Opinions of closed or open flocks.

[seminolewind]

Quote:
I think you can interpret it in different ways. You can lock out chickens, chicks, eggs, and all shoes, and still get something from a sick wild bird. So I don't feel that anyone is 100% closed. Alot of try to come as close as we can. The biggest risk would be from adults, then chicks. Eggs, sick wild birds and shoes are smaller risks.

That being said, my flock is now closed to chicks, adults, and shoes. I can risk the eggs cause from birth, the chicks will be separate for at least 6 weeks or more. It's own quarantine. Foolproof? No.

 

[GardenerGal]

I have two separate flocks. One is closed, nothing in or out. This is due to someone having thrown a stray hen (not mine) into my barn, and she turned out to be carrying infectious coryza. I lost a few birds, some got moderate or mild symptoms, some had none at all. But since the survivors all became carriers, I didn't want them infecting any other birds. I couldn't bring myself to cull them out because they are pets, so I just closed the flock. I maintain biosecurity by not allowing anyone into that poultry house, and I have separate boots and clothes that are used only in taking care of that flock.

I also have a semi-closed flock of Nankin bantams and black-tailed Japanese/Chabo bantams. They are clean, and since Nankins are rare I have to be open to getting some new breeding stock from time to time, as I don't have enough birds to healthily line-breed for a long period. However, I am picky about the sources and will only take Nankins that have been vaccinated for Marek's as chicks, and have been tested and are negative for AI and pullorum.
When I get new birds, they remain quarantined in special coops for three months before I introduce them to my flock.

With all my chickens (and my other poultry), both open and closed flocks, I keep them clean, well sheltered and nourished, do periodic checks for cocci, mites and worms, have them blood-tested annually for AI and pullorum (state poultry inspector does the testing) and watch what comes in and goes out of the barn.

 

[ninny]

Im starting my flocks all over. Whats the best way to do that if eggs can bring stuff too? Id have a semi closed flock i think. Id quarantine heavily my show birds and only bring in eggs if possible. There is a action by us that almost always has really nice silkies. So they would be in a different building all together if i got them.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Since we can't have roosters here, we will be having to buy more chicks or chickens as needed/wanted. Are chicks from hatcheries a danger to our current flock?

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Just getting started and I decided before I got my first egg to hatch that I'd have a closed flock. All my eggs will come from NPIP certified sources and once established no chickens and very very few eggs in.

Maybe it's because one of my best friends works in the Centers for infectious diseases here at the U. He is on a team that screens samples from around the world for H5N1 in humans. His knowledge of poultry diseases and how easy it is to decimate a flock has me just a bit jumpy.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
NPIP doesn't test for many diseases. It is a test for Salmonella Pullorum/Typhoid. Some also test for Mycoplasma Synoviae and Avian Influenza.

They do not test for coryza, ILT or other diseases that can wipe out your flock. Don't fall into a false sense of security just because a flock is NPIP certified. Many people have health certifictions on their flocks that choose not to participate in the NPIP program.

 

[chookchick]

That is a question I have been pondering a lot recently. I need to increase my flock. On the one hand I have an ambitious young stepson who wants to sell eggs to the neighbors. He wants eggs NOW, doesn't want to wait 7 or 8 months...

On the other hand, I have read too many posts on here about people buying chickens at an auction/off craigslist/from farmer and then having those birds/their old flock start with sneezes/goopy eyes/mites,etc.. This makes me very nervous.

There are also lots of posts about people rehoming chickens that are egg eaters/bullies/unstoppable peckers etc..this also makes me nervous--I don't want someone else's problem chicken.

I think at this point I will stick with chicks, I am trying to determine the relative risk of shipped hatchery chick, chicks from feedstore, or chicks from a local breeder. Does anyone want to weigh in on that? What are some of things that I could ask a local breeder that would not be offensive, to determine the health and history of their flock?

 

[GardenerGal]

Quote:
It depends on the hatchery. The mainstream, well-known ones are usually pretty good about hygiene and health. They don't want to ruin their reputations by selling substandard birds, or spreading disease.

I know from experience that Murray McMurray's hatchery is strict with biosecurity, gets its stock from reputable sources, offers a full line of vaccinations for the most common and contagious diseases, and guarantees its birds. Probably other people here have similar experiences with other popular hatcheries.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
I'm NPIP, I prefer to purchase eggs from NPIP flocks since it cuts down on paperwork necessary for the transfer across state lines.
Plus...don't forget the fringe benefit...you will KNOW if your "soon-to-be" birds have AI! LOL

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I'm NPIP, I prefer to purchase eggs from NPIP flocks since it cuts down on paperwork necessary for the transfer across state lines.
Plus...don't forget the fringe benefit...you will KNOW if your "soon-to-be" birds have AI! LOL

NPIP doesn't require testing for AI.