Colorado

[Cellarrat1]

WOW, WOW, so much new info. Good Morning everyone. I'm back home. My honey is recovering from back surgery. The bator did great while I was away. I had a friend monitoring it. Three days before lockdown.
So, question on NPIP, do you test every bird? What is the cost? Any info would be great. (The only stupid question is the one you don't ask.)

 

[wsmith]

I read the article you saw. I would never tell you not to worry and not to wash your hands after handling your birds, but I wouldn't obsess about it. When I had my birds tested for NPIP certification I had them tested for the type of salmonella that can be passed to humans, and they tested clean. It was an extra charge I was glad to pay - Kristy asked me if I planned to sell eggs, and I said I would like to down the road, but that in the meantime, WE eat the eggs, and I'd like that extra measure of confidence Since then I have advertised eggs for sale for three months and have given away a lot of eggs and never sold a dozen, but I know they tested clean. That doesn't guarantee they're still clean, and I will have them tested again this year for it because I like to know rather than hope they're clean.

The likelihood of getting salmonella from your own backyard birds is pretty remote, but it is possible, so follow basic handwashing just as you would after handling raw chicken from the supermarket and you should be fine.

Judi

X2. Me too. My flock tested clean as well. I feel that we as a society, have almost become too "clean" and sanitary. When we limit our exposure to bacteria, we don't develop resistance to those bacteria, and in turn suffer from things that we may not have too. I grew up on farms. we played in mud, drank from the horse trough, caught frogs and chased chickens. We even sucked down raw eggs. We drank raw milk. We were always told to wash our hands before dinner, and for the most part we did, but we were still pretty healthy. I look around at some of the young families we associate with now, and I am amazed at how often the kids are "sick" and going to a doctor for antibiotics & etc. It seems that every little thing gets someone sick, and rarely is everyone in their families without a health issue. Sure, there are always allergies and colds, but are we causing some of the increased health problems ourselves?
Just some random thoughts..... As I sit here sniffling with some sort of allergy.....

 

[wsmith]

I'm still haveing chicken fertility issues.

So in the next couple of days, I will recombine all my chickens into the main pen, nad wait about a month then try it again. Frustrated. In talking with some very experienced Dominique breeders, it seems that some lines (mine included) are sensitive to temperature ans weather swings. This is apparently due to their survival instinct: it would seem that their instincts are telling them to wait until things settle down before bring chicks into the world, giving them the best chance for survival. or so it seems......

 

[wsmith]

I need to remember to use spell check.... Sorry folks

 

[wsmith]

WOW, WOW, so much new info. Good Morning everyone. I'm back home. My honey is recovering from back surgery. The bator did great while I was away. I had a friend monitoring it. Three days before lockdown.
So, question on NPIP, do you test every bird? What is the cost? Any info would be great. (The only stupid question is the one you don't ask.)

Good luck on your honey's recovery.

NPIP. On small flocks, I don't know the exact number but I think most of qualify for that catergory, each bird is tested. I think the basic cost was $12 or so. You need to contact Kristy Pabalonia, the State Vet to schedule a visit. (Dr. Kristy Pabilonia, Colorado State University,

300 West Drake Road. Ft. Collins 80523. Phone: (970)297-4109, FAX: (970)297-0320.​

E-mail: [email protected]

It can take up to a couple of months to be visited.
Very good to deal with, and very professional and efficient. It only took about 45 minutes from start to finish with my 18 birds.

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: I too wondered about those farm kids that played in the dirt around animals, and played with the chickens. I am sure they did wash their hands before every meal, but maybe not with soap and HOT water. They all grew up, my father and mother included. When the got the flu they went to bed, piled on the blankets and featherbed, and sweated it out, and their bodies developed anti bodies (sp). They were not given Tylenol to reduce the fever, the fever is actually your bodies own defense in "cooking" out the virus. I am not saying a really high fever is good, but all fevers are just the body doing its job.

The US Army did some research and the results were that those in the Army today have no antibodies like people did fifty years ago. So we have developed in some areas, but then taken away natural defenses in others. Just my two cents worth. Yep, I too have the sniffles today, might be the weather change.

 

[suncatcher]

I'm still haveing chicken fertility issues.

So in the next couple of days, I will recombine all my chickens into the main pen, nad wait about a month then try it again. Frustrated. In talking with some very experienced Dominique breeders, it seems that some lines (mine included) are sensitive to temperature ans weather swings. This is apparently due to their survival instinct: it would seem that their instincts are telling them to wait until things settle down before bring chicks into the world, giving them the best chance for survival. or so it seems......

That is VERY interesting!!! Do you see Abe doing his thing? Well, it makes sense, why fertilize them if the weather conditions are not right.

Don't worry about the spelling, I am TERRIBLE at spelling, so doesn't bother me!!

 

[Cellarrat1]

Thank you WS. I currently have 36 "kids." I have 12 arriving this week and 41 in the bator. This evening I'll candle again. I just couldn't see anything but yolk at 1 week, brown eggs and untrained eye. Anyway it is a larger flock. But I love them all. We have a farm market in Canon City and I have a hard time keeping up with egg demand so I'm increasing my numbers. In the process of building a new coop or should I say coops. I want 4 pens, 2 for purebred pens, the largest for the mixed flock and 1 for "the kids."
I too grew up on a ranch. We had horses, a milk cow, chickens, peacocks, guinea and more. I was always dirty, never got salmonella. But I digress.
I guess I need to research the NPIP issue. I believe as long as we stay below 250 dozen a month we don't have to be certified but i believe thats different. We only sell the eggs at our market.
Cheers!

Good luck on your honey's recovery.

NPIP. On small flocks, I don't know the exact number but I think most of qualify for that catergory, each bird is tested. I think the basic cost was $12 or so. You need to contact Kristy Pabalonia, the State Vet to schedule a visit. (Dr. Kristy Pabilonia, Colorado State University,

300 West Drake Road. Ft. Collins 80523. Phone: (970)297-4109, FAX: (970)297-0320.​

E-mail: [COLOR=0000FF][COLOR=0000FF][COLOR=0000FF][email protected][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]

It can take up to a couple of months to be visited.
Very good to deal with, and very professional and efficient. It only took about 45 minutes from start to finish with my 18 birds.

 

[jenhenny]

Thank you for your help everyone! I tend to not be a "germaphobe" and I do agree that it's very good for kids to be exposed to animals and the environment to develop natural immunity. I think I'm probably just being a worry wort
A little off topic but I've read some interesting research that says its actually good for kids to eat a little dirt. The microbes in the soil help to develop the guts flora. Maybe why farm kids are so healthy? I'm fine with dirt, just not real keen on the babe eating poop but after a little more research last night it seems pretty rare to catch anything from birds with a little common sense. Seems like the birds are more at risk then my kids!

 

[wsmith]

That is VERY interesting!!! Do you see Abe doing his thing? Well, it makes sense, why fertilize them if the weather conditions are not right.

Don't worry about the spelling, I am TERRIBLE at spelling, so doesn't bother me!!

Yes, we see him doing his thing. But, there are a few other factors that we are looking at as well. We also have some more eggs coming from another breeder, and hopfully we can get things going down the production path again. I just feel bad that the people who wanted fertile eggs and chicks have to wait.

One thing that I think we'll do is to give Abe some "incentive". In a month or so when the temps go up a little and the days are longer, I will put the breeder hens in pen 3 and Abe in pen 4, for a day or two. He will be able to see them but not get to them. THen, when he haas lots of pent up "steam", we will put him in with the girls. Maybe then we'll see some fertility..... Somehow Abe needs to understand the consequences of not producing........