NPIP testing today...lots of blood. I'm glad I don't show my whites!

[PamB]

My husband was home today when the testers came to test my flock and when I got home from work I was shocked to see how much blood is all over them! Especially the white silkies. How do you handle it if you show the whites? I don't show them, but I was wondering about those that do. Does the blood wash off in the bath? I really wish they used a needle and drew the blood, they slice them under their wing and the blood gets all over them.

 

[speckledhen]

Use some hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball; it will fizzle away the blood.

 

[robin416]

If the tester and the holder know what they're doing there should not be that much blood. Once in a while you'll run across a bleeder, there isn't much to be done for that except hold the wound until it quits.

Doing a veinus stick on a black skinned bird is very difficult and time consuming and considering only a drop of blood is needed it would be very expensive to do.

 

[PamB]

Thanks for the advice, Speckled Hen.

Yea, I figured it would be expensive and difficult to do on a dark skinned bird. Some birds have more blood than others. I have a white one that her entire side is covered. It just makes me sad to see them like that.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

They sliced the birds? Here they stick them in the vein with a needle.

There was quite a bit of blood when they did mine last friday. I put one girl in the coop, got the next tested and then put than one in the coop. When I put the next one back there was a big nasty puddle of blood in the shavings. Suprised it didnt die.

 

[PamB]

Quote:
They use what looks like an exacto knife and cut under one of the wings. I'm probably being a big baby about it, but these little guys are like pets to me and it was hard seeing that for the first time. I had them tested once before, but it was only a couple birds that I was going to show and neither bled too much. I guess I just have to toughen up. I like the hydrogen peroxide idea. I may have to try that. I feel like I need to give a massive bath to the entire flock! Haha. That would take me quite some time though.

 

[pinkwindsong]

this is horrible
can you request the way the test is taken surly they dont need that much blood.
i was looking and trying to decide if I wanted to go to the classes and get certified. Im thining I should just to make sure thatt this is done correctly. wow
thanks )O(
Pink

 

[Germaine_11.20]

When I had to bleed my birds for the NPIP I chose a different route. I put them in a killing cone and pierced their comb with a sharp sterilized needle and took the drop there.

Plenty of blood and yet within a few days there was nary a sign of where I had pierced. I was able to do it by myself also which helped me save time.

 

[PamB]

Quote:
Like I said, maybe I'm overreacting. I probably need to toughen up a bit. I'm sure they know what they are doing. It is just hard to see your "pets" (which is what mine are like to me) go through that. I don't even like when my dog has to get a shot. I do wish there was an easier/better way to test them. But, like Robin said, the dark skin on the silkie makes it tough. They are very nice, informative people that come out to test. I don't mean to say they are doing something "wrong" because I don't believe that is the case. I just don't like that my babies have to go through this. However, I suppose it is a small price to pay to ensure our flocks are healthy.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
They use what looks like an exacto knife and cut under one of the wings. I'm probably being a big baby about it, but these little guys are like pets to me and it was hard seeing that for the first time. I had them tested once before, but it was only a couple birds that I was going to show and neither bled too much. I guess I just have to toughen up. I like the hydrogen peroxide idea. I may have to try that. I feel like I need to give a massive bath to the entire flock! Haha. That would take me quite some time though.

Yowza! I would have passed out if they started slicing the birds.