Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

Don, Please explain to me how this all works. From what I gather, once tested and found free of diseases, the flock is good for one year? If this is the case, here is the scenario I don't quite get. Ok, flock tested, all birds are clean, and you get your NPIP #. So a month down the road, some neighbor's infected chicken finds it's way into your yard, and passes on his illness. You of course have no idea, so you are still selling NPIP certified stock and eggs. The disease spreads and chickens die and everyone is wondering why. Do you see my point? How is this number and piece of paper supposed to protect the birds and clients? I know it all has to start somewhere, but to clear a flock for a year seems to me to be asking for this type of scenario to happen. Just my thoughts on the matter, not trying to stir the pot, but would just like to know if this is all really worth the time, effort, and money??

Debbi, if you do whole flock test here it is good for one year. The second year if you have under 300 birds you have to do all in the flock. The first test is $15 and each year after it is $5. We used to get an NPIP book every year but have not got one recently for some reason. Do not know if it is worth the time but is something Uncle say has to be done to show chickens.

 

[Debbi]

Ok, BYC is still not letting me upload any pics?? Obviously, they have something against dial-up and IE, as all I get in responses are "go to Chrome" or "change your browser". Not going to happen, so I will load my pics to Photobucket from now on I guess.

Rant over, here is the pic of that queer chick in question. Looking at this pic, I see roo, but it has a very small, and dark colored comb, like Olivia did at this age. The wattles are a lot bigger than the other two chicks of the same age, 6 weeks today. My thing is what's up with this tail??? I've never had one with so short of a tail at this age, it's only about an inch long. Anyway, here is "Kiwi" at 6 weeks of age. Sex? When will tail come in??

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb161/qinghaus/oliviachick6weeks006.jpg

 

[Debbi]

Debbi, if you do whole flock test here it is good for one year. The second year if you have under 300 birds you have to do all in the flock. The first test is $15 and each year after it is $5. We used to get an NPIP book every year but have not got one recently for some reason. Do not know if it is worth the time but is something Uncle say has to be done to show chickens.

I'm not too fond of that Uncle in my backyard. Is it required to ship adult birds from state to state?? I'm not worried about the shows, doubt I'll ever even get to one myself. I've had quite a few supposed NPIP flocks send me eggs through the mail, and some not. NONE of the NPIP people have ever sent any paper work with these eggs. So, is it required to send with live, adult fowl through the mail? Too many loose ends here, too many catch 22s as Marcy said. I remember delivering game fowl, and never had any paperwork on the boxes for live fowl? Maybe the rules have changed, I don't know. Seems to me, the last time I looked into the NPIP program here in MO, they had like 5 or 6 testers for the whole danged state?? Don't remember the price, but there was one. Now with the gas going back up again, I'm sure that price has changed.

 

[snowbird]

Debbi, no set price for testing here in Michigan. I do not charge a fee. The antigen is around $100 now so will not be doing anything but my own. I believe that all states require NPIP for shipped fowl and eggs. There is a seperate form for eggs and chicks. Be prepared for this to get more strict as they want everyone to have their fowl tested for AI also When they do this it will be a real nightmare since it has to be done by a VET. and will not be free.

 

[Debbi]

Forgot this question:

If you are an NPIP tester, can you do your own chickens?? That seems kind of tainted to me if you can. Whose to say someone wouldn't fudge the results?? Sorry all, I am such a skeptic any more, and this all seems to be more or less of another gubberment intrusion to me.

 

[snowbird]

Ok, BYC is still not letting me upload any pics?? Obviously, they have something against dial-up and IE, as all I get in responses are "go to Chrome" or "change your browser". Not going to happen, so I will load my pics to Photobucket from now on I guess.

Rant over, here is the pic of that queer chick in question. Looking at this pic, I see roo, but it has a very small, and dark colored comb, like Olivia did at this age. The wattles are a lot bigger than the other two chicks of the same age, 6 weeks today. My thing is what's up with this tail??? I've never had one with so short of a tail at this age, it's only about an inch long. Anyway, here is "Kiwi" at 6 weeks of age. Sex? When will tail come in??

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb161/qinghaus/oliviachick6weeks006.jpg

Debbi, I also think you have a young male here. Like the shank and toe feathering.

 

[snowbird]

Forgot this question:

If you are an NPIP tester, can you do your own chickens?? That seems kind of tainted to me if you can. Whose to say someone wouldn't fudge the results?? Sorry all, I am such a skeptic any more, and this all seems to be more or less of another gubberment intrusion to me.

Yes, I can do my own and that was the primary reason I went to the class.

 

[heath_elisha]

Ok, BYC is still not letting me upload any pics?? Obviously, they have something against dial-up and IE, as all I get in responses are "go to Chrome" or "change your browser". Not going to happen, so I will load my pics to Photobucket from now on I guess.

Rant over, here is the pic of that queer chick in question. Looking at this pic, I see roo, but it has a very small, and dark colored comb, like Olivia did at this age. The wattles are a lot bigger than the other two chicks of the same age, 6 weeks today. My thing is what's up with this tail??? I've never had one with so short of a tail at this age, it's only about an inch long. Anyway, here is "Kiwi" at 6 weeks of age. Sex? When will tail come in??

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb161/qinghaus/oliviachick6weeks006.jpg

Looks an awful lot like my pullet that had me guessing a few weeks back. Small black comb, large wattles, feathered in like a roo- but is a pullet

And she still has a shorter tail, just like the roos. Mine is now almost 9 weeks old

 

[Debbi]

Debbi, no set price for testing here in Michigan. I do not charge a fee. The antigen is around $100 now so will not be doing anything but my own. I believe that all states require NPIP for shipped fowl and eggs. There is a seperate form for eggs and chicks. Be prepared for this to get more strict as they want everyone to have their fowl tested for AI also When they do this it will be a real nightmare since it has to be done by a VET. and will not be free.

Yes. Without getting into politics here, that is exactly what they are pushing for, know who has chickens and charge them accordingly to make it monitarily impossible for people to be self sustaining! I think I'll pass...

 

[Debbi]

Looks an awful lot like my pullet that had me guessing a few weeks back. Small black comb, large wattles, feathered in like a roo- but is a pullet

And she still has a shorter tail, just like the roos. Mine is now almost 9 weeks old

My very first thoughts on this chick was pullet. Acts like a pullet, but when I saw the pic, it looks roo to me. The pic tends to lighten the comb color, it is stil very dark in reality. Her/his mom was very dark faced and combed until AFTER POL, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Here, at least, my boys all start to crow at around 8 weeks... If it has Clyde's distinctive crow, well that will tell me lots! This chick does look so much like a combo of Olivia and Clyde already, so I can't wait to see what it turns into. Despite the pic, I am still leaning towards pullet.