What did you do in the garden today?

[Sueby]

I just got a call from the Dept of Ag telling me they recommend locking the chickens up - she said Avian Flu was found in a large non backyard set up near by.

 

[SheaLoner]

I wouldn’t be too sure of that there are 3 species of venomous snakes in upstate New York. There are also tornadoes there. We had an EF 4 tornado about ten years ago in south central and western Massachusetts. Just saying.

Point. But very rare. There is no tornado season. And the venomous snakes are generally not found in the center and very rare when they are. Catskills dont count as upstate in my book.

 

[WthrLady]

I didn't see the original post, but I'm a mimic. Whatever I'm around, it starts coming out in about five minutes. British? Totally. Australian? Yup. Redneck in its various forms? That's my native language! Broken English as spoken by the lady from Vietnam? Oops, that too. I just hope and pray nobody ever thinks I'm mocking them. It's 100% pure instinct and not intentional. My husband's grandmother laughed her butt off once because I said something in Spanish. She asked me to repeat myself and then informed me I spoke Spanish with no accent whatsoever. Zero. She had fully expected and been looking forward to me speaking it with a Southern accent.

Me too. With all the moves we've had, there's a LOT of accents in there.
And if I get tired, North Dakota comes out, and that's a hard one to control.
If I get really, really tired I'll speak a whole different language and not even realize it. LOL

DH thinks it's funny.

 

[WthrLady]

I just got a call from the Dept of Ag telling me they recommend locking the chickens up - she said Avian Flu was found in a large non backyard set up near by.

This is what it looks like around here ATM.
It's ALL about the wild bids. This is currently the lake below my house.

 

[Elyrian1]

Yeah I saw a story on the news a week or two ago about Avian flu on the East coast affecting the big poultry operations. I expect the price of eggs and chicken to go up... some more!.... very soon.

 

[Sueby]

Well I got the big coop & covered run all set for lockdown. I need to do something with the little coop - too much fighting to lock them all down in the big coop at the moment I think, tho it would be easier! Maybe I'll try it & see. Of course DH is traveling at the moment so I have no help. Gonna think on this one for a bit...

And if I get tired, North Dakota comes out, and that's a hard one to control.

DH is from ND - I love that accent! Not that he has one anymore, but family out there does.

 

[Swiss]

I didn't see the original post, but I'm a mimic. Whatever I'm around, it starts coming out in about five minutes. British? Totally. Australian? Yup. Redneck in its various forms? That's my native language! Broken English as spoken by the lady from Vietnam? Oops, that too. I just hope and pray nobody ever thinks I'm mocking them. It's 100% pure instinct and not intentional. My husband's grandmother laughed her butt off once because I said something in Spanish. She asked me to repeat myself and then informed me I spoke Spanish with no accent whatsoever. Zero. She had fully expected and been looking forward to me speaking it with a Southern accent.

Back when I was working, I was listening to an audio book. I think it was called Half Broke Horses, and the narrator has a very thick Texan accent. Well, I had been listening to it for days and was the only person in the office. A lady from the TN office called, and when I picked up the phone, I said (in the accent I had been listening to for days), "Hay, Dab-ee." Then I put my head in my hands and had to explain to her why I answered the phone that way! It still makes me chuckle.

 

[Swiss]

(Her name is Debbie)

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I checked with the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture website and near the bottom of the list is a notice regarding the avian influenza @Sueby. It is pretty low keyed and not specific where infected ducks were found. I did find a brief bit of information on the Mass Wildlife website. I’m a little concerned if they are downplaying this or the risk to backyard flocks is low. Migrating ducks are not real common in my immediate area however there are several lakes where local birds could mingle with migrating birds taking a break. Fingers crossed this doesn’t get really bad.

 

[Sueby]

@Wee Farmer Sarah I got the impression it was possibly a turkey farm, or a small chicken farm nearby. I also live about a half mile from a lake & have wetlands in my yard, we see ducks in the wetlands every year, seemingly stopping by on migration. The agent seemed a bit dismayed that she herself didn't have a ton of info, of course I asked a million questions she couldn't answer, lol. & I can't tell you how many migrating geese flew over while I was out there working!

But in all reality it's not a huge deal for me to lock them down & as @Elyrian1 said, I think this will raise the price of eggs so I'd rather keep my layers in lock down then lose them.

I ended up putting them all in the big coop together, they seem to be doing well but that might just be the flock block I put out. I did order a tarp that will fit the small run/coop if I need to separate them. DH will be able to help me with that this weekend, I don't think I can manage it myself. But for now all are tucked in & safe & hopefully nobody kills anybody else!