Avian influenza - the Ohio Dept of Ag just posted some good info graphics on fb. I’m sure other states have done the same once HPAI showed up. But, most helpful to me are signs of illness. There are pictures of the symptoms. Of course HPAI results in very high death rates, but knowing what it looks like takes away that unknown.
Dropped of half our flock at the auction this morning. I did not stay bc I have a tire with a leak, and didn’t want to chance getting stuck. Always a bit sad to sell off some of the birds. One of them we have had for close to 3 years, other just 2 years, and the rest were only 1 year. So, we miss them but cannot keep everyone.
The 18 chicks are still doing well- we have 6 BA, 6 EE, and 6 golden buff which are hybrid layers. We requested light/white fluff EE chicks. Now it looks like we have two nearly all white ones!! We are happy about this. Last time we asked for light ones, they ended up with grey and gold/bronze colors, so not as light as we wanted. In 2.5 weeks, we pick up 24 more chicks! But, most will be male bc we will raise for food and will keep them in another pen. Some of this year’s chicks will not make the winter cut and will be sold too. However, that gives someone else a grown, but young, layer. All this as long as HPAI doesn’t impact any of our plans. We are aware that it might impact fair season, as it did in 2015.
Off to do some work outside. It is cold but nice for now. We get overcast skies then rain tonight.