Inspection Help - Experienced Breeders please - need ideas

[U_Stormcrow]

I have a small (by breeding standards) flock, and am NPIP certified. Florida requires twice annual inspection, and I thought I had another month+, I have three weeks. Because my flock size is so small, they are going to want to individually inspect every breeding age bird. SO I need a way to contain about thirty+ birds in a way I can let them out individually and gain/keep control of that bird, while preventing the others from either escaping, or re-entering. Optimally, I need to be able to walk around in there, as I plan to use food to get the birds to crowd in, then sort out the too young before inspection.

Last time was somewhat chaotic, only involved about twenty birds, and the inspector wasn't very pleased. Its aready a long drive for him, I'd like to maintain good relations, as we will be doing this for many years.

Anyone having experience building a "chicken chute"? Tips or tricks???

 

[MissE]

The inspector has probably seen every containment system out there. If you called him, do you think he would share any ideas? After all, it's going to make his life easier.

 

[cmom]

I have several large cages. I put the birds in the cages and as the testing agent tests the birds I put them back into their coop. Each cage is from a different coop so I don't get them mixed up. I also have leg bands so I know where they belong. This way it's easy to grab the birds to be tested. Originally I shut them in their coops and as we tested the birds I put them in their pens but the cages work out better. I have them all ready for when the testing agent gets here. It goes rather quickly and I think she appreciates it as most of the time they have to chase down the birds to be tested. Good luck...

 

[MissE]

How many dog kennels can you get your hands on? 6 birds per 24x36 kennel. Grab them off the roost the night before. Have the kennels on a counter or table so you don't have to bend over. Reach in, grab a bird, let the inspector do his thing, release the bird into the run or coop.

 

[cmom]

The cages I use open up on top so it's easy to reach in and grab the birds.

 

[cmom]

I have a few hundred birds. The chicks don't need to be tested until they become breeders. I do have some general population coops and pens for birds I don't use as breeders. They aren't tested but I usually try to get a few out of those coops and get them tested. Next time I'll try to remember to take some pictures.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

With a little bit of food, I was able to get them all in, but it was tight for floor space, so a few of them flew over the 4' wall when they were done eating - but couldn't escape the closed barn doors. Partial success.

The big improvements that first time (technically 2nd) were having a folding plastic table on the other side of the barn doors and a trash can. Things went mostly smoothly.

The third time., I set up the table and trash can the same, but led them all into the grow out run (walls 6' high, much more floor sapace. It worksed m,uch better. I plan to repeat that, 4th time around - early October, I think.

and SourRoses, its a bit of streess leading in (what if they test positive?), but its free in FL and real peace of mind afterwards. I recommend, even if its NOT a guarantee of a disease free flock, at least you know you are free of a couple very serious diseases on the day of testing.

 

[Folly's place]

Check craigslist for dog crates, often available, and perfect for this use. Top opening, no, but still will work. And tipped up, they become top opening.
Chasing birds is such a pain!
Mary

 

[cmom]

I actually shut the birds in their coops the night before my testing date and in the morning put them in the cages all lined up in the shade outside of the barn so we can work in the shade and less stress on the birds and as I mentioned previously, as the birds are tested they go back into their coops. This just works best for me since I have a lot of birds. I have chased birds before and not going to do it any more.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I just had my flock tested. I didn't open my coop door the morning of. I would go in the coop, grab 2 or 3 birds at a time, and after they got tested I'd release them into the run. Repeat until coop is empty!