How do you keep show chickens from picking up diseases?

[Gallusfarm]

One of the best things you can do is build their immune systems from the day of hatch. Wholesome feed, clean water, stress level down, I think it really makes a difference.

I wonder how many folks have brought something home, wonder what the stats are on that?

But I agree, it's hard to take your best breeders to a show.

Stolen - really - this happens a lot?

 

[CheshieChick13]

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Stolen!

I never even thought of that! Although I did read a thread where someone admited to stealing eggs laid by birds at a show. I thought that was pretty low!

 

[CheshieChick13]

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Go figure

LOL!

 

[TK Poultry]

I think some people who are paranoided about the fact that they "may" pick something up are being counterproductive. Instead of worrying about the maybe's we need to worry about preventative measures. Its like vaccinating your kids before you send them off to school. You need to do the same with your birds. I don't say vaccinate but you need to take preventative measures to ensure that you don't bring anything home.

I try to keep a natural immunity in my flock. I try to make sure that they are not babied along. They get a one part garlic shake two parts water mix to boost natural resistance. They get dusted for lice and that is really all I do. If you keep fresh food and clean water avaliable at all times your birds can do the rest. I keep oyster and grit free choice as well. All my birds have free choice food, I let them be the judge of what they need, they have those instincts for a reason and I want to exploit that.

this is my opinion about health. can you bring home something from a show, YES. How likely is it that you will, UNLIKELY. Just look at NYREDS. I've yet to bring anything home from a show granted I only have one show season under my belt but still. You are more likely to pick up diseases other places than a show. Most people at open/open jr shows have a good deal of money wrapped up in that show bird so they want to bring it in its peak condition. Most people are like this so disease is pretty low. i've never had a second thought about it.

TK Poultry

 

[elieugene6]

Well that makes me feel quite a bit better. I definitely do not baby my birds. The ones I have now are free ranged all day. Provided the proper food. Grit and oyster shell free choice and I add Apple cider vinegar to their water. When I do get birds for showing and breeding they would end up being penned separately when needed. I have a pair of bantam cochins right now that I would like to use for breeding but she hasn't started laying yet so they are free ranged as well.

I will have to figure out what I want to do for my son with 4h. Maybe have him show birds that I plan on selling and sell them at the fair. That way we hopefully wouldn't have to bring them back home. With 4h having so many low quality birds that would probably be our best bet. I know that they auction off the meat birds at the end so I guess thats something to think of as well.

What you said about everyone having so much invested makes sense. It definitely makes me feel much better about those types of shows.

 

[danhonour]

I was schooed by the late Fred Jeffrey,who said ,shows allow our birds to be exposed to many things,which is good. In reality they are not sterile creatures living in a bubble.We want them to be vigorous with natural body defenses.If they are well feed and taken care of and allowed to live close to nature,many will be strong and healthy. He said to use the ax rather than medicate,the future flock will be much more robust.With any outbreak their are some individual birds in a large flock,with natural defense which can be bred from .

 

[NYREDS]

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I too follow Dr Jeffrey's advice. I "medicate" any illness with a hatchet. [though after many years of following this plan I rarely have any illness to deal with]

 

[elieugene6]

That has become my way of doing things as well. I love my chickens but there is no way I am going to be nursing them all the time. I would rather get rid of the sick ones. Which as hard as it was I did (ok well my fiance did). I had 4 that I had in quarantine that had to be put down, unfortunately I hadn't been able to start a breeding program with them yet so I have to start from scratch. I think this time I will be getting eggs and trying that way. Might be hard to hatch but at least I have less of a chance of sickness.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

4-H shows can be less well monitored than APA, breed or other "feather fancier" shows. We had a young man bring one with mites, which was not discovered until it was placed in the judges hands (embarrassing for all). Few at a 4-H show are NPIP, but at our show all are tested for Typhoid/Pullorum (sp?).

I am lucky enough to have space that the fair birds can be quarantined with a sacrificial hen from the home flock to see if anything came home with them.

It should be noted that wild birds can also pass diseases. As I pasture, this is probably a greater risk for me than the show. Wild birds can get to my flock daily and are free to mingle with possibly infected birds, the show is only a weekend and the birds rarely touch and have been contact-controlled than wild birds.

 

[onthespot]

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I too follow Dr Jeffrey's advice. I "medicate" any illness with a hatchet. [though after many years of following this plan I rarely have any illness to deal with]

Just wondering out loud here, do you administer the hatchet remedy at the first damp nostril and extra swallow or two, or do you wait to see if they kick it? I have heard people on here talk about killing any bird that so much as sneezes, and others that let things run their course. Was wondering what Fred Jeffrey's thoughts on that were. Thanks for sharing.