NPIP Renewal Time - Should I renew? Do/did you?

[DawnSuiter]

February's end marks my renewal time in the NPIP program. I'm not sure if I should renew or not and would like to hear some oopinions from those of you who HAVE been in the NPIP program or ARE in the NPIP program and have made this decision.

I have wanted to get a few new birds, but I can't because the only NPIP sources I'm finding are hatcheries. I gave away my 2 turkey hens to get eggs from a gal who was going to get into the program but she hasn't. I found 3 perfect hens to add to my flock but again.. NO NPIP status.

I DID it originally to make it easier to ship eggs across state lines, as well as to make it easier when my daughter shows so we don't have to do the P/T test onsite, just show our card. I also did it because I feel like it's a sales point, as there are so few of us apparently with any stock to sell.

I think I am going to get the 3 hens anyway... keep them separated and IF I decide to renew, I'll just have my guy out asap to test them & everyone else. Other birds from this farm have been tested in the past by way of their new owners and passed just fine, but the actual farm does not do the testing so there is no guarantee.

 

[Funky Feathers]

I just did. I renew every year in January. They came out, tested my birds, inspected the farm & house (we hatch & brood inside), and gave us our permit. AI results should be in Monday. My tester was even nice enough to do a urine culture on my dog! Anyway, we passed the inspection w/flying colors.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Thanks Fattie

Now if only the 2 who selected "Other" were to elaborate on that......

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

I used to be a NPIP tester and you don't have to buy from NPIP just because you are. As long as you test the birds when you get them, and keep them under quarantine for a little bit, you will be safe.

 

[Funky Feathers]

My tester here in MD frowns on that. They gave me h*ll last time I did that. I have to quarantine new birds that ARE NPIP tested before I get them. Maryland is funny about it.

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

I was a tester in Iowa. But had to give it up when I moved out of state.

 

[australorp_breeder]

What's NPIP? National Poultry Inspection _______? Or am I totally wrong there?

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
Well I quarantine as a general rule of thumb anyway, so the NPIP wouldn't make a difference there. Heck, I got birds from my club President early last year... still quarantined them

There are tons of other things not tested for that I don't want to spread around.

They are a whole different breed too, the ones I want to get, so it's not like I can slip them through. But things are generally more relaxed here, so I might get away with taking them on and having him out right away.

Worst case scenario though... they test positive (even false positive) for P or T and he has to destroy ALL OF MY CHICKENS

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
National Poultry Improvement Plan http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/poultry/htba_part.shtml

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

Unless I'm mistaken, if your birds test positive, they don't destroy them immediately, but quarantine the entire flock and then retest.