Utah!

[yfchoice]

I don't think I have a problem with people visiting my coop down the road. It's not like we're going to meet inside the run or anything. And we can take basic sanitary measures. But I for one would not allow anyone to bring one of their girls to my place. That's where I would draw the line. My 4 have been perfect so far and I need to keep it that way. Sorry kimbobim.....you're welcome at my coop but your ladies, unfortunately, are not. By the same token, I would not bring any of my girls to any of ya'll's coops.

 

[coloradowildflower]

I'm a Utahn too! Great to find a thread full of us!

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
We've purchased Oxine as a disinfectant and have started disinfecting our regular (not backyard) shoes when we go to IFA or the feed store. We've also decided to limit access to the chickens with friends and family unless they've disinfected their shoes and follow our protocols. I also think the change of clothes and backyard shoes are "musts" as well.

I guess what it comes down to, is what you think your threat level is.

By the way -

coloradowildflower - glad you found us.

 

[PacsMan]

Quote:

and, shoudn't that be a Utah Segolilly? (

)

 

[yfchoice]

I use the same shoes to work in my coop. I didn't think about the IFA thing. Kinda makes sense. I might consider getting some Oxine and disinfecting my street shoes after going there too.

 

[kimbobim]

Quote:
Well, since my gals all despise car rides, they'll be staying home. No play dates for them! Seriously, I feel lucky I haven't had problems yet, and would like to learn more about biosecurity and keeping a 'closed flock.' How DO you safely add new chicks/pullets to your flock? We've only ever added chicks, never grown adult birds, and I've quarantined any new chicks we've gotten at least 150 feet away from our current birds - they have absolutely no contact for at least 30 days. But how do you make sure that the birds you're getting aren't carriers for something? PC's thread about MG has scared me to death, but hasn't really said how to safely grow your flock.

What do people do at Chicken stocks and swaps/shows to prevent this sort of thing?

Where do you buy Oxine - IFA? Is it a spray, or a liquid you rinse things in?

I'm trying not to freak out over this, but since I'm still pretty new to all this, I feel like there's so much to learn about keeping everyone healthy and safe.

thanks!

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
IFA doesn't carry Oxine. The cheapest I found it was at www.revivalanimal.com (they also work through Amazon). I obviously was not good a reading directions and didn't buy the citric acid activator, so I had to do a second order. It's also used to treat well water, so maybe another store in the valley carries it. If I find out, I'll let you know.

I'm still very new to chickens too and have been a little freaked out by reading what PC, Southern Belle and others have gone through. We've only dealt with one batch of chicks and have never had to introduce any chickens. What I've picked up in the posts is that you quarantine for thirty days and then add one of your flock for another 30 days, a sacrificial lamb of sorts. Others recommend tests by the local extension office and the like.

It was extremely heartbreaking to watch PC's video when he was covered in the blood of his four favorite chickens, I hope that I never have to go through something similar. I too hope to learn more about bio-security and closed flocks. Some of ya'll out there who have had chickens longer have any suggestions to the newbies?

 

[kimbobim]

Quote:
IFA doesn't carry Oxine. The cheapest I found it was at www.revivalanimal.com (they also work through Amazon). I obviously was not good a reading directions and didn't buy the citric acid activator, so I had to do a second order. It's also used to treat well water, so maybe another store in the valley carries it. If I find out, I'll let you know.

I found a really interesting article on Oxine written by a K.J. Theordore. http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm Hopefully this link will work - I can't seem to get them right.

The person who wrote the article 'highly discourages' using Oxine with the citric acid activator - says he/she recommends to use a NIOSH-approved respirator if you do use the activator.

Looks like I'm going to have to find some of this - or does anyone else have other recommendations?

edited to add:

I'm assuming the author means to use the respirator when you are fogging the coop. But it sounds like if she/he doesn't use the citric acid activator, they just spray the chickens and the coop and it's OK. I'm going to have to print the article out and re-read it after I've had a decent night's sleep. I was up until 3:30 this morning with my daughter who has a stomach virus, then had to get up at 7:30 to get the older kids ready for church. I was hoping she was the only one to get this virus, but unfortunately, the others seem to be dropping like flies. Isn't summer vacation great?! All this family togetherness is going to kill me.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Great link Kimbobim! I bookmarked it

She kind of vaguely describes how you shouldn't use fog "where chickens are present", which I interpret to mean you can use it where chickens live, but not while they are present. Maybe I'm just reading too much into the wording, I tend to do that sometimes.

Oh well, still waiting for the activator to arrive anyway. If we don't use it on the chickens, we'll use it with the horses, rabbits or whatever other domestic critter has decided to adopt us.

Anybody else have any other recommendations??

 

[yfchoice]

Getting real discouraged with IFA. They don't carry DE. They don't carry Oxine. Every time I go there they don't have the crumbles I need. Plus they don't always give the best or factual info. You should know going in what you need. Cal-Ranch in West Jordan might have the Oxine. They're off of 7800 S and around 2800 W. They don't carry DE either or grit. But they do carry oyster shell in big bags.