How do you handle Biosecurity at a Chickenstock/meet-up/whatever?

[mississippifarmboy]

I have been wondering about this for a while now, not sure if this is the correct place to post, but if not the Mods can move it.

Those of you who have hosted any type of meeting, how do you handle the risk of someone bringing sick birds or some type of thing such as that? I've been batting the idea around of doing something here this summer, but need more info.

Any ideas?

 

[tellynpeep]

Hi. Mine may not be the expert opinion you are looking for but...
Bringing birds home from a swap is risky. A quarrantine period is strongly recommended for anything you bring home. Some of the swaps have rules/regulations about required certificates and testing prior to bringing birds.
That said (I guess I am a risk-taker), I have never gotten a sick bird at a swap (chicks who turned out to be poor quality, yes.... that is another risk.) I'm hoping my luck holds!

Hope you get more responses here!

Mary

 

[wekiva bird]

Rules/Reg. Do not bring poor or sick brids in!!!!!!!!!!!!! And some times there is a npip tester there for a fee.

 

[Sillystunt]

I have never had a problem when having swaps! I have had tons of them at my house. i set everyone up away from my pens & i require NO sick birds. i will checck them at the gate to make sure. i have never had anyone try to pull that on me. Most are BYC members or chicken lovers & they know the risk of infecting my flock.

anything i buy always goes into a pen for 30 days!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Thanks for the replies.
I know there is a risk no matter how you handle it and I wouldn't think anyone hosting an event would ever allow any sick birds in, or even that the visitors would try to bring a visibly sick bird. Besides, can you just imagine the flack one would get here from fellow BYC'ers if they did!

That's a scary thought!
I was just thinking to myself that lots of things are not visible and wouldn't want to introduce anything to my birds or to anyone else’s flocks.
My thinking was that all birds had to remain caged (no taking them out and letting them loose to contact other folks birds), all animals had to stay in a designated area, and of course have food and water, shelter and such. I have visitors here at the farm at times, but have never allowed anyone into the pens, coops or shelters. Usually if someone comes to see the birds we stay on the walkways and in the areas that the birds aren't allowed to roam free in.

I have had a horrible winter with my health and other things and there are lots of people here who have helped me in so many ways to survive it all and would love to be able to meet some of ya'll and thank you in person. I was thinking of a sorta combo cook-out, poultry swap, general fun type one day get together. Maybe a hay ride and bon-fire late in the evening or something. Just sorta thinking right now, but I sure would worry about the fact someone could get any kind of disease or something at the swap to take home to their flocks.

I have been to a few public swaps and flea markets, poultry club swaps and such, but never to a more private type event like the ones I read about on here. Was just sorta wondering how it was organized and how everything was planned out and handled.

It is just something I'm thinking about, so not set in stone. Any help, ideas or personal experiances (good or bad) would be appreciated.