Where do you all get your chickens?

[FlyingNunFarm]

I've bought from a couple NPIPer's.
One wouldn't allow me anywhere near their coops, said it was against the NPIP rules. Another wouldn't allow me on their property, said it would involve protective clothing, disinfecting of shoes and shoe covers so we met in a public parking lot.
NPIP overall is pretty loose with no real compliance checks, just some testing each year by anyone who wants to pay for the training(not even sure what that consists of) and only word of honor of compliance and a closed flock.

Yes, looking some more it does seem like it's whatever is convenient for the owner. I still like that the flock is tested for at least some things. I wouldn't think people would pay for the tests if there was a chance the flock would fail.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I got my first six from the local agway, six from Meyers, and two from somebody local I met on here.
I'd say either order, or look for local stuff. The Buy/Sale/Trade area on here is pretty good, and updated regularly. I have seen chickens in Mass on there. I've actually almost gotten chickens from Mass that were on here! I love the local farm idea, but not sure what you've got in western Ma. I grew up there when I was in grade school. Loved it in the wooded mountains there.

 

[aart]

Yes, looking some more it does seem like it's whatever is convenient for the owner. I still like that the flock is tested for at least some things.

Yeah, but.... I have a bit of a pet peeve about NPIP from the aspect that it gives a false sense of security and often overused as a marketing tool...and you'd have to ask what they test for, usually it's just pullorum which I believe is a minimum needed for sending birds across state lines. There are so many other diseases, several deadly and carried long term, that a bird can carry that are not tested for.

 

[Folly's place]

That's so true! Some states include other diseases in NPIP testing, but in Michigan it's only pullorum. Marek's disease, the one that lasts for MANY YEARS in the environment, isn't included anywhere. It's good to be paranoid about biosecurity!!! Mary

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Yeah, but.... I have a bit of a pet peeve about NPIP from the aspect that it gives a false sense of security and often overused as a marketing tool...and you'd have to ask what they test for, usually it's just pullorum which I believe is a minimum needed for sending birds across state lines. There are so many other diseases, several deadly and carried long term, that a bird can carry that are not tested for.

Reading more I understand why you have the pet peeve. It's very open to interpretation. What is tested and how biosecuity is handled seems up to the flock owner. Not a national standard.

 

[lazy gardener]

I've bought from a couple NPIPer's.
One wouldn't allow me anywhere near their coops, said it was against the NPIP rules. Another wouldn't allow me on their property, said it would involve protective clothing, disinfecting of shoes and shoe covers so we met in a public parking lot.
NPIP overall is pretty loose with no real compliance checks, just some testing each year by anyone who wants to pay for the training(not even sure what that consists of) and only word of honor of compliance and a closed flock.

Yeah, but.... I have a bit of a pet peeve about NPIP from the aspect that it gives a false sense of security and often overused as a marketing tool...and you'd have to ask what they test for, usually it's just pullorum which I believe is a minimum needed for sending birds across state lines. There are so many other diseases, several deadly and carried long term, that a bird can carry that are not tested for.

IMO, which no one is asking for MO... NPIP has long outlived it's usefulness. It was initially put in place to test for Pullorum... if i have my facts straight. NPIP does not protect the buyer from buying a diseased bird. All it does is impart a false sense of security.

 

[black_dove2]

I got my two from C & J Feed Barn in Yucca Valley, CA. They order from local hatcheries and we're 90% sexed hens. Their choices in the brooder we're at that time were RIR , Danish Brown and the Meat Birds.

If I had someone I trusted near me I might have considered meat birds. Since they have to be killed and dressed by a certain age I had to humanly pass up.

 

[Sharwig]

I tried that. No luck. Wouldn't you worry about condition of chicken, though?

I'm fairly new at this too and after getting and raising our own chicks for the first time last spring, I got impatient and didn't want to wait to raise more chicks so we purchased four off Craigslist and I tell you, we've had nothing but problems in our flock since. I'm not saying all the seller's on CL are bad, but if you go this route be sure you give the chickens a good look over. Ask about any illnesses in the flock, and whether they've been vaccinated and/or dewormed, etc. If you already have chickens, be sure to quarantine the new ones for at least 30 days to make sure they're clean, then introduce them slowly to the flock. Good luck and enjoy your new birds!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Our flock is from two sources of breeder stock eggs. First batch were mailed and second we drove two states over to pick up. Both NPIP sources making the interstate travel legal via road or mail. Pullorum being almost as rare as Polio is still a concern as it transmits to eggs. If your source is NPIP eggs you've nothing to fear. Is there any other disease that transfers to eggs? Pullorum is scary stuff and was serious epidemic hence the certification program. Grown NPIP birds could have a number of disease but they at least don't have Pullorum and their eggs are safe to hatch and introduce to your flock.

I strongly urge everyone to try quality breeder stock birds at least once in your poultry hobby. They may not produce eggs like hatchery birds but are far better temper and if you do your homework for quality source a sight to behold. Completely different birds than the hatchery name sake "breeds".

 

[lazy gardener]

A quick search pulled this up:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/2477/vertically-transmitted-health-issues-in-poultry/

Vertical Issues
The following are the vertically transmitted issues in poultry. There are three diseases which are transmitted from breeders to their offspring.

The disease problems are bacterial (Pullorum and Gallinarum), Mycoplasma and viral (avian encephalomyelitis – AE and recombinant viruses – ALV).