Thank You

[greatestgrammie]

To those of you who responded to me about 10days ago when I posted the query as to whether the new chickens I had that may have "contaminated" my other birds. . . . . . .THANK YOU!

The State Inspector finally found time to get by my place and look at my birds and ALL is well!
I asked him about our area vets knowing anything about chickens and he agreed that our area vets know nothing about chickens.
He said that he could not randomly test my birds seeing how they were not ill but should I have several unexplained deaths they would come out,suit up in their Hazmat gear and randomly test about a third of my flock BUT told me that should funds become available to just randomly test he would put me 1st on the list for doing so.
Because I do not sell,show or transport my birds from one county to another or out of the State I am not legally required to become registered with the state BUT just to be on the safe side I am more inclined to become registered as it only cost $25.00 and the Inspector was almost sure this was for a 2yr period so it is relatively painless and I am assured that the Inspector will come by atleast every other year to check on me and that comforts me.

I am TOTALLY relieved and have learned a valuable lesson and in the future I WILL quarantine any new birds that I might pick up along the way and WILL get ahold of the vaccine that is used for Pulorum Thyphoid and innoculate all of my new chicks just to be on the safe side.

 

[DuckLady]

 

[threehorses]

Instead of vaccinating for pullorum typhoid, just have NPIP testing done. That way you know your birds are always clear. I would absolutely recommend that path rather than vaccinating. I'd vaccinate for Marek's instead.

I'm sorry you had to get the big scare, but I'm glad you understand now why it's so important to quarantine.

/hugs

Grammie if you need help with that I'm in Texas. Texas A&M usually has the state testors. That's probably the $25 you're mentioning. It's very well worth knowing that at least even if you didn't buy tested birds, that yours are now pullorum free and thus won't make pullorum babies for you.

You just test annually. They retest turkeys, test birds they didn't test the year before, new babies, etc. They don't test waterfowl.

A word of advice - very important.

When they come over, make an appointment and insist that you be there. Ask them not to park on your property (biosecurity issues) but be gracious about it.

They should always wear new booties (foot covers) to your place. If they don't, have some and insist. They should wear a new lab coat (those paper cover alls for painting are really great to have on hand). If you don't do the booties, ask them to step into a disinfectant foot bath.

Make sure they know you are REALLY serious about your biosecurity! If they insist on coming when you're not there, report them to their boss at A&M.

Most of the time they're very gracious. But occassionally we'll get a hot-dog that doesn't pay attention and that's another way of bringing disease into your flock. Imagine the other types of places they might come before going to your house - what if the place before had Mareks, pullorum, laryngeotracheitis, etc? See where I'm going with this?

We had a guy one year that insisted that he come over when I wasn't home. I told him "absolutely not - my gate is locked, and I'm a stickler for biosecurity" He kept insisting that he had to come at a time when I was working. So I said "fine - 11 o clock... I'll call into work." And I did.

I called a half day into work and waited. And waited. No guy. I call his phone. He's at home. "Oh I fell into someone's pond after their dogs took off after me and I had to change clothes. I'll be there some time in the after noon."

grrrrrr

I told him to cancel the appointment and that he had better not show up while I was not here. (He apparently was at someone else's house when they weren't there.) I called his boss, explained that I tested - voluntarily - every year and that all I asked in return was that people never show up unless I'm here so I can monitor their footwear, where they park, etc. The guy ended up losing his job. I highly suspect he was one of the guys that, at the time, were hired out to California for testing after a newcastle's scare. We had Texas testors who were going to people's houses and taking their birds while they were gone, removing them without saying anything.

That sounds like a scary story - but most of our testers are awesome and if you just ask them politely, they'll be relieved that you're concerned about biosecurity. Just make sure let's keep it that way. /wink

 

[greatestgrammie]

threehorses. . . . the $25.00 is the fee for registration.

The inspector who came to my home told me that unless I had a bird to die or several birds to die that I could not take them to the A&M Animal Diagnostic Clinic.
The inspector told me that should I have a fresh carcass or if I still felt threatened and thought I needed to sacrifice a bird I could take the body for "testing" which I am sure would include a necropsy.

The inspector who had talked to me twice on two different ocassions/days before coming out and in our conversations he explained to me about the suiting up with disposable paper suits,caps,gloves and paper booties . . . . (I am of the medical profession and know all about this and he explained it very well and in detail)should there be a major issue.

This man was VERY professional and told me of his going by the house where I acquired my new birds and not finding the lady at home on two different ocassions and told me he would continue to try and get in touch with her until he got the chance to see her birds which tells me he would NOT come on my property unless I was at home so I am not worried about this one little bit.

On a lighter note and my usual sence of humor. . . . . . .I just know that he was as "smittin" with me as I was with him and I am sure he would not come to my place unless he made sure I was here. . . . . LOL LOL LOL

Thanks for your advice. . . .I take it to heart. One scare in my life is enough though I only have my chickens as a hobby I still want them to be healthy and safe.

 

[threehorses]

How weird! I think NPIP is separate - let me see what information I can get for you on getting pullorum/typhoid tested. It's a paid service usually, seperate of A&M. I'm VERY glad to hear that they're being good. Usually they are - but the one bad-apple, well they are authorities. It's a bit hard to stand up to someone who has your flock's fate in their hands and say "no - my way".

Your inspector sounds like the guys I usually had... they're awesome.

You just must have charmed him to bits.

I love it! Sounds like a nice pitcher of lemonade next time he's out. He apparently has your back!

You have my good vibes, prayers, well wishes, etc. I hope the rest of your time with the flock is wonderful. /hugs!

Quote:

 

[greatestgrammie]

Oh I suppose that The Diagnostic Veterinary Clinic doesn't want to get overloaded with lots of chicken testings.
This Inspector more or less made it sound as if they only do testing if it is warranted and mainly because this area hasn't had much to worry about up to now.
This Inspector said the IF and When we have anything to come up it suspects it will come more from the water fowl that migrate which makes sence to me.

I don't have any wire over my chicken pens so Morning Doves,Grackles,Sparrows and any other small bird that wants in can get in even if through the chicken wire screen door I have on my hen house and the Inspector agreed with me that wild birds could bring in as much disease as bringing in sick chickens.
I guess there is only so much one can do and the rest is up to God.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Agreed. Really, it's like Pandora's Box. Once you start thinking about it, all sorts of other things tend to pour out and you can worry yourself ill thinking about all the iffs.

I do the same as you - my birds have access to wild birds, etc. We even had water fowl come here (which I hope doesn't happen again) because of our drought. (I have a pond.). That situation is corrected now. But I just can't yet put them all in a little cage with tiny wire. The new breeders for show, I will - mostly to keep rodents out. But I still like my laying hens to free range.

Really it's a leap of faith.

I used to worry myself sick about Marek's and everything else. These days I just stick to my basic rules list and try not to think about it too much.

/hugs again!

 

[greatestgrammie]

With this experience I have decided to quarantine any new birds I acquire.
I plan to innoculate all new chicks for Pulorum Thyphoid and IF I can get ahold of the vaccine used for Infectious Bronchitis I want to innoculate any adult birds I acquire as well because though this Inspector states that my flock is fine I would be willing to bet that one of these new birds or maybe even one of my own birds could be a carrier since alot of my birds have been acquired as adult birds over the years and from different sources.
I realize that my chickens are just my hobby and I truly enjoy them but I don't want to acquire anything that might prohibit me from having chickens such as a disease that might leave lasting effects for years to come.

I do have 2 pens and 2 hen houses though one hen house is really kinda the brooder hen house and I would be hard pressed to house 42 adult birds in there but for a few days I think it would be alright and I could clean/disinfect the current hen house and pen with the proper bleach/water combination just to be on the safe side.

Who would have thought that having a chicken hobby could turn into such an ordeal and or expense but if it doesn't get any more expensive than it has up to this point I don't figure I could find a cheaper more fulfilling hobby than raising chickens now could I?