Selling Chickens after a Disease Outbreak

[jbo21]

Years ago I used to have chickens in upstate NY. They were for my personal use. Over the years, a few of them got sick from some respitory disease, some died, some survived, overall they were very healthy chickens.

I've been thinking of getting into chickens again, this time with the intention to sell adult laying hens.

My question; What do folks do if some of their chickens get sick about selling the others? There are so many contageous chicken diseases. If you're running a business out of it (not a big commerical business, but side business), how do you deal with that?

Obviously, you only sell healthy birds, but what if your birds are carriers of something, and bringing something to a new home?

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I would have blood tests sent off before selling the birds to make sure they aren’t carriers.
If I was bring a new bird into a flock of carriers I would get it vaccinated against the disease if possible. I would not introduce a possible carrier into a flock of birds that don’t have it even if they have been vaccinated because some diseases can linger in the soil. Just adding this to clarify this last paragraph I was talking about personal flocks not selling for the most part. Even vaccinated birds can be carriers in some cases and some people will argue shouldn’t be sold if they have been exposed since while they cannot become sick they can still infect other birds.

 

[jbo21]

I would have blood tests sent off before selling the birds to make sure they aren’t carriers. If I was bring a new bird into a flock of carriers I would get it vaccinated against the disease if possible. I would not introduce a possible carrier into a flock of birds that don’t have it even if they have been vaccinated because some diseases can linger in the soil.

so anytime you have sick birds you do blood work?

 

[Artichoke Lover]

so anytime you have sick birds you do blood work?

Before selling any birds from a flock that has been sick. Now I would just test your current flock. Or even a few specific birds from your flock particularly any that you know were sick. I would do this before adding the birds you plan on breeding.

 

[aart]

I've been thinking of getting into chickens again, this time with the intention to sell adult laying hens.

My question; What do folks do if some of their chickens get sick about selling the others? There are so many contageous chicken diseases. If you're running a business out of it (not a big commerical business, but side business), how do you deal with that?

Selling adult birds or Point Of Lay pullets?
Are you going to hatch these birds or buy chicks to grow out and sell?
You could keep a closed flock and get NPIP certified.
That might make people feel safer, but NPIP doesn't test for everything.
Bottom line, don't sell birds if you know there is disease in the flock.

Before selling any birds from a flock that has been sick. Now I would just test your current flock. Or even a few specific birds from your flock particularly any that you know were sick. I would do this before adding the birds you plan on breeding.

Have you actually done this @Artichoke Lover ..... or is it just hypothetical?
It would be pretty hard and expensive to test all your birds for everything possible.
...and not everything can be vaccinated against.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Selling adult birds or Point Of Lay pullets?
Are you going to hatch these birds or buy chicks to grow out and sell?
You could keep a closed flock and get NPIP certified.
That might make people feel safer, but NPIP doesn't test for everything.



Have you actually done this @Artichoke Lover ..... or is it just hypothetical?
It would be pretty hard and expensive to test all your birds for everything possible.
...and not everything can be vaccinated against.

I have been considering raising birds to sell and have been doing my research. But have not raised any at the moment beyond some extra roosters that will be sold as meat.I have sold a few birds but have not raised birds to sell. I realize I needed clarify some things from my first post. I would test the current flock all or some depending on if it’s 5 chickens or 50 because their has been a history of unknown contagious illness leading to death. The reason I am suggesting that is that if there is a possible problem it’s easier to find out now than after you have spent $$$ on birds and supplies only to find out none of them should or can be sold. Just to clarify I am not suggesting they need to test every bird they sell.

 

[aart]

Just to clarify I am not suggesting they need to test every bird they sell.

Even testing the 'parent' flock could be daunting financially.
And I'm wondering what would you test for, since you haven't actually done it?

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Even testing the 'parent' flock could be daunting financially.
And I'm wondering what would you test for, since you haven't actually done it?

For my flock if I decide to sell I would just do the basic testing required for fair trips and the like. I will admit I’m still very much in a research phase here. I do not have enough knowledge to recommend what tests OP should do. I agree NPIP testing would be a good idea as is keeping the flocks separate if there is enough space to keep isolation distance.
I do have experience with this kind of thing with other animals. However I don’t have much experience with chickens beyond my research.