NPIP testing

[Senna95]

has anyone been through this process?

We had the state vet here last Friday to do NPIP testing on our ducks. I was very nervous at first, but in the end it was a very nice experience. The guy was friendly, knowlegeable, and EXTREMELY helpful. I got a lot of good advise and information and NO LECTURES!! We will get our results sometime next week.

In february I will have my chickens tested as well (they were still too young this time).

 

[newbyduckmom]

NPIP testing?

 

[Senna95]

Stands for National Poultry Improvement Plan. They test for certain diseases that affect poultry and/or humans.

Most large hatcheries are certified. Most small back-yard flocks are not.

You have to be certified in order to sell hatching eggs, chicks (ducklings), and/or adult birds accross state lines. Also it's a good idea if you show your birds and expose them to others.

The down-side is that once I get certified I can no longer purchase birds from non NPIP certified flocks. But now that I have (almost) all of the colors and breeds I wanted, I decided it was time to bite the bullet.

 

[newbyduckmom]

Thanks for the information...and hello from a bit north of you!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Yes, I went throught the testing. I'm NPIP certified.

 

[KansasKid]

Ok i have to ask,

Do they test all birds on your property.
a few out of each enclosure?

or how do they do it?

 

[toadbriar]

My state doesn't test waterfowl. Woo! off the hook.

 

[Senna95]

Well, every state is different. Here in Washington they test a percentage (25-30 %), and they devide it up with a few samples from each enclosure. They only test for avian influenza on ducks, which is free...... I think it's a federal program that pays for it.

 

[Chinchilla2]

This is something I need to have done soon. Right now all I have are chicks so I'm holding off until I get a larger coop and run completed and everyone outside. While I have no plans at present to sell the eggs or show my babies, I would rather get it done and never need the certification than never get the certification and need it.

 

[dwhite]

It sounds easy to do, the problem is I don't know of a single call duck breeder around me that is NPIP so I would be essentially cutting off my ability to get new blood.