Do you worry about biosecurity with wild birds?

[popcornpuppy]

So today I was outside watching my flock and I noticed the Chickadees and Finches grabbing the feathers from my runs for their own nests. I am all for helping the wild life but I don't want them spreading disease to my flock. I am headed outside to clean up the feathers so that the wild birds don't go near the chickens, but my question is how do I keep a biosecure area with wild birds intruding?

 

[chicmom]

Well, you're already doing it by keeping things picked up. I do like the wild birds too, but I don't encourage them.

 

[speckledhen]

It's hard to completely keep them away. I don't use my bird feeders anymore, haven't in years. There is a Carolina wren who has built her nest on the coop, under the eaaves at the back side, but I left it. As long as you don't have them eating out of your feeders and nesting inside the coop, I think there is a limited risk. It's possible, but not probable, in my opinion, that your flock would contract anything from wild birds. Most things are passed by bringing in infected or carrier chickens.

 

[blueskylen]

I went to the local feed store the other day and there was a poster advertising free flock testing for farmers - i called and it was the WV farm bureau guy who goes to all of the livestock auctions and tests the birds there. I said that I only have 11 chickens and he said that he could check them for me, and is actually coming Tuesday the 27th.

Maybe this is being done in other states? I don't know, but you could ask at your feed stores or look for similar posters..

 

[patandchickens]

You can't test for all diseases (usually it's just for pullorum and a couple other salmonella-type things), and in any case it only tells you the status on the day of testing. So I am not sure this would address the o.p.'s concerns.

As far as keeping wild birds out, remember that if their POO is getting in, that's just about as bad as if they themselves get in. Thus, unless you have an entirely-roofed run, I am not personally convinced it is worth going to great elaborate measures to keep sparrows out (unless your main beef is that they are eating all your chicken food, which is another matter altogether <g>). But, certainly other opinions exist, it just depends on your priorities and philosophy.

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[blacktailsmom]

Any thoughts on mosquitos? I heard that our area has test chickens that they draw blood to check for mosquito carried diseases (like West nile) to smple for the human population .... not a lot of humans volunteering for random blood draws.

 

[jjthink]

I worry about a lot of things but that is not one of them. For umpteen years my feathered friends and wild ones have comingled without any apparent problems.
JJ

 

[MuranoFarms]

Quote:
Pa does this also and it is free (I'm one of the people that do the testing) We test for salmonella pullorum and avian influenza. Call your Dept of Agriculture and ask them, they probably have a similar program.

I agree with the previous poster who said its the poo that's the big problem. Try not to encourage wild birds to hang out with your chickens. Your biggest problem would be if a flock within a few miles of you came up with something like newcastle disease. Wild birds could spread that.

 

[CherokeeCowgirl]

I don't. I am not a worry wart either though. I have owned chickens my whole life since I was born. I have had over 50 chickens for the past 8 or 9 years here. I have bird feeders, baths and bird houses everywhere on my property. I love wild birds too. I go to lots of other places where chickens are and don't really do the sanitization methods that some people do and I have never once had a sick bird. I keep an extremely clean yard, coops and stable too though. Hopefully nothing will ever happen either.

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
I know mosquitos can carry Eastern/Western equine encephalitis and can infect chickens with it, and the symptoms are like Marek's. I know Florida, for one, has test chickens set out in all areas and tested for this. It's very common to test for mosquito born diseases using chickens. Did I say the same thing you did?