Colorado

[samsr]

The neighbor that hunts all the time needed eggs today. I only had 18 but still gave him a dozen. He said he has some game cams he will come set up so we can figure out WTH is going on. He likes the hens and brings them treats. Today he brought a big pumpkin for them.

With the prices of eggs I think they are selling them. This happened 2 years ago too. No one believed me until there were tracks in the snow from the front yard to the coop and back out. This time hubby is taking me more seriously.
If they were or are hungry heck ring the bell I keep a fully stocked kitchen and am sure I could come up with more than eggs.
I cannot even meet my sales at this time. I am supposed to deliver 36 eggs on Saturday to a gal with medical issues that needs super fresh and organic foods.

I do have a Malamute but he is such a baby about the wind he howls and raises heck until someone saves him from the wind. The other huge dogs do not have enough hair to be out in the cold for long. They are half weimeriner and half german wire haired pointers standing 30 inches at the shoulder. Nice big protective but under dressed dogs.

I will be sure to post what we find. Heck could be dang squirrels but they would be getting fat by now. I figure I am losing about a dozen a day since a couple of the old hens are done molting in time to lay again.

If you are in colorado springs and need eggs for the holidays iwould like to propose and egg swap of sorts. I have about 11 dozen at the moment if you need some. They are not organic as such but are definately farm raised natural. You could bring eggs back when you have them. I would like some different blood lines in my flock this spring and would like to hatch some different eggs this spring. Let me know your thoughts. I hope you find the culprit. I am getting4 to 9 a day out of my .5 qto 3 year olds.

 

[rf12345]

Can someone point me confirmed MG/MS negative local farm to reestablish flock after full depopulation?
I'm very angry with the dude from Louisville who devastated my flock. His behavior made me sick to my stomach. Throwing rotten eggs at everyone around not observing bio security themselves is just not a good business practice.
Also the question to folk who does free range layers and do pasture raised eggs how do you test your birds health?
I know I've listened to a lot of rotten talk from that person regarding that only caged breeders can be mg/ms negative and all around in CO is just plain sick stock and all the feed stores/farms/suppliers sell mg/ms positive stock and I can not have healthy birds at all in CO.

 

[Latestarter]

Ummm @rf12345 ?? ^^ Sorry, went back over a month, and can't find specifics about your rant... I saw about Uzi's issue with her flock, but what happened with yours? "...dude from Louisville who devastated my flock." <---Huh? "Throwing rotten eggs at everyone around not observing bio security themselves is just not a good business practice." <--huh?

OK, I've tried to find in-depth info on MG and MS... aside from scientific studies (which are mumbo jumbo speak) and sites that lump these two in with typhoid, TB, avian influenza and a dozen other diseases, here's what I've found that makes sense to me:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...tion-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens/ &
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis/

OK, so it's a chronic respiratory disease. It is a permanent condition - once the birds have it, they always have it (test positive for it). It is contagious. It may/can be passed on to/through eggs. It may be terminal or may not be. So is the diagnosis of MG/MS in your flock a death sentence? Should it be? I would think that if your birds survive the infection, they build up immunity to it, it becomes less of a factor over time. Hopefully that immunity is also passed on through the egg? So, on to regulations...

http://www.guineafowl.com/GeneralStore/regulations.htm basically gives regulations for all the states:

Colorado
11.0.0 POULTRY - All shipments of chickens, turkeys, and ducks except for immediate slaughter, including hatching eggs,
baby chicks, or turkey poults shall be imported into Colorado only when originating from flocks actively participating in
(1) the National Poultry Improvement Plan, or
(2) the National Turkey Improvement Plan, or
(3) a comparable Pullorum disease control plan administered by the state of origin.
Each shipment, except for immediate slaughter, shall be identified by a label
and accompanied by a certificate stating that, to the best of the shippers knowledge, the poultry or eggs are free from any
infectious or contagious diseases and stating the Pullorum control plan under which the flock of origin is participating.

Other states have similar laws/rules. Since the birds/eggs are already in the state, there's no importation going on and it would only be a factor if exporting them out of state. I would think if you are selling hatching eggs, or infected chicks/adolescents/adults and make the buyer aware that your flock tests positive, then it is up to the buyer from that point on. As for purchasing chicks or eggs, if you do so from a reputable hatchery, these diseases should not be a factor/issue as they must follow and adhere to laws passed as outlined above.

Most hatcheries give you the option to have the chicks inoculated against some things like Mareks. From my understanding, once the chick has been inoculated, it will always test positive for Mareks and will be a carrier, though it will not become infected.

If you want to eliminate the disease, I would guess the only way to successfully do so would be to cull the entire flock, then disinfect all premises and areas where the birds may have been/come into contact with as well as all surrounding areas where transmission of the disease may have been tracked by shoes/boots etc. From all I could find, it appears the disease itself will not remain viable after say 30 days max, unless it is concentrated in a viable medium to allow survival. So after say a month, you could start over with a new flock.

Am I missing something here?

 

[rf12345]

Farmer from Louisville sold me sick bird for the healthy one, he was asked specifically if the bird was healthy and tested and was told I can not quarantine at that time for month properly, bird will be a pet and that the flock is closed except of that bird, he sold it anyways, the bird was sick, told him so, he denied it, I brought the bird back next morning after the purchase, showed him, he tossed that poor creature into the cage at the back of his shop/barn/egg and produce selling spot. Yes, I returned the bird, I should have tested that animal myself, cause he never showed me the results of the test, he told it had nothing contagious, I was stupid enough to trust that farmer. I returned exposed to the sick bird animal to my flock trusting that farmer. And the rookie aka myself did not know any better at the time, I trusted that scoundrel. No other exposure to other birds, closed flock. Problems started 6-7 days after the exposure, no illness issues prior in the closed flock in any form. MG spread like a wild fire. Farmer denied any ownership in making my entire flock sick with MG/MS. I got my birds tested, the pool is MG/MS positive, told him so, he went into the denial immediately. Depopulating entire flock, do not have many to go, 4 were gone the other day and it is hard not going to say otherwise... it is just heart wrecking.
Selling sick birds for the healthy one and then blaming entire CO farmers community is a bad business practice in my personal opinion. He told me that no backyard chicken owners in Brighton, Boulder, Denver, East CO, Parker can be MG/MS clean, according to him we all are diseased flocks because our addresses are in CO, however he is magically clean... ( being in Louisville, and with no bio security observed even on elementary levels as far as I've seeing his practices)... , that he knows everyone and anyone, second largest flock in CO and so on and so forth. A lot of rotten talk. I made my decision to depopulate the carriers aka surviving birds, and no, state will not come and force to depopulate MG/MS, that is not avian influenza, and they will depopulate only bird flu positive flock. So that farmer will be spreading that MS/MG just the same as he does now, has hundreds of birds. State suggests to vaccinate for Marek only. Can not find clear guidelines regarding how long to keep the premises bird free to restart again after MG/MS exposure. Some say month some say there got it back even after a year.

 

[suncatcher]

Wow, on the egg thief! I have had neighbors steal my hens, not once but twice, all at the same time, just as they were starting to lay! Live and learn! After that I put a padlock on the coop door, never lost another one! You may have to do the same, just lock the coop every night. Some people have no boundaries, so they think they can take what is not theirs.

Hmm on the MS/MG, know nothing about it. I would put up a new coop in a different part of your property, that way you would be sure it is not in the coop anymore. There are plenty of NPIP breeders here in Colorado.

Pozee has Orpingtons, you might check with her when you are ready to add more.

Going to be beautiful the next few days, hope everyone can get out and enjoy it before our next "snowstorm!

 

[rf12345]

the farmer who sold me sick chicken is not on CO NPIP list, there is nothing in Louisville I can see. The farmer was not trustful it seems about the tests all the way.
http://poultryimprovement.org/documents/co.pdf
at least the address is not there at all. Does anyone know what code stands for MG/MS clean or participation? MS/MG clean and monitored is a different status it seems to be

and here are some interesting statements in the poultry industry..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/219205/ideal-mg-discussion/60#post_2609203
see post #68 (I do not know in the link shows right)
I do not know what to say...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/219205/ideal-mg-discussion/80

 

[uzisuzuki]

Farmer from Louisville sold me sick bird for the healthy one, he was asked specifically if the bird was healthy and tested and was told I can not quarantine at that time for month properly, bird will be a pet and that the flock is closed except of that bird, he sold it anyways, the bird was sick, told him so, he denied it, I brought the bird back next morning after the purchase, showed him, he tossed that poor creature into the cage at the back of his shop/barn/egg and produce selling spot. Yes, I returned the bird, I should have tested that animal myself, cause he never showed me the results of the test, he told it had nothing contagious, I was stupid enough to trust that farmer. I returned exposed to the sick bird animal to my flock trusting that farmer. And the rookie aka myself did not know any better at the time, I trusted that scoundrel. No other exposure to other birds, closed flock. Problems started 6-7 days after the exposure, no illness issues prior in the closed flock in any form. MG spread like a wild fire. Farmer denied any ownership in making my entire flock sick with MG/MS. I got my birds tested, the pool is MG/MS positive, told him so, he went into the denial immediately. Depopulating entire flock, do not have many to go, 4 were gone the other day and it is hard not going to say otherwise... it is just heart wrecking.
Selling sick birds for the healthy one and then blaming entire CO farmers community is a bad business practice in my personal opinion. He told me that no backyard chicken owners in Brighton, Boulder, Denver, East CO, Parker can be MG/MS clean, according to him we all are diseased flocks because our addresses are in CO, however he is magically clean... ( being in Louisville, and with no bio security observed even on elementary levels as far as I've seeing his practices)... , that he knows everyone and anyone, second largest flock in CO and so on and so forth. A lot of rotten talk. I made my decision to depopulate the carriers aka surviving birds, and no, state will not come and force to depopulate MG/MS, that is not avian influenza, and they will depopulate only bird flu positive flock. So that farmer will be spreading that MS/MG just the same as he does now, has hundreds of birds. State suggests to vaccinate for Marek only. Can not find clear guidelines regarding how long to keep the premises bird free to restart again after MG/MS exposure. Some say month some say there got it back even after a year.

From what I can remember from my research (please remember I have a brain injury and my memory isn't great), you have to clean the entire area you kept the birds with MG thoroughly and keep it bird free for a day or so - https://poultrykeeper.com/respiratory-problems/mycoplasma/

However, wild birds carry MG and can spread it to your chickens if they free range or come into contact with wild birds, so the only 100% sure way to keep your flock MG free is to get them from an MG free flock and keep them confined and away from wild birds or other chickens that have unknown diseases and practice strict biosecurity.

With a week of antibiotics, my birds that showed symptoms went back into remission (?) and are fine now. Even with the stress of the first major winter weather and switching Memnoch and Odysseus in and out of the flock, no one else has shown symptoms. But, as already stated, they all have it and will continue to be carriers of it and the symptoms can come back at anytime due to stress and weather.

Sorry that guy was a jerk and you are losing your flock now. Did they all get really sick and can't be treated?

Well, I guess I won't be selling hatching eggs and peachicks in the future. That's kind of a disappointment. I'll just hold on to the excitement of Damien developing his first eye feather!

 

[rf12345]

uzi, they all are over it and no symptoms in any of them right now. they all have being treated with antibiotic and all are carriers, ones that are not culled yet, I asked for help to do that part and made sure I was only one present when it was happening... All remaining birds are fine, they all are acting healthy with no visible symptoms, the flock tested positive, test performed by the FT lab, so I'm pretty sure there is no mistake there, they did the culture, they told me i brought birds with mild respiratory symptoms and that they have seeing much worse. Even with NPIP program for mg/ms if the bird is a carrier they test negative in 40% cases. IN CO 50% of tests come MG/MS positive. mine happens to be one of MG/MS+.

 

[uzisuzuki]

uzi, they all are over it and no symptoms in any of them right now. they all have being treated with antibiotic and all are carriers, ones that are not culled yet, I asked for help to do that part and made sure I was only one present when it was happening... All remaining birds are fine, they all are acting healthy with no visible symptoms, the flock tested positive, test performed by the FT lab, so I'm pretty sure there is no mistake there, they did the culture, they told me i brought birds with mild respiratory symptoms and that they have seeing much worse.

Can I ask why you're killing them then if they're fine? I'm not trying to be combative with that question. As someone who found out their flock has MG, I'm just curious why you chose to kill your flock if they've had their symptoms go back into remission. Are you trying to build up a breeding stock? Did anyone in the FT lab tell you to kill your flock? If so, that's a vastly different plan of action than I got from my vet. She seemed fairly unconcerned with the diagnoses like it was just a matter of fact birds outside a sterile, confined area would probably come in with these symptoms and have that disease. She even said that selling hatching eggs and peachicks in the future could still be okay. However, after reading your post and that thread about Ideal Hatchery, I don't think I will anymore.

It seems that, at the time of that thread, only 1 hatchery in the whole of the lower 49 could claim to be MG free and none of the major hatcheries here vaccinate for MG.

I'm going to guess that it would be very difficult to find a small time breeder who has the money to test their breeding stock every 90 days for MG if the major hatcheries aren't testing and vaccinating for it. However, they probably shouldn't be claiming to be 100% disease free like this guy did, either.

 

[rf12345]

FT lab did not tell me to kill/depopulate. I'm officially avian flu negative, so they have no reason, I do not have any state controlled disease, so the state has no reason to ask me to depopulate. I have several neighbors with chickens, none of them are within MG/MS spreading distance as we have out here large properties (I'm not in typical back yard setting), also family has flock as well at the farm. I'd be exposing them to MG/MS. Locals all free range birds. I had closed flock, I opened it once to the farmer where I was buying feed, believed that guy and paid for it dearly.
Yes I was thinking about breeding one rare breed, because I bought a very nice bird by pure accident to be honest, it was appraised by the top expert of that breed very highly, I just did not manage to preserve it well and I feel very sad about it, I was told there is only 1-2 birds that have these show qualities as mine has, it turned out very rare out of the rare breed, show bird. I was thinking about preserving that blood line for the sake of the breed. That is over. I'll need help to cull them, I simply can not do it myself. I'm very sad, not hiding it. That farmer ruined more than he even knows and does not care a bit about it. I kept that sick bird isolated and I would never returned any of the birds exposed to that sick one to my closed flock if that farmer was honest. He was not, he is not NPIP. I asked my questions after I was exposed, I did my digging.
I cannot believe what he does, there is nothing I personally can do except stop the disease where it is. And I know many of those rare breed fowl breeders will never do this. I asked, they told me to keep it quiet and breed that bird and make $, I just can not...