NPIP testing done yesterday......

[tgrlily]

I was a wreck after reading so many horror stories on here!!

But I also thought it was important to have it done.

Fortunately, everyone tested negative

so we'll be getting the official certificate in the mail - - - - - just as soon as New York State gets around to sending it, which could be 3 months! The technician was great & answered all my questions. I learned that I can find out which other NPIP Certified flock owners have which breeds. She thinks someone else in our area has Dorkings -- which is great!

The kids both helped till it was time to band & prick one of my son's precious Dorkings -- he burst into tears & couldn't watch! Poor little guy! Once his birds were tested he was fine. It went pretty fast with the kids help.

Other than my anxiety over the possibilities, it was a positive experience!

 

[Southernbelle]

Good for you, taking that step!

 

[Uppity Peon]

What diseases do they test for?

 

[tgrlily]

In NYS they test for Pullorum & Typhoid. They put drops of a reagent on a plexiglass sheet then put a drop of blood taken from under the wing. It takes 2 minutes to get the result.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
They did this test at our County Fair. Every bird had to be tested.

 

[tgrlily]

We're taking some of our birds to the NYS Fair & they test there too. We'll just bring the paper that shows they passed & not have to do it there. A few of them bled quite a bit, so I'm glad we won't have to deal with trying to clean of blood at the fair.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I'm a tester and its a very easy test to do, unless someone doesn't hold the bird well when you poke them, some don't notice and some squake as if your killing them. I've only heard one time when it turned up possitive and that was over 5 years ago.

 

[speckledhen]

Wish they routinely tested for things like CRD, the things that are much more common. Congrats, though.

 

[tgrlily]

Quote:
Akasha, my son's favorite light grey Dorking squeeked pretty loud when her legband was being put on... that's when he flipped out. None of them really fussed for the blood test. For a minute, we thought he was going to let them all out of the cage! It was really cute & kinda hard not to laugh, but he was genuinely concerned. We explained that it was just like when his big sis checks her blood sugar - she has Juvenile diabetes - and he calmed down.