Rescuing chickens

[MySweetChickens]

Ok i thought it would be nice to rescue birds from the auction ya know the ones with hardly any feathers kept for meat and eggs only i already have a existing flock though and dont want disease so is there any way i can know for sure when going to "rescue" one? its not really rescuing if your killing your existing flock ya know? Thanks for any answers

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Ok i thought it would be nice to rescue birds from the auction ya know the ones with hardly any feathers kept for meat and eggs only i already have a existing flock though and dont want disease so is there any way i can know for sure when going to "rescue" one? its not really rescuing if your killing your existing flock ya know? Thanks for any answers

The solution for your plan is to practice good bio-security, a key component of which is to use a proper quarantine ANY time you introduce a new bird (not just ones you might pick up at auction). Prior to quarantine, though, is to use common sense in selecting the birds - give the most thorough examination you can (depends on the auction) and do not consider any birds showing signs of active illness. Once you identify birds that meet that standard, and you get them home, house them at least 100 yards away (preferably downwind) from our existing birds (remember to consider if your flock is allowed out to range they need to be unable to get any closer than this to your new bird/s). Quarantine is 30 days minimum - if any symptoms do show themselves you treat and restart that 30 day count on the first day of them being symptom free. Many people will use a "canary" - a member of the existing flock that is housed with the bird in quarantine -- if the bird is carrying and can transmit disease but not actively symptomatic him/her-self the canary will become infected and symptomatic -- this approach, though, does require you to be willing to risk the canary (in the big picture, risking the canary is better than risking the entire flock)

 

[Folly's place]

I never bring any critters home from the auction! It's just too risky for my flock. It's VERY difficult to actually quarantine birds separately in a home environment, and one sick bird can turn into disaster. Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

^^^^^me either, this is a case of being too tender hearted, but not long sighted. Take a look at them and think, do I want my flock to look like that? And keep your arm down and don't bid.

Even if a bird was not technically sick when the bird went to the auction, going to the auction increases stress which decreases resistance to diseases. Add exposure to all the others birds who might be sick. Not a good idea.

Auctions make my blood run cold. The best way to do this is to leave the birds there. Even if you go to shows, where people are bringing well cared for birds, diseases can still really transmit. Bio security measures need to religiously followed, and no cheating at all.

Just not worth the risk or the hassle.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

^^^^^me either, this is a case of being too tender hearted, but not long sighted. Take a look at them and think, do I want my flock to look like that? And keep your arm down and don't bid.

Even if a bird was not technically sick when the bird went to the auction, going to the auction increases stress which decreases resistance to diseases. Add exposure to all the others birds who might be sick. Not a good idea.

Auctions make my blood run cold. The best way to do this is to leave the birds there. Even if you go to shows, where people are bringing well cared for birds, diseases can still really transmit. Bio security measures need to religiously followed, and no cheating at all.

Just not worth the risk or the hassle.

Mrs K

Boy, Me Too!!

What makes it run even colder, is all the swapping I see online.
Multiple people buying and selling birds all the time.
I wouldn't take any of those birds if it came with a million dollars....well, maybe.

 

[Folly's place]

A million dollars would help! Mary

 

[aart]

A million dollars would help! Mary

A million dollars...and a pot of chicken stew ;-)