Minnesota!

[scandiafowl]

Love is a many splendored thing

 

[scandiafowl]

@holm25

Your turkey has lovely colors. What breed is it?

 

[holm25]

He is a Calico turkey

 

[scandiafowl]

He is a Calico turkey

Do you breed them ?

 

[lalaland]

nice pic, but....the barn or shed? and is that an old chicken hatch door? And a ramp? I have serious shed and barn envy given that my land had no buildings on it - just meadow, woods and a pine plantation.

@lalaland, I was told 90% of all flocks are now exposed to Marek's by the poultry researcher at the U of M. He had some very interesting insight on mareks. What do you do for your biosecurity? Always trying to learn tips. Yes, I didn't want that guy near my coop. I think his issue was most likely worms or cocci though. The way he explained how he was doing stuff, yikes. I told him it's easy to treat birds, you just have to do it. So here was a thought I had, can you spray Lysol or other hard stuff on shoes to kill viruses and eggs? I know soaking garden equipment in it kills plant viruses, etc... but I know this is a bit different. Plus it might be awkward telling people you are going to spray their shoes. I also though about those junky shoe covers that you slip over your shoes to keep carpet and stuff clean, that might be a measure of protection. Still funny to tell someone to put them on, but- ounce of prevention, pound of cure scenario.

I'm happy to offer my place for a get together also!! I'm in Farmington though, not exactly centrally located... but not terrible either. I'd be happy to provide a meal too!

I think you are right about mareks being in most flocks, but...and it is a big but, not the virulent strains that wipe out 80-100% of chicks or young pullets/cocks. Luckily, I don't have a bad strain. But, if I knew someone had it, even now, I would avoid their place because what if it was a virulent strain?

disinfectant has a contact time which is on the label. Easier than spraying is a tray that you step into, filled with the disinfectant so it covers the soles of the boot, shoe, etc.

All I do is keep people with chickens away from my chickens and chicken yard. I don't have separate shoes for the chicken chores, and in the winter, I unfortuantely do end up wearing the same heavy boots to do chores and to go to the feed store. I do know that this means that there could be something on my boot that would track to the feed lot, and that someone could pick it up on their boots and bring it to their place.
holm25, love the pic!

 

[lalaland]

this is the dog house that the young dominque has claimed for her nest. When I open the chicken hatch, she is usually frantic to get to the doghouse. It is probably 5 yards away and she just beelines.

 

[scandiafowl]

@lalaland

If you look at my profile photo, that is the shed I transformed into the coop.
A large area around the coop is fenced in but in the summer they like to go "out out" and forage around the farm.

 

[Minniechickmama]

If one really wanted to allow visitors to enter the area with their flock, another option is to buy a box of plastic boot covers. They are clear and go over shoes or boots, then you secure them up on the leg. I have thought of getting them for when the vet comes out and so I can allow some folks to see the birds, but haven't done it yet. The vet though brings a bucket and brush and sanitizer and cleans his boots before and after he comes into the place. However, we were notified last year that we would not be having inspections of the our properties due to the AI outbreaks. I haven't sent in my paperwork yet for my certification stuff yet, so I am not sure how they are going to deal with it now. I am planning to have my flock AI tested though so I can have the flexibility to ship eggs out of state.

 

[Minniechickmama]

@holm23 Your tom is one handsome boy! Nice pictures of all those critters! Is one of those bovine your steer for this summer's show?

 

[holm25]

Scandia I dont breed them.

Thanks Minnie! No I am leasing a shorthorn heifer this year for the fair. The black cow in the pics was the heifer I showed last year.