Connecticut!

[chatham400]

As a former 4H mom and poultry exhibitor, here are the basic show and fair requirements for poultry:

Poultry originating within the state must come from healthy flocks with no evidence of infectious, contagious and /or communicable diseases. All birds must be inspected, identified and be accompanied by written proof (CT Flock Test card or CT Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory Report) that verifies that the breeding flock or the individual birds listed on the report were blood-test negative for Salmonella pullorum within 365 days of the show date. Concurrent Avian Influenza testing of the flock and/or individual birds is strongly recommended. Poultry vaccinated within 30 days with any live virus vaccine will be prohibited from showing. All cages, crates and vehicles used for housing or transporting poultry must be cleaned and disinfected before and after each show.

All poultry must be identified and test negative for Salmonella pullorum within the 12 months of the show date and be accompanied by this certificate. All poultry must comply with the Dept. of Agriculture Avian Influenza requirements by originating from AI-Free flocks or be tested for AI within 30 days of entry and have a certificate.

All animals must have permanent identification i.e leg band.

I know that my contact for testing is Mary Joaquin at the CT Department of Agriculture at 860-713-2504 (I believe they do all of CT testing). You call her to arrange banding and testing by the CT Department of Agriculture personnel. There is a $1.00 per bird fee for the pullorum test and you need to allow a minimum of 2 weeks prior to show date.

Hope this helps!

 

[mom23chicklets]

Wow, I think Connecticut is speechless after that explanation! I didn't know so much went into it. Thanks for sharing the info. Good thing I don't have any show quality chickens!!!

Hey Purplechicken, are ya paying attention to the rules? I'm pulling for ya at the Bridgewater Fair. Wouldn't it great if you won?

 

[PurpleChicken]

Thanks Mom23 but after reading the requirements I can't do it. Birds aren't old
enough. Wow.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll pass it along to my chickies.

They'll have to waiy until next year for their 15 minutes of fame.

Keep me posted on if and when your gonna go. I'd love to meet other
CT chicken folk. I've got a hunch you love your chickies...

Don

 

[Galaxie_Man]

Hey....new to this forum and to the whole chicken thing. My wife ordered the chicks through the local Agway, and they arrived the first weekend of June. The girls are still living in my basement in a giant multiple cardboard box condo that would be the envy of any homeless person. We constantly clean it, but the smell is still there. They are free-ranged in our backyard whenever possible while the coop and pen area are being finished. The coop has gotten a little out of control (just ask my wife) with the design, construction, and "extras, but will be well worth the effort, as well as keeping the flock healthy and protected. Our dogs have to be kept away from the chickens because they just want to chase them, and the girls would indulge them by running. The poodle is the worst, he just seems to be obsessed by the birds, and goes absolutely mental when they come out. The big dogs aren't as bad.....interested at first, but then not so much. I had hoped to have the coop ready for occupancy this coming weekend, but just found out I have to work Saturday. My wife IS going to kill me!

 

[momma-hen]

Nah, that's against the law Galaxie man

You might get flicked, however

Have fun with your chicks!

 

[CtlisencedArborist]

EASTFORD!!!in da house....lol

 

[mom23chicklets]

Welcome Galaxie! Many of us are new to the chicken craze! I have a cockapoo, and I would bring him into the basement where the brooder was with the 23 chicks. I would pick him up so he could look into the brooder box, and say,"These are Mommy's chickies, be nice to Mommy's chickies." He would come down with me every time and lay down while I spent time watching the little fuzzballs. When I let the chicks out to free range at about 2 weeks, I would allow my dog to come out and keep a close eye.

Well, now that the chickens are 2 months old and out in the coop, my dog is fine with them. He is actually protective of them when I let them out to free range. Don't know if it's because he was with them since they arrived a day old chicks.

On the other hand, at one point I had 5 Ameraucanas that we got when they were just over 2 months old. My dog chased them every time he saw them. He didn't consider them his babies, I guess!

Hope this helps.

Ruth

 

[Miss Sue]

Hi, fellow Nutmeggers!

I'm Susan, and I have 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Blue Orpington, and 1 Black Orpington. We're in Fairfield County. This is the first time I've had chickens since I was in junior high school, which was quite a while back. We love them! They're young--around 2 months. My son loves to show them off to friends who visit, and several people have left talking about how they want chickens.

The calmest of our flock are the Barred Rocks; they're a bit older than the Orpingtons. My son, though, handles all of them quite easily. He's a third-grader and is thrilled with his new pets. So am I.

I have a picture of one of the chicks at my blog today.

http://tinyurl.com/2e5rzk

I usually write about children's books, but of course now I have to write about the flock, too. My plan is to write about picture books featuring chickens on Saturdays.

Cluckily,

Susan

 

[momma-hen]

Hi Susan! Your bird does look quite mellow. how about writing a chicldrens chicken book yourself?

Sue

 

[Miss Sue]

These chicks might just inspire me to do that!

Another great chicken picture book, released this year, is The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County, by Janice N. Harrington.

Susan