INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I read twice this week that there were isolated cases of AI found in sparrows and robins tested but I don't remember where.
Thanks for more beautiful Dorking pics. So many chickens and so little space. See I can almost talk myself into forgetting about Dorkings and then you go and post more pics! So happy you have Kab's roo. He is precious. We considered him but the silkies are dd's and she really wanted to raise them from chicks. So happy he has a loving home that will spoil him!

Come to the Dork side, we have cuddles.

Pipd, don't kill the cowbird.  Songbirds have not been implicated in the spread or transmission of AI in this epidemic, though occasionally they get sick.  It's vastly more common for the wild ducks and geese to be responsible than songbirds.

Those of you who have dogs may find them handy for running off wild ducks and geese, though if you already have domestic waterfowl in your flock AND have dogs, most of you will have trained them not to bother birds.

Guineas haven't yet been reported as catching H5N2, but they are on the list of susceptible domestic species, and I would think the signs and symptoms would be about the same.  If laying, lowered egg production a day or two before lethargy, which happens a day or two before death.  90-100% die within 48 hours of multiple organ failure.  Interestingly, I just read that sometimes domestic ducks can be infected with AI and not become ill, like their wild counterparts, but that's not necessarily a good thing.

If I had a mixed flock of chickens, turkeys, ducks, and/or geese, I would TRY to segregate them by species.  At minimum, I would try to keep the waterfowl away from the chickens and turkeys, and not share any feeding, watering, or other equipment.  If you can, have separate sets.  If you can't, use a general disinfectant like Virkon S (or maybe Oxine--I am not as familiar with it).  Household bleach diluted 1:32 (one ounce of bleach per quart of water) works in a pinch, but it should be rinsed off after being allowed to sit on hard surfaces for about 5-10 minutes.  Bleach is corrosive to metals at high concentrations.  Using MORE than 1:32 doesn't help, and may hurt you and your birds.

Turkeys are 100X more susceptible to H5N2 than chickens, which is why more of them have died than chickens.  Still, if there's enough virus in an area, chickens will get it, too.  If you have turkeys and other poultry, at minimum try to separate your turkeys.  Even if you have to do it half-assed, try leave as much space as possible between your turkey housing and your chicken housing, as long as it is predator proofed.  If your turkeys and chickens share a common wall that is solid, that's probably OK.  If part of that wall is chicken wire or hardware cloth, then that's not good enough.  The good thing is that the temperatures are reasonable enough that fully feathered birds don't need much in the way of special or insulated housing if you have to literally wing it.

Pipd, I'd say your guineas are the safest since they are confined at all times.  

I have done three things so far to prepare.  One is to put up bird netting everywhere.  The other is to keep Virkon S on hand  (I bought a bottle of 50 tablets, each of which makes 16 oz. of disinfectant, on Amazon.com--they also have powders for larger amounts of solution). I was thinking about isolating my most valuable chickens in the garage, but if one ever gets AI, I believe they are going to destroy every bird on the property, so that wouldn't help.  Sigh.  I never let anyone onto our property for biosecurity long before AI became an issue, and at minimum everyone with poultry should do this NOW if you haven't already started.  Pipd is sure right about that.

Thanks for the heads up, Pipd.  I think we've all known that it's only a matter of time before it's in Indiana.  I'm sure there are infected wild birds here already.

Ah, I don't want to kill the cowbird anyway. She's beautiful, even if she is a nest parasite. It's not just AI that is a concern, though. I can't have her spreading any disease or parasites to my ducks. Not to mention, we're all sick of listening to her bash the window over and over again. A few years ago, we had a female Cardinal kill herself by bashing into the windows so much. She just kept going until her feathers on her head were matted and she seemed disorientated. I'd rather deter the cowbird, but I'm not sure that killing her would necessarily be the wrong action to take if I can't, especially if she ends up in the same way as that Cardinal. :/

Thank you for the symptom list. I had wondered if Guineas were even mentioned with the disease. I've been keeping an eye out for that in my girls as well. Not long after the last time the lowered egg laying symptom was mentioned, my girls went from laying 20 eggs a day to laying 12 eggs just one day. I thought I was going to have a heart attack, but fortunately, they laid about 20 the next day and have since. I guess everyone that decided to skip laying chose the same day to do so.

I would love to take measures such as netting the area for the girls, but we're in a woods. I mean, how am I supposed to net this?

So I'm doing what I can otherwise.





Editing to remove the rant. Y'all don't need to worry about my problems.

 

[chicknmania]

There have been a lot fewer backyard flocks infected than factory farms. Lots of people have pointed out that the birds would probably be happier if they were not confined, and if it's airbonre (and I've read that too) .....well.....

I think if you are in an area where there's a lot of waterfowl close, than it might be better to keep them confined. In our case, we have them flying over sometimes, but they don't come to our pond much, and anyway our chickens and peas don't go anywhere near the pond. I'm definitely going to make shoe spray with our oxine, but again...it's kind of pointless. Animals track stuff everywhere too. Deer are everywhere and I'm sure they go to the swamp at the extreme rear of our wooded property to drink. And there are waterfowl back there. But, lots of birds don't get sick. Just keep hoping and praying.

And keeping everyone informed please. There's another avian flu thread on the forum, that has more information.

 

[chicknmania]

WE're in woods too. We're a tree farm. Not really possible. And our flock lives in a barn and there's lots of house sparrows in there. Nesting. I have heard that peafowl are as susceptible to the virus as turkeys, which is a concern, we have four. But no way can we catch them to confine them. Unless they're sick already.

 

[kabhyper1]

I have been reading all of these posts about AI. A couple of things...

I have been hearing that the virus can't live in temps over 70 degrees, so they are saying during the summer months we should be relatively safe, but it may return on in the fall when the waterfowl migrate back.

Also for those who say they want their birds to be birds and not confine them, I understand that. However, keep in mind that if your flock contracts AI due to lax bio security measures, you are putting your neighbors flocks at risk. They may be doing everything they can to keep their pet flock safe, yet if others are not, their efforts are in vain. The only way to stop this from becoming an epidemic that could potentially mutate to humans and other animals, is to contain your flocks. I know some of you won't agree with me, and it may irk a few, but I for one would be peeved if my next door neighbors flock was running all over the place potentially spreading sickness to my flock that I am trying my hardest to keep safe. If you absolutely cannot contain your birds to the extent of protecting them per strict bio security measures, then that's understandable, sometimes you just can't. To just say you want to let your birds be birds and whatever happens happens, in my opinion is irresponsible. I'm not pointing anyone out, nor am I saying people don't care. I just don't want to see this becoming the end all of backyard chicken keeping because people aren't taking it seriously. As of now this is still a migration season issue, being spread by waterfowl. There haven't been songbird issues with it, and there isn't proof yet that it is airborne. I don't think anyone needs to panic, but everyone needs to be aware and prepared to keep their birds and their neighbors birds safe not if but when it gets here. Because it likely will.

Like I said I am not pointing fingers, its just my 2 cents. I have several friends on here, and I plan to keep them, so don't be too angry with me for my opinion please.

Edited to add that the "irresponsible" statement was meant for the ones I am reading comments from online in other sites saying they aren't at all worried about AI and aren't going to change anything they do. Not about anyone on here.

 

[raisinemright]

Boy my chest feels like it got poked a lot!! Ouch.

 

[kabhyper1]

Boy my chest feels like it got poked a lot!! Ouch.

LOL! Are you offended CW?

 

[Faraday40]

DD's 4H project is going well. Chicks are 2.5 weeks old now.

Sample orps from Kittydoc:


and some Bieles from ChickCrazed.


A sleeping chick pile in the brooder.


And here's the broody's bunch.

 

[raisinemright]

LOL! Are you offended CW?

Not at all :"(
How could I place this guy and his girls in lock down??

 

[kabhyper1]

Not at all :"(
How could I place this guy and his girls in lock down??

I think they will be fine as long as you don't get the flu and then lick them.

 

[flyladyrocks]

And this point we all needed a good chuckle! 15 years from now someone will reference "licking" those of us still on here will still be laughing and the newbies will be saying "HUH?"

I think they will be fine as long as you don't get the flu and then lick them.