What would you do? Selling birds exposed to disease...

[Katy]

Quote:
I bet if you could test everyones flock, you would find the vast amount of them would have some carriers to some form of disease. Unless you cage and house your birds indoors, they will be exposed to all the wild birds droppings and disease. It is the carriers that help stregnthen breeds. The weak die off and those who live make the breed stronger.

If that is your stance on selling diseased birds, remind me never to buy any stock or eggs from you!!

 

[AHappychick]

so how about putting them up on the feedback list so others can know what is going on.

 

[lildinkem]

The ethical question I do agree with you. KNOWINGLY SELLING SICK birds are a huge NO NO.
I think everyone here on this site have fought chicken illnesses. I know I have in my very short chicken career. And usually it is caused by introducing new birds into your flock. That is why I like and prefer to buy eggs. Unfortunately, there are times when, my only choice for me is to buy a living bird. I did so a while back, from a supposed quality exhibition breeder. And when I did I brought back everything that his birds ever had. I know that. Even IF they look healthy, they have things that mine have not been exposed to and theirs are carriers.
My new philosophy, is to be like the old time chicken farmers. I took my sick bird into my brooder room with my new born chicks. Some did die, most lived. Now all that are alive are very healthy and bulletproof from this disease. And have been threw the gaunlet and survived. And are laying eggs and having healthy chicks.
Today too many breeders try to isolate their flocks from disease by containing them in sterile conditions or shooting them up with injections. This is such a risk. Eventually your birds will confront this stuff. Then you REALLY can loose. Or those who you sold them too, might not put them in a sterile isolated pen. And then you have that reputation of selling sick birds, or birds who have little resistance.
I am not advocating selling sick birds. I am too tired of loosing them. By doing this, I find out what breeds are stronger and those that are weaker. Surprisingly, the high dollar, exhibition birds are doing rather well in my new system. I hatched out 2 dozen Orpingtons, and NONE have flopped over and croaked. My Marans are a different story. The Marans breeders by selecting ONLY for either their lines, are getting close to ruining their birds ability to fight off any disease.
Again, I do not sell birds that are sick. But, to say that I am not, or other breeders are not selling carriers of something is a misleading belief. We all like to think we are reputable. And each breeder has their opinion on how to protect their flocks. Mine is to not get to concerned over this. I no longer have sicks chicks, and birds. Their all rock solid. Good luck.

 

[speckledhen]

CARRIERS DO NOT MAKE STRONGER FLOCKS. Yes, I YELLED!! I have seen folks (yes, even here on BYC) thumb their noses at anyone who tells them that they should not be selling birds. They'll post for help with serious illness and the next thing you know, they're selling birds or hatching eggs from those birds. They ignore the fact that their flock has been ill with mystery respiratory disease and sell eggs and chicks from that flock, not knowing for certain what the disease was, thereby potentially causing heartbreak for others. And I've PMd warnings to potential buyers when I was aware of it, too.

I promise you that if my breeders ever came down with a respiratory illness that made them carriers, you would not see me selling hatching eggs or birds from them. Won't do that to someone for a few measly bucks. Couldn't live with myself if I knowingly caused someone to lose their flock.

All that said, it is BUYER BEWARE. If you buy started birds, there is always the potential for disaster. Buy from reputable folks, quarantine them even then, then if they show any signs of anything respiratory, cull them. Don't worry about losing the few bucks you paid for them in the face of possibly losing everything. Just because someone is a BYC member doesn't mean they're honest or even know their birds are carriers/ill. And NPIP is only as good as the person is honest and as good as the few tests they actually perform--case in point, an NPIP breeder selling birds who were from a flock suffereing from Infectious Laryngotracheitis. Reported to the state, yet continued to spread it all over. So, dont get a false sense of security from that NPIP label.

Guess you can tell I feel strongly about this issue, huh?

 

[Rolsjo]

It seems to me the point is much less about bird health than it is about integrity.

Those sellers that don't mind selling disease-carrying birds assume that others feel the same about disease that they do. Obviously, there are some that feel that exposure strengthens their flock, others that is weakens it. That is not the issue here. The issue is a disregard of those that hold a different opinion than you do.

In the short time I have been on BYC it is plain to me that there are huge differences in attitudes about raising chickens. Personally, I think it shows a great lack of respect and a selfish attitude to sell someone disease-carrying birds because YOU think it's okay. Why not let the buyer decide? Is your integrity only worth $4?

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Absolutely in agreement with you.



*****A little reminder that sometimes these threads can become very heated, so let's all just try to stick to the subject and discuss calmly. Thanks so much!

 

[CityChicker]

See first post.

 

[Sissy]

PLease, do us all a favor

report this at once. Why even question it.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I guess if that's your philosophy on it, so be it....just don't sell any of your birds or eggs to anyone without making sure you tell them how you've handled illness in your flock. I agree with Cyn that carriers do not make a stronger flock, and you're fooling yourself if you think it does.

 

[lildinkem]

just don't sell any of your birds or eggs

KATY you keep saying that I am selling.
I have never sold one egg on the internet. And when I do, I will have had INDIANA HENS from BYC come by and test my flock. Then I will be NPIP certified. I am sorry that I can't sell to you. You seem to keep talking about it. On this post and others. Trust me when I can sell, I will let you know. Then you can remind yourself to NOT buy from me.