How to stop contamination from other chicken owners...

[Minky]

I have been to a breeders' farm and had to meet him at the gate, and wasn't allowed to set foot inside (he said due to contamination etc-?) I'm wondering if that is a load of bull... or if I should be worried about my kids having playdates at friends houses who are chicken owners and the kids hanging out in the chicken coop, and then coming home and going to our coop, or having her friends come over and play with the birds in the coop/barn and then head home to their birds.

How do you handle this sort of thing if you live in a rural place where a lot of people have animals?
Getting kids to change or wash footwear isn't really realistic IMO.
Thanks

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Well !if you ask the breeder what his chickens have that he's protecting you from? LOL
DID YOU BUY FROM HIM?

 

[Aji Dulce]

I have been to a breeders' farm and had to meet him at the gate, and wasn't allowed to set foot inside (he said due to contamination etc-?) I'm wondering if that is a load of bull... or if I should be worried about my kids having playdates at friends houses who are chicken owners and the kids hanging out in the chicken coop, and then coming home and going to our coop, or having her friends come over and play with the birds in the coop/barn and then head home to their birds.

How do you handle this sort of thing if you live in a rural place where a lot of people have animals?
Getting kids to change or wash footwear isn't really realistic IMO.
Thanks

I think him being a breeder and having to guarantee against disease makes this a particular situation. You could understand this. If you visit other friends who keep chickens it may not be a big deal to them. But I have heard of leaving your shoes at the entrance and they give you a pair of Wellies to slip into while you walk amongst their poultry. It is a thing. It is done.

 

[bobbi-j]

It depends on how strongly you feel about bio security. I can understand a breeder not wanting to take chances. My flocks are usually mutts, raised here on my place. They're not a major source of income. When I visit friends and look at their flocks, I don't think about changing shoes and clothes before going to my coops. Maybe I would rethink that if their birds were sick, but not on an every day level.

 

[Folly's place]

There are diseases that can be introduced to a flock on clothing and shoes,; it's a real possibility. Marek's disease, for example, which doesn't go away. Restricting visitors who have chickens is good practice because of biosecurity concerns. That breeder was protecting his flock, and yours.
Mary

 

[peeper89]

There are diseases that can be introduced to a flock on clothing and shoes,; it's a real possibility. Marek's disease, for example, which doesn't go away. Restricting visitors who have chickens is good practice because of biosecurity concerns. That breeder was protecting his flock, and yours.
Mary

OP might want to read up on biosecurity & quarantine
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/tips.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2016/08/biosecurity-for-backyard-chickens.htm
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/quarantine-of-backyard-chickens-why-and.html

 

[Folly's place]

If I visit another flock, my car isn't anywhere near their coop area, and my clothes and shoes are clean. When I go home, that outfit and shoes go right into the washer! I expect the same courtesy from visitors to my farm. Sharing diseases is not good!
Mary

 

[chickenmeadow]

I can see why you might feel funny about what transpired at the place, it would at first make me curious & excluded.

I have heard of farmers that have a shallow box of lime to step in before entering a barn, etc. They were even cautious about possible contamination from their own place.

But ..... he may have heard about an experience or had an experience & everyone has a right to their privacy, protection from contamination & etc. It really is just wise to be cautious. I know that I would be devastated if I suddenly lost my flock to a suffering disease because I was simply not preventing disease transmission. I lost my whole flock to a bear intrusion into my chain linked run after living there for over 20 years; if only I had gone the extra step & put up hot wire around the coop & run. Hindsight. Best wishes.

 

[17 chickens]

I have disposable jump suits and shoe covers if the do not were my boots, They also have to wash hands and wear a mask! I have over 100 laying hens and I don't want any of mine getting sick!
If I lost any it would be to hard on my heart and my wallet!

 

[aart]

I'm wondering if that is a load of bull.

Nope, it sure isn't....well explained above by bobbi and folly.
If breeder is NPIP certified, it's one of the rules they must follow.
Otherwise it's just common sense, if you have any experience with bio-security and cross contamination. I worked in a bio clean room for years.

I have 'coop' shoes, winter and summer, tho I wear them all over my property I do not wear them anywhere off property, nor do I wear any of my 'off property' shoes in my coop or run.