Eastern Washington

[Scram85]

That is scary about the Avian Flu. We have corn all around us and lots of Canadian Geese in the corn stalks.

 

[fintuckyfarms]

I am not yet affected....

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/01/07/3346971_quarantine-on-eggs-poultry-placed.html?rh=1

 

[Scram85]

Question on that article....if you have a flock that is in that area you have to toss the eggs for 8 months and pray that none get sick? Wow.

 

[Amberjem]

 

[fintuckyfarms]

From what I understand is that you can not transport poultry and poultry products outside of the quarinten area. So you can still eat you own eggs and chickens, turkeys, ducks ect.

I am outside the quarantine area so I think it's business as usual. However, I will not be visiting any other farms, parks or river areas since I believe this came from Canada in the geese as they migrated south. We have lots of geese in my area but I think that I am far enough away from the river that I should be ok. I'm am putting up those orchard shinney things to keep the starlings away from the barn area and the stock tank.
What I am concerned about is chick season since several feed stores are in the quarantine are as well as the place I process my broilers and turkeys. How is this going to affect our local fair Nd the kids 4-h and FFA projects?

 

[fintuckyfarms]

Just heard a flock in Forks WA just got hit. It's still traveling...

 

[KrystalRose]

Its getting really annoying to hear people ask me every day if I have had my flock tested yet. The funny thing is, a gal at work has her chickens a few houses down from the affected flock she had no choice but to get hers tested, then it has taken them several days to get the results. But if her birds are affected they supposedly wont live more than 3 days, so by the time she gets the results from the test her birds are either fine or dead already. (They are fine by the way). But it is kind of silly, in my opinion anyways.

My girls are all in an enclosed coop/run that currently has a tarp over the run area for the winter so migrating birds wouldn't even be able to drop infected poop in. They are not allowed to free range. But if for some crazy reason my girls get infected and start showing respiratory problems or dying, I still wouldn't involve the government, I would simply dispose of my own flock, disinfect the coop, and start again. As much as I love my girls, I am perfectly capable of using an axe, I don't need someone coming on my property and gassing my birds out.

Sorry I just had to vent after hearing ignorance all week. Each person has to decide if they want their flock tested, but as far as I am concerned, as long as your flock is completely contained and not free range, you may as well take your chances and wait and see. If my girls were free range and hanging out with all the neighbor chickens and wildlife I may feel a little differently, and be a little more worried.

Aside from that craziness, I am hoping I can get one of my girls to go broody and stay broody on some eggs this spring, does anyone have any tips for first time mothers to get them to stay on the eggs? One of my girls was broody all night on some eggs and by this morning she was out and about and over the idea of sitting on eggs. Maybe I should wait a month or more to try?

 

[WashingtonWino]

Hello from the town so nice they named it twice! (Walla Walla, of course). If anyone is interested in the 2015 chick list from Bordertown, I have it and can email it, they are going to have some cool breeds like Cuckoo Marans, speckled Sussex, Welsummer, blue wyandottes, heritage turkeys, guineas, etc.

For anyone in the vicinity, come on over to Walla Walla, pick up chicks and drink some absolutely amazing wine!

 

[fintuckyfarms]

What hatchery do you go thru?

 

[WashingtonWino]

The local feed store (see above) has a pretty good selection, I think from Murray McMurray? I ordered this year from chickensforbackyards.Com, they are kind of a middle man and source from a few different hatcheries, and have been amazing to deal with. I ordered from them because I could get just 6 chicks delivered a month before any would hit the feed store. Too bad Phinney hatchery closed down!