The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[getaclue]

I don't really get the hoopla about NPIP testing, but maybe it's because of the state I'm in. Each state can run different tests for NPIP certification, but here they test for Pullorum-Typhoid, Avian Influenza and Exotic Newcastle Disease. There are diseases they don't even have a test for. For those things, diagnosis is made from submitting samples of tissue, or whatever, and/or necropsy. An advantage of being an NPIP member in our state, is that you get free necropsies, and sample testing.

When they come to do the NPIP testing, they only test the chickens that you are showing, breeding to sell chicks, and hens that you are selling eggs from. They don't even count how many are in your flock. It's quick, and there is very little discomfort to the birds. Once done, they give you a paper, then within a couple weeks (usually within a week), you receive your actual, laminated NPIP card that is good for a year.

NPIP testing does not guarantee a person's flock is 100% disease free, or that it will remain totally disease free. NOTHING can do that. Even in a bubble.

Not testing, does not mean that a person's flock is unhealthy.

 

[speckledhen]

I don't really get the hoopla about NPIP testing, but maybe it's because of the state I'm in. Each state can run different tests for NPIP certification, but here they test for Pullorum-Typhoid, Avian Influenza and Exotic Newcastle Disease. There are diseases they don't even have a test for. For those things, diagnosis is made from submitting samples of tissue, or whatever, and/or necropsy. An advantage of being an NPIP member in our state, is that you get free necropsies, and sample testing.

When they come to do the NPIP testing, they only test the chickens that you are showing, breeding to sell chicks, and hens that you are selling eggs from. They don't even count how many are in your flock. It's quick, and there is very little discomfort to the birds. Once done, they give you a paper, then within a couple weeks (usually within a week), you receive your actual, laminated NPIP card that is good for a year.

NPIP testing does not guarantee a person's flock is 100% disease free, or that it will remain totally disease free. NOTHING can do that. Even in a bubble.

Not testing, does not mean that a person's flock is unhealthy.

The last part is exactly right and one thing I tried to get across to Mr. Cop on the other thread. Here in GA, the testing is free anyway, BUT I would never take a bird to this state lab. I did it once and highly regretted it because they gave me only a preliminary diagnosis, which did not match the findings and made zero sense, so I had another vet read the report who actually knows my birds to a degree and he said it was a load of horse crap. I don't want to be on any government list of chicken owners. Of course, if you show, you must, but I don't.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I saw they shut down that thread. It was enjoyable watching a particular person squirm.

 

[h2oratt]

All I could think back then was, is this all we've got to choose from? REALLY? Geez, we're truly doomed. Of all the people on the political arena, in all this big country, these are the two we have? It was rather sad, IMO. But, I really don't want to talk specifically about politics here if I can help it because that is one reason I avoid the Random Ramblings section entirely. I have not been in there in years, by design. If BYC was my kingdom, I'd get rid of that entire section...and Rob knows that is one reason I am not a moderator now. My rules would be way stricter than the BYC rules are now. I come here to get away from most of the news.

The mainstream media is so self-important, that they think we need their opinions. We don't. We need facts. I can form my own opinions, thank you very much. So, since we have no control over any of it, I try to just mind my mountain as much as possible, prepare in very real ways for the mess they're all making of our country (would have been the same or worse with the other one, or whoever was elected) and avoid most controversial subjects, as far as the world stage is concerned. But, the manipulation of information really torques me. It rips at what the media was supposed to do in the first place. Hey, George Stephanopoulos and your ilk, you can KISS MY GRITS! HA!

So, back to the important stuff, CHICKENS! MaryJo has become an escape artist. She gets along with the Brahma boys, but I put them all back in the front pen and the old ladies in the very back. I took out the shelf roost that was in there and replaced it with a simple 2x3 roost bar that goes across the 5' side. And she flies out. Found her walking the barn aisle two days ago, no idea when she flew out overnight. Last night, heard a ruckus. Tom found her roosting on top of the pen wall that divides her pen from Georgie and June's pen. I don't want to clip her wings and I feel she'll get over it when she is laying and finally will submit to a rooster. I took Zara who is her main tormentor out of the pen and put MaryJo in with Georgie's group this am., hoping she'd stay in there without Zara to stalk her and beat her up. She's 25 weeks old, for cripes sake!

Why do you not wNt to clip her wings?

 

[speckledhen]

I saw they shut down that thread. It was enjoyable watching a particular person squirm.

I was watching the tirade about criminals and accessory to a crime nonsense and could not believe the bully. Geez. I was trying to talk about the effectiveness of the program in preventing disease-a program cannot prevent disease, it simply makes it easier to find it and then take the lists of folks they know have chickens who live in the kill zone to give them the locations to go with their gas chambers-not specifically about the legalities of it, who should be on it and how they deserved to be punished if they were in the "Chicken Mob", crossing state lines and selling illegal chickens and eggs, YIKES! For shame! Chicken criminals! And he was spouting, according to a member who PM'd me, false information anyway. I had already apologized to the poor OP twice. I guess they didn't want him to come back again.


@h2oratt , I don't like the look of clipped wings, plus the only time I did it many years ago, it didn't work anyway. That was on an Orp pullet who kept flying over a pen gate. Eventually, her butt got too big, LOL. MaryJo is now with Atlas and she is stuck because of the netting I put back over that pen. I'll remove it and she will probably be used to staying by then.

 

[getaclue]

If I didn't show, I wouldn't have mine tested. What most people forget, are that in the event of serious illness, or disease the chickens don't usually live too long. This helps prevent the spread of the more serious diseases, to some extent. For those that choose to keep flocks closed, to help breed for resistance, that is not bad either. It's just the few unscrupulous people that knowingly sell stock from sick animals that make it hard on everyone else.

 

[speckledhen]

If I didn't show, I wouldn't have mine tested. What most people forget, are that in the event of serious illness, or disease the chickens don't usually live too long. This helps prevent the spread of the more serious diseases, to some extent. For those that choose to keep flocks closed, to help breed for resistance, that is not bad either. It's just the few unscrupulous people that knowingly sell stock from sick animals that make it hard on everyone else.

yes, that is true. Some is ignorance and some are just mean and unscrupulous. That's why buyers should educate themselves. I don't find much need to buy birds, well, actually none. When I need new stock like when Mary sent me the eggs Hector came from and I got the Brahmas, I will incubate eggs from reputable folks, not just strangers on Ebay.
I have more than enough chickens here. I need less! But, I still hold to what has kept them safe for years because it has worked so far. No government tester needed for that.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I was watching the tirade about criminals and accessory to a crime nonsense and could not believe the bully. Geez. I was trying to talk about the effectiveness of the program in preventing disease-a program cannot prevent disease, it simply makes it easier to find it and then take the lists of folks they know have chickens who live in the kill zone to give them the locations to go with their gas chambers-not specifically about the legalities of it, who should be on it and how they deserved to be punished if they were in the "Chicken Mob", crossing state lines and selling illegal chickens and eggs, YIKES! For shame! Chicken criminals! And he was spouting, according to a member who PM'd me, false information anyway. I had already apologized to the poor OP twice. I guess they didn't want him to come back again.


@h2oratt , I don't like the look of clipped wings, plus the only time I did it many years ago, it didn't work anyway. That was on an Orp pullet who kept flying over a pen gate. Eventually, her butt got too big, LOL. MaryJo is now with Atlas and she is stuck because of the netting I put back over that pen. I'll remove it and she will probably be used to staying by then.

The conversation went really off topic and weird, at one point there was some rudeness that was suddenly edited out afterwards. It was interesting, and most of it was removed.

Orpingtons do get big butts.

 

[speckledhen]

The conversation went really off topic and weird, at one point there was some rudeness that was suddenly edited out afterwards. It was interesting, and most of it was removed.

Orpingtons do get big butts.

I finally decided that I was done and told the lady best of luck and I left and was not going back to the thread, no matter what the guy said. I have not seen what they did other than what Terrie said when it was closed. It was very weird, wasn't it? Complicity in crimes? It's a chicken! The guy is a cop in real life, I'm told, and running for office. Says a lot right there to me. I have great respect for the good cops of this world, but the bullies, well, we'll leave it right there...

Could not figure why he kept implying that I was a criminal because I was not NPIP even though I do nothing I need to be NPIP for. Then, I sort of got that he was saying that if I sold birds to NPIP folks when I was not, that I was complicit in a crime. They don't tell me if they are or aren't and I don't ask. That is not my concern. I want my birds to be cared for and have a decent place to live after they leave here, that is all.

 

[getaclue]

Thanks for mentioning the "death" smell, Cynthia. I've noticed it on every one of my production hens, that died of old age. It's like everything just starts shutting down, and that odor oozes from everywhere, even the pores of their skin. This one, is over 5 years old now, closer to 6 years old, which is very old for a production hen.

I don't feel an egg, but there is an off chance she's egg bound. There is odor, so I'll treat for vent gleet. There have been no lash eggs, and she's not underweight. She's finishing up her molt, and her new feather growth has been good. I haven't wormed in awhile, but I don't like to worm when they are in molt, if I can help it, however, I'm seeing nothing to indicate worms.