The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

I'm going to have to take care of someone Else's birds for the week... Any ideas on how to make sure my birds don't get infected with anything his have? I know they have a respiratory sickness, and something else too, I REALLY don't want my birds getting sick, anything I can do to keep the flocks separated?? Thanks!

I'm hoping you are going to their place to care for their birds, not bringing their birds to your place. If his birds have a respiratory infection, and you bring his birds to your place, I think you can positively count on getting your hens ill.

If you go to his place to care for the birds, I would practice the best biosecurity - shoes and clothes worn there arent worn at your place until disinfected - I would probably change clothes outside of your car, and change back before you get back in your car. Some people will even disinfect the tires on the car/truck - depends on what contact there will be. Keep the exposed clothes in a plastic bac, and disinfect before wearing them at your place. definitely not in the coop/run/wherever your birds are. Don't even walk in the shoes on your land -

If you are bringing his birds to your place, well, tell us how much land you have and how many buildings/shelters and how far apart they are. Someone might have some suggestions.

 

[mlowen]

This is a tough one. In a perfect world I would quarantine separately, but since you can't, what can you do?

Are you getting adult birds?

I would love as young as one can be absolutley certain it's female...I cannot ever have a rooster where I am (and I'm not yet ready for freezer campers.) But in terms of breed and age I think I'm going to get what I can get and be really grateful. A teeny flock of well-bred Barred Rocks would be awesome. I don't want to bring home two different, healthy sets of chickens who are not immune to each other's stuff and end up with everybody sick.

 

[salt and pepper]

I'm hoping you are going to their place to care for their birds, not bringing their birds to your place. If his birds have a respiratory infection, and you bring his birds to your place, I think you can positively count on getting your hens ill.

If you go to his place to care for the birds, I would practice the best biosecurity - shoes and clothes worn there arent worn at your place until disinfected - I would probably change clothes outside of your car, and change back before you get back in your car. Some people will even disinfect the tires on the car/truck - depends on what contact there will be. Keep the exposed clothes in a plastic bac, and disinfect before wearing them at your place. definitely not in the coop/run/wherever your birds are. Don't even walk in the shoes on your land -

If you are bringing his birds to your place, well, tell us how much land you have and how many buildings/shelters and how far apart they are. Someone might have some suggestions.

I will be going to their place to care for the birds, but I will be walking there, not driving ( he's my neighbor ) I have already treated my birds, as they did get what is have, My birds have gotten a lot of the things his have, just because he's less than a mile away.. I'll make sure I have two different pairs of shoes, any more ideas? Thanks!

 

[Ashdoes]

On the Eco glow...my normal electric bill is around $85, I track them, and my bill during brooding the ducks with a 250w heat lamp was $146. That is a lot! I'm very happy I bought the Eco glow.

 

[lalaland]

other than basic handwashing and clothes changing and shoe changing, I can't think of anything. You might want to boost your chickens immune systems (extra fresh crushed garlic? )

what kind of things have your hens gotten from his? a mile away, I wouldn't think they would be catching things, but not sure how far respiratory viruses can travel in the wind.

 

[salt and pepper]

other than basic handwashing and clothes changing and shoe changing, I can't think of anything. You might want to boost your chickens immune systems (extra fresh crushed garlic? )

what kind of things have your hens gotten from his? a mile away, I wouldn't think they would be catching things, but not sure how far respiratory viruses can travel in the wind.

Respritory, and possibly mareks, though I'm not sure on that one, All I know is that I had two birds go lame and dies, and he did too less than a week before. He's a 10 minute walk away, so less then a mile, But more then in a neighborhood. It could have been from something else, but I'm pretty sure that's where it came from.

 

[Leahs Mom]

On the Eco glow...my normal electric bill is around $85, I track them, and my bill during brooding the ducks with a 250w heat lamp was $146. That is a lot! I'm very happy I bought the Eco glow.

Wow

That's a HUGE savings!

 

[Mumsy]

I'm going to have to take care of someone Else's birds for the week... Any ideas on how to make sure my birds don't get infected with anything his have? I know they have a respiratory sickness, and something else too, I REALLY don't want my birds getting sick, anything I can do to keep the flocks separated?? Thanks!

Don't mix the two flocks on the same property. Change your clothing and shoes and shower BEFORE you go into your own barn yard. Disease of poultry is spread bird to bird, human contamination, wild birds and vermin more often than air born if your flocks are a mile distance.

I agree about building up your flocks immunity with good husbandry practices.

 

[salt and pepper]

Don't mix the two flocks on the same property. Change your clothing and shoes and shower BEFORE you go into your own barn yard. Disease of poultry is spread bird to bird, human contamination, wild birds and vermin more often than air born if your flocks are a mile distance.

I agree about building up your flocks immunity with good husbandry practices.

Thank you! It looks like I did the right thing when I ran home, and got cleaned up before seeing my own flock!!

 

[chooks4life]

Quote: Possibly invest in something to spray on your clothes, arms, hands, shoes, etc when you go over there, something natural but still antibiotic and antimicrobial. Rosemary's one of those things but so are so many other herbs. You'd smell of them but if you let it dry in there it wouldn't pick up dirt as easily and would kill a lot of nasty stuff on contact.