What is NPIP certification? Are there risks?

[cochins1088]

I'm getting some gorgeous silver laced cochins that I'm really excited about. As of now I have a backyard flock of about 25 chickens, but I would like to start breeding these silver laced cochins for the best traits. If all is sucessful, which I believe it will be, I would like to sell hatching eggs and maybe even show some of them. I realize to do this they need to be NPIP certified. But what is it exactly?

Is it just testing for certain diseases?

If any of my exsisting flock tests postitive, will they have to be "put down"?

Are the diseases they test for genetic?

How is the testing done?

Do they look at living conditions? My chickens have clean bedding and such, but they are just living in a huge dog kennel in the barn as well as free ranging during the day, the dog kennel is 6 feet tall, 6 feet wide, and 24 feet long.

All of my chickens are my pets, and I don't want to risk any of them in order to be certified. Thanks.

 

[Kevin565]

Here's a little info on it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/608957/npip

 

[duckinnut]

I will try to answer the best I can.

National Poultry Improvement Plan- google for the history
They will be testing for typhoid/pullorum .

As far as your existing flock, that will be up to you if they test positive. Even if you keep the new additions in a different area there would be a chance they could be infected via many avenues. Extreme caution would be have to used to prevent it,bleaching shoes,changing clothes ect. Think Bio-security. I would make sure the flock is clean before your plan to add more is implemented.

The diseases are transmitted not genetic. But can be present in eggs.

The draw blood from each chicken. (That's what I was told by an inspector whom I spoke with the other day. Mine are getting tested in a couple of weeks for showing)

As far as living conditions it sounds you don't have anything to worry about. I would think if they were living in deplorable conditions the inspector would report you. As long as the chickens are fed, have clean water and a safe haven is provided there are no worries.

I am sure the inspector as an agent for the state practices bio-security, if they don't insist on it. Beyond that there are no real risks. I would go to your state AG site(agriculture not attorney general

) for more info. States vary on procedures, going on my state.

 

[cochins1088]

Ok, Thank you so much, your answer was very helpful, but one last question. Are these diseases deadly? Or could my cochins be living with them without showing any signs?

 

[cochins1088]

Never mind, I found a geat article on it. I hatch my eggs all the time and I have never seen my chicks dying like they described. And though I'm pretty sure my flock is free of the disease, I guess the pullorum can hide as it says, "Infected growing and mature fowl may exhibit little or no signs of disease, especically with the pullorum." The way they describe the typhoid, it sounds pretty deadly. I'm not sure what to think.
Could a bird become contaminated from an environment that hasn't had chickens in years? Or if they do have it, would they have come with it? The people that used to own the original flock used them for 4-H, so I would assume they must have been tested then. I guess I'm probably worrying for nothing considering it says that pullorum/tyohoid have been mostly eradicated throughout the US.

 

[duckinnut]

Could a bird become contaminated from an environment that hasn't had chickens in years? Or if they do have it, would they have come with it? The people that used to own the original flock used them for 4-H, so I would assume they must have been tested then. I guess I'm probably worrying for nothing considering it says that pullorum/tyohoid have been mostly eradicated throughout the US.

I am not sure how long it survives outside the host. If they do have it they could be immune carriers, sure. You mention 4-H, the original reason I got some for my kids to show. You would be correct that they were tested before being shown, exhibited or leaving any property to be in company of non same flock birds. I would assume that like Mass. the birds must be inspected every year for these areas. As well as being inspected every year for hatching eggs and birds for sale. Legally you are not supposed to sell them without certification at least in this state. Not to alarm you but wild birds can also carry these diseases and be contained in small backyard flocks, all while being eradicated in commercial ranks. There is actually a thread with a poster who has a backyard flock that lives close to a commercial grower giving them grief about their small flock in event of it contaminating the commercial flock. I would get them tested it can't hurt.

 

[TallChickMagnet]

As I understand it NPIP certificationis is for larger farms that ship eggs out of state or overseas... Do you do that?

 

[cochins1088]

Like I said above, I'm getting some show quality birds for breeding. I would be selling hatching eggs and chicks and posibly showing them. So I plan too, but I'm not doing anything like that yet. I will look into it, sounds like it's good idea. I was just worried that if they found anything in my exsisting flock, that they would have too be forceably culled to prevent spreading. And I don't want to lose any of my birds. Thanks for all the insights!

 

[madamwlf]

The 2 diseases they look for have been virtually wiped out of the US for years now because of the program. It's not just for large farms. I'm certified and I'm no where near large. Most breeders that have high quality birds and are NPIP certified will not buy chicks or eggs from someone who isn't NPIP. It's just a choice.

 

[duckinnut]

Like I said above, I'm getting some show quality birds for breeding. I would be selling hatching eggs and chicks and posibly showing them. So I plan too, but I'm not doing anything like that yet. I will look into it, sounds like it's good idea. I was just worried that if they found anything in my exsisting flock, that they would have too be forceably culled to prevent spreading. And I don't want to lose any of my birds. Thanks for all the insights!

I think it is good to know if your current flock has it or not before expanding. If your present flock has it is not a death sentence it is just life without parole. The chance of the present flock has it is EXTREMELY small almost nil. But with your plan for the future would be in jeopardy if you waited until after you expanded and then found out a positive test. You should also know that after the new birds are added they will have to be tested as well after 16 weeks of age before showing.