Virulent Newcastle Disease or VND, Lots of Anguish, Little Solutions Offered

[IamRainey]

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to put down Fido because some others dogs who never even came into contact with yours had ________ disease"

Can you imagine the outrage?

If Fido had a virus that was as virulent -- read "uncontrollable and highly lethal and contagious" -- as virulent Newcastle, and Fido's illness threatened Spot and Rover and Blackie and dozens and hundreds of others who may never smell their butts but may play in the same dog park, then you'd have a comparable situation.

 

[IamRainey]

I think it's an actual survivalist being referred to. But you're right, otherwise. Most people raise chickens for food.

I think the word he uses is "prepper" not survivalist. I haven't talked to him in a decent while. But he's the only one I've met who got his birds specifically to feed himself and his wife as a way of avoiding conventional food sources.

The rest of us like comparing our experiences and get a kick out of being able to share eggs at the monthly produce trade, not to mention having a reminder of a simpler more manageable way of life in a highly urban modern environment.

 

[noisegeyser]

and Fido's illness threatened Spot and Rover and Blackie and dozens and hundreds of others who may never smell their butts but may play in the same dog park

How many hobbyists take their chickens off their property? I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems to me that the mass killing of all chickens in an affected area is unnecessary. Especially the killing of chickens who test negative for the disease, or aren't tested at all.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Wow, what a disaster for the backyard chicken community in California. Just got through reading the SOB post (save our birds) and what struck me was a lot of anger and heart break and little discussion on what is best for the backyard chicken community. And I know this is a sore point for those in our community that view their birds as pets and not livestock destined for consumption. Those are the most devastated but a few things need to be discussed despite the heart aches.

First, chickens are walking disease incubators and if you don't know that or aren't wanting to face that fact you should spend some time reading up on chicken diseases. Plenty of sources right here on BYC or this site has the basics and they cover them pretty thoroughly. Chickens are so fragile, hosting so much disease that is held in check and just waiting for one more straw to break the camel's back so to speak.

Second, bio security. Yeah, I sell feeders designed to keep wild birds and other vermin away from your feed. Had to start making them because at the time there was one $250.00 feeder on the market and I couldn't afford that kind of cash. But now there are a dozen brands, some which are worthless, others that are better, and as of yet only my feeder has the spring loaded door and counterweight needed to have a shot at vermin proofing a feeder. I say a "shot at" because the flock owner has to follow directions and replace wear parts to keep the feeders working as designed. But a proper feeder, not some plastic sewer pipe contraption or a bucket with sewer pipe parts hot glued to it, is an absolute necessity.

Third, responsibility. I am a libertarian leaning Republican and I hear so many whine in politics about their rights and freedom but few include responsibility. If we are gonna have walking, crowing, egg laying disease incubators in our back yards it is our responsibility to keep them away from wild animals, wild birds, and maintain bio security to prevent one sick bird from spreading the disease to neighboring flocks or worse, to a nearby commercial operation. And if, God forbid, our flock comes down with a disease or we find we are in a hot zone, those birds are going to have to die. Not nice, not fair, not pretty, it isn't anything other than horrible but a worse horrible is awaiting EVERYONE if these outbreaks are not stopped and stopped fast. Read up on the VND, birds that survive will shed the virus and will test negative even if they carry the virus.

And as a Republican I can tell you just how dirty the Republican Party is and it is the same in the Democrat Party. And it will be the same in any political party that comes to power because the donor class, AKA the 1%, will always find a way to buy politicians. And why drag politics into this? Because if WE do not self police ourselves some corporate chicken company will spend a few hundred thousand dollars to get a bill passed in your state that prohibits backyard chickens OR forces severe bio security measures upon us to the point that few could afford the hobby.

So no matter where you live, get your birds in an enclosed coop or run, provide plenty of space per bird, provide clean deep litter, and keep it clean, clean, clean. Get a rat proof and wild bird proof feeder, costs about as much as two or three bags of feed, which it will in turn save that much feed in less than a year. Start taking the time to do bio security before going near the coop and the same after leaving the coop. Quarantine any new birds away from the existing flock and even after six weeks a bird still might introduce a disease that it has under control but is still capable of spreading. Feed store chicks are not without risk with all the chicken enthusiasts coming and going from the feed store. Much better to hatch your own replacement stock.

And for God's sake, if you are one of the more tender heart-ed souls that raises birds think about the others that care as much as you do and do not help spread the disease by moving or hiding your flock. No chicken is any more deserving of life than the next, all are basically prey animals that have high reproductive rates for the simple reason that God designed them to rebound quickly from disease outbreaks and from predator loss. Life isn't fair for humans but it is a lot worse for chickens. Accept that and give the birds the best life you can but also be ready to do the right thing for the community if forced into it.

How many hobbyists take their chickens off their property? I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems to me that the mass killing of all chickens in an affected area is unnecessary. Especially the killing of chickens who test negative for the disease, or aren't tested at all.

How many hobbyists take their chickens off their property? I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems to me that the mass killing of all chickens in an affected area is unnecessary. Especially the killing of chickens who test negative for the disease, or aren't tested at all.

How many hobbyists take their chickens off their property? I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems to me that the mass killing of all chickens in an affected area is unnecessary. Especially the killing of chickens who test negative for the disease, or aren't tested at all.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Well, from what I hear people from the USDA were going around on foot in different neighborhoods knocking on doors and asking if they knew of any neighbors that had chickens! They were euthanizing chickens that had already been tested negative for VND. I think the poultry industry is terrified of this, but from what I hear is some of the poultry workers are involved with cock fighting on their free time. I don’t know if when they go back to work after they have been in these arenas with many many cocks from different areas if they are required to put on different shoes, because I would think this is how it is spreading into the commercial industry which has been what has happened here in California.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Well, from what I hear people from the USDA were going around on foot in different neighborhoods knocking on doors and asking if they knew of any neighbors that had chickens! They were euthanizing chickens that had already been tested negative for VND. I think the poultry industry is terrified of this, but from what I hear is some of the poultry workers are involved with cock fighting on their free time. I don’t know if when they go back to work after they have been in these arenas with many many cocks from different areas if they are required to put on different shoes, because I would think this is how it is spreading into the commercial industry which has been what has happened here in California.

Also from what I have heard from other insider information is the case that was in Northern California was somebody that was also involved in cockfighting, and when the officials went to get their cocks, the person said they did not have any and they had actually moved them to a different location, thus probably spreading it to another area! This is all hearsay, but I have a strong suspicion this is all true!

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Also from what I have heard from other insider information is the case that was in Northern California was somebody that was also involved in cockfighting, and when the officials went to get their cocks, the person said they did not have any and they had actually moved them to a different location, thus probably spreading it to another area! This is all hearsay, but I have a strong suspicion this is all true!

We heard the rooster was one of several fighting roosters out of Tracy, that the owner lived in Hayward and took the rooster across the bridge to a vet in Redwood City. Had he worked with live poultry, we'd could be the next Riverside.

The owner was reportedly "extremely uncooperative." Well I bet. I hope a criminal investigation is forthcoming. Cockfighting needs to be not only a fireable offense for poultry workers, but a federal offense not equal to but greater than dogfighting due to the very real threat it poses to other birds. And if you don't even have the right to be here, that offense should make you go away. No excuses, don't wanna hear the long humint feature about the family. Look at how many have been harmed.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

We heard the rooster was one of several fighting roosters out of Tracy, that the owner lived in Hayward and took the rooster across the bridge to a vet in Redwood City. Had he worked with live poultry, we'd could be the next Riverside.

The owner was reportedly "extremely uncooperative." Well I bet. I hope a criminal investigation is forthcoming. Cockfighting needs to be not only a fireable offense for poultry workers, but a federal offense not equal to but greater than dogfighting due to the very real threat it poses to other birds. And if you don't even have the right to be here, that offense should make you go away. No excuses, don't wanna hear the long humint feature about the family. Look at how many have been harmed.

Well, by moving and hiding the birds that were sick, he is spreading the disease everywhere! That guy needs to be prosecuted!

 

[ThracianHorse]

Which would explain the CDFA's less than forthcoming tactics in some situations. If they don't announce they are coming, people don't have the chance to move birds. And asking neighbors will *hopefully* reveal hidden operations.

Hate to say it, but organizations like PETA and ADF should rear their heads...

You're kidding, right? PETA and ADF won't because they are absolutely for all domestic animals being put down. Their misanthropy is so great, any human created breed or domestic animal is viewed as something that should be destroyed. They also wouldn't get any money out of this, and they only show up when they can get four times their (lost or won, so long as they file suit, they are getting paid) prosecution costs back via the Equal Access to Justice Act.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Which would explain the CDFA's less than forthcoming tactics in some situations. If they don't announce they are coming, people don't have the chance to move birds. And asking neighbors will *hopefully* reveal hidden operations.

Hate to say it, but organizations like PETA and ADF should rear their heads...

well, yes all the neighbors around me know that I have a flock of chickens and if somebody comes knocking on their door and just asks do you know of anyone that has chickens around here? They are going to say oh yes my neighbor has a flock of chickens, not knowing what will happen to my chickens. I still would want my vet to do the euthanizing. My birds have a lot of trust in me and I would not want them frightened that way.