP requirements, which are only voluntary -- this would make it law.

I think that is the true story -- again, if anyone can point me to a source where I've messed something up, please do correct me!


Sources:

http://agriculture.nh.gov/divisions/animal_industry/documents/fairregs.pdf

http://ag.utah.gov/divisions/animal/health/NPIPbrochure.html

 

[puglady]

Thank you for the clarification. It does seem I read some misinformation earlier in the thread and passed it along. In the meantime I'll continue to test my flock voluntarily.
While it would be nice to have the taxpayers pick up the bill for the test personally I really don't think that $100 for 50 chickens is much. Ex: if my vet (state tech) would come to my home and run any test (heart worm, distemper or whatever you like) for $2 per dog I'd be thrilled. $100 a year to test the birds really is not a lot.
I saw signs on another vendors birds at the Concord swap and was told that the bird had been poked in the eye. I said something. The same line was used on an unsuspecting couple in Milford who bought from the same vendor earlier in the year The couple contacted me in a panic (after Concord) wanting help. (They had bought clean birds from me last year.) Exactly how many of their birds were "poked in the eye"? But no worries I won't "blame anyone". What's even better is that I'm told that they refused to cull their flock. Now we're (Joe public) supposed to "trust" that they are following proper quarantine procedures.

 

[Bator Babies]

Hey I heard the poked in the eye thing too. Now I am REALLY glad I did not buy from those people.

Is the swap on sat or sun? someone on craigs list says sat.

 

[jeepchick]

Im so glad that $100 is no big deal to you LMAO! Keep in mind when you are having your opinion that a family of 4 with one income that just lost pretty much the season of poultry sales due to people who just dont give a **** and bring birds to swaps that "got poked in the eye" and some other BS reasons they spout to make their $12 bucks kinda sucks.......so yeah that extra $100 is alot to some.


And that "vendor who shall not be named" that didn't cull.....don't forget when people dont cull with this crap in their yard they are tracking it everywhere......walmart, tractor supply, gas stations......and every wild bird that lands in their yard and then lands in yours......well you get the picture. Always the "innocent" ones......just sayin.

 

[ChickenPrnces]

Unfortunately the "vendor who shall not be named" has already done the damage! Now it's too late! Even if we test for everything under the sun! The customers are just not gonna trust any of us because of a few unfavorable people! They have ruined it for everyone! I hope they are very proud of themselves! I am not sure i will ever swap again myself now! I thought I was joining a group of honest poultry lovers like myself! Don't get me wrong, the majority were honest and friendly! But then comes the "few"! I personally think I would do much better on Craigslist making it clear that my flock is tested for everything with the proof! And the people stay at the end of the driveway! No one near my babies! It is sad that this is the only way to protect them from evil people who intentionally will hurt them!!

 

[puglady]

Yes, it is a lot to some.
It is much much less than causing many many people hundreds or thousands of dollars of loss (rare breeds).
I do believe that there are responsible chicken owners/breeders with a quarantined flock who will bend over backwards to follow every precaution there is in order to keep their birds. I also believe that there are those who's flock are in quarantine who do not and are contributing to the issue.

 

[puglady]

Hey I heard the poked in the eye thing too. Now I am REALLY glad I did not buy from those people.

Is the swap on sat or sun? someone on craigs list says sat.

You dodged that bullet!

 

[puglady]

HERE IS THE AUGUST SWAP LISTINGS

CHICHESTER TRACTOR SUPPLY
SUNDAY
AUG 4
10M TO 2PM
==============
TILTON TRACTOR SUPPLY
SUNDAY
AUG 11
10AM TO 2 PM
==============
PLAISTOW TRACTOR SUPPLY
SUNDAY
AUG 18
10AM TO 2 PM
==============
MILFORD TRACTOR SUPPLY
SUNDAY
AUG 25
10AM TO 2 PM
==============

 

[Snakedoc]

Thank you for the clarification. It does seem I read some misinformation earlier in the thread and passed it along. In the meantime I'll continue to test my flock voluntarily.

No problem! Just want to make sure we are all on the same page about this stuff.

While it would be nice to have the taxpayers pick up the bill for the test personally I really don't think that $100 for 50 chickens is much. Ex: if my vet (state tech) would come to my home and run any test (heart worm, distemper or whatever you like) for $2 per dog I'd be thrilled. $100 a year to test the birds really is not a lot.

[/QUOTE]
Actually, at $2/bird, I suspect that taxpayers are already footing a chunk of the cost. I don't know how much the lab charges per test, but even if it is only $2 or even a little bit less, that still doesn't pay for the labor cost of driving out to your house and drawing blood on each individual bird, then banding them and sending in the sample. You raise a great point -- there is a reason private vets charge more than $2/test ...

That said, I can see how the cost would add up pretty fast if you have quite a few birds, and why people might balk at that for low-end birds ... At this point, though, I know I will be looking for MS/MG-free sellers when it comes time to add new birds to my flock, so you can always look at it as a good selling point (and charge a bit more accordingly!)

 

[puglady]

Actually, at $2/bird, I suspect that taxpayers are already footing a chunk of the cost. I don't know how much the lab charges per test, but even if it is only $2 or even a little bit less, that still doesn't pay for the labor cost of driving out to your house and drawing blood on each individual bird, then banding them and sending in the sample. You raise a great point -- there is a reason private vets charge more than $2/test ...

That said, I can see how the cost would add up pretty fast if you have quite a few birds, and why people might balk at that for low-end birds ... At this point, though, I know I will be looking for MS/MG-free sellers when it comes time to add new birds to my flock, so you can always look at it as a good selling point (and charge a bit more accordingly!)

Good points Snakedoc.
Another thought is that even when at the swap buyers can ask the sellers if they are MG/MS tested as well as NPIP. If not tested simply move on to the next vendor. There will be vendors there who are tested. If enough customers do this the untested vendors should get the message.