The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[EweSheep]

Well add some of the EEs and white egg layers and you would have a beautiful assortment egg basket!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Don't forget the olive eggers!

 

[pinkchick]

Thanks Ace!

flower~ I don't know how I missed your fourth egg....sorry about that.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Very pretty egg, it's so bright! Can't wait until you are posting photos of dozens of them.

 

[wooden-animal]

Quote:
Royce my friend I hear ya!!!!! That is exactly what keeps me from NPIP, that one day would cost me my first born and possibly my right leg. It's not only the drive time that jacks the price up but also if a person has more than 30 adult birds (6 months of age) then every adult bird you own must be tested, I remember the state vet telling me that they do not test birds under a certain age, but once they become of age they need to be tested....so that could amount to 2 seperate trips = $$$$$$$$$$. They estimate 2.5 minutes to test each bird, here at my house the vet would be testing birds for 395 minutes at $85 per hour, if I added it up correctly that would be $559.98 then add the windsheild time we pay for, to my house and back that would be another 4 hours at $340.00..........AND that doesn't include the cost of the tests themselves. Last year the state had funding which allowed them to do one of the tests that would normally cost $15.00 for free for anyone signing up for NPIP but the rest of the testing we pay for. Currently they no longer have those funds so we now have to pay for everything. On top of the fact that there is only one state vet to do the testing. Can you imagine what folks have to pay if they are in Eastern WA or Southern Eastern WA?
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW which show are you and Erhard going to? Are you going to the one coming up in Dec. in Chehalis? I am really going to try and make it to that one. Wanted to go to the one in Stevenson but couldn't make it. I would love to meet up with you and Erhard one of these days!

hi Pink chick.
I have been reading about you folks that live in Was. About getting NPIP certified. And unless the laws in Was are so much differant then Idaho.
Some one may be out of the loop. Because NPIP is Funded By the Fed. Gov. You do have to pay for your antigens for the blood tests. And all birds if you have less then 300 have to be tested once they are four months old. But you can do all the testing your self exsept for the avion fleu test. And that test is sopposed to be free. Forgive me for my spelling. I am NPIP certified and it was not that hard to do. It only cost me 350.00 per year for the antigens. But if you have more than a couple people that want to do it you can devide the cost between you. And maybe you can get smaller bottles of antigene. I test over 600 birds twic a year. Maybe you can give me the number of your vet and I can get more info an Was. Regulations. Because NPIP is not sopposed to be so costly or time consumming to get certified, They should be working with everyone they can to get them certified. Its better for everyone to know you are getting healthy eggs, chicks, and birds from a seller. If you need help on testing i can walk you through it and if you can or the state says you can do it yourself I can post pictures and the directions on how to do it. I hope this helps and if i can help in any way let me know.
P.S. I have my website up and running we are still working on it but you can check it out. www.pinepride.com/quial

 

[pinkchick]

Hi Wooden!
Thanks!

Yes you would think that it should not be so costly but everything here in the state of WA. is costly if it is under regulations by the state or feds. I call many times and I am sure they are tired of hearing from me. I can't understand why they won't let private persons get certified to do the testing like they have done in other states, if they did, it would help cut the costs down dramatically I would think.
I would be happy to learn how to do it if it would help save others money and the state vet time. I can't fathom how one person gets it done and done correctly. When does the state vet sleep?

 

[wooden-animal]

Hi Pink Chick

Yes we have one state vet also and unfortunly they do not know a thing about poultry. And that is why we do almost all of our own testing. Because it takes for ever to get some one out to test, But Idaho does not have the brainyacks that Was. does. We need regulations but they don't have to make it so hard and costly it drives every thing up. And this year is evan worse. Corn and wheat is so high and now the gas is going back up. My cornish eggs last year cost me 27 cents ea shipped to me and now with all the costs going up they will cost me 40 cents ea this year. I feed right at a ton of feed every 10 days. So I hope I have a good hatching season this year. It is only my second year. I would like to see a picture of your Russian Orloffs i think i may have the same color. Mine are not spangled like what i have seen. Mine are a light brown to dark brown. Not sure if they call it the Mahogany or somthing else. If any one needs help with the testing on how to do it let me know i would be happy to help in any way. I will try and post some picyures of my Wellsummers and other breeds soon. thank you

 

[EweSheep]

WoodenAnimal, your NPIP information is pretty good. NOt all states would do it like Washington and it is cost prohibitive for most of the rural folks to get their birds tested.

 

[wooden-animal]

Quote:
Yes i can under stand why some folks just can't do it. If they only have a small amount of birds and are not trying to make a living selling chickens or eggs. Then it would cost them more then what it is worth. But if a person wants to be sure he or she is getting good healthy stock then its best to get some of the antigenes and test the birds you buy and the ones you are selling. I have to test every bird that comes on my property. I can't take any chances with my breeding stock. I am able to feather sex 8 out of the 11 breeds that i raise. And it costs quite a bit to get those chicks. I am not sure if they will sell you the antigene with out being NPIP but it would worth finding out. I know in Idaho I can't ship chicks or eggs into some states without being NPIP. But some states will alow it. The NPIP program is good but it needs to be more user freindly and cost afective for every one to be able to join. The antigene that I get is for 300 to 500 birds but i think you can get it in smaller bottles. I will call my rep tomorrow. Because i know this is Fed. Funded and they should be able to help anyone become NPIP. They came and showed me what I had to do and how to test and how to fill out the paper work and did not charge me a thing. I tested my birds all 700 the first time because I had gotten birds from all over and wanted to make sure they where all healthy, I filled out the paper work and had my certifacation in about two weeks. I don't know if some states just don't allow you to test your own birds but from what I can find out you can. Because they don't have enough vets to cover the whole state. But maybe some states the vet has to do it. But i would think that would defeat the whole purpose of have this type of plan. If any one has more info to add please share it. Thank you

 

[pinkchick]

Just wanted to give a shout out to Gramaof5!!!!!!!

Haven't seen ya around for a while, hope everything is good!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
Yes i can under stand why some folks just can't do it. If they only have a small amount of birds and are not trying to make a living selling chickens or eggs. Then it would cost them more then what it is worth. But if a person wants to be sure he or she is getting good healthy stock then its best to get some of the antigenes and test the birds you buy and the ones you are selling. I have to test every bird that comes on my property. I can't take any chances with my breeding stock. I am able to feather sex 8 out of the 11 breeds that i raise. And it costs quite a bit to get those chicks. I am not sure if they will sell you the antigene with out being NPIP but it would worth finding out. I know in Idaho I can't ship chicks or eggs into some states without being NPIP. But some states will alow it. The NPIP program is good but it needs to be more user freindly and cost afective for every one to be able to join. The antigene that I get is for 300 to 500 birds but i think you can get it in smaller bottles. I will call my rep tomorrow. Because i know this is Fed. Funded and they should be able to help anyone become NPIP. They came and showed me what I had to do and how to test and how to fill out the paper work and did not charge me a thing. I tested my birds all 700 the first time because I had gotten birds from all over and wanted to make sure they where all healthy, I filled out the paper work and had my certifacation in about two weeks. I don't know if some states just don't allow you to test your own birds but from what I can find out you can. Because they don't have enough vets to cover the whole state. But maybe some states the vet has to do it. But i would think that would defeat the whole purpose of have this type of plan. If any one has more info to add please share it. Thank you

From what I know here in WI they have people who go through a class and are certified as testers, in fact our 4-H poutry leader can test and has done it for us, we will be testing and probably become a WI tested flock so the kids are covered for fairs. One can look online here in WI for the list of people(probably the Ag site) near them who can test. I don't think there is a set rate for the testing it's basicly what you arrange with the person testing. I know for NPIP flocks here there is a fee(not sure how much) paid to the state and you get inspected. We did WI Individual Poultry Test this year for 4-H fairs. In WI you can do this if you aren't in one of the following WI Tested Flock, WI Associate Flock, NPIP or NPIP affiliate.