Young hens running around with dead bird... what to do now?

[Nifty-Chicken]

So, we were out enjoying a BBQ when we saw our 4 month old hens chasing each other, one with a dead bird in it's beak.

We always have heard that we are suppose to report dead birds for fear of avian flu, etc. Anybody know who we should contact (or even if we should)?

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Oh... nevermind, just found it:

http://westnile.ca.gov/bird_report_id.htm

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Darn.... they require all this personal info (name address phone etc.)

Should I submit all the info just in case, or just dispose of the bird and forget about it?

 

[verthandi]

In Maine there were only a couple of types of birds that they were testing. Crows was one of them, can't at the moment remember the second one. But this year they stopped testing all together.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I know that when crows are found they're tested. I think the other are starlings...

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Remember birds die of more than just avian flu. Cats, other birds, windows, just plain getting old. NC has west nile that has been affecting birds here for several years now. Not real sure I would want the government all up in my business for a bird that may have zigged when it should have zagged

 

[GloriaH]

I think they test Blue Jays too.

 

[hinkjc]

Nifty, we had a great horned owl down on our property. We took it to a conservation agency where it later died of West Nile. We were put in touch with Penn State University lab folks and they came out to our property and tested for West Nile, which came back negative. No other questions or investigations thereafter, however they did tell me to feel free to contact them with any concerns/questions.

I would get it tested for your own peace of mind..you want to know your area is safe and if its not, then they treat the area to rid the mosquitos. I highly doubt they will confiscate your chickens for that, as they are used as sentinals. They may ask to use them in their program, if anything....but you have to give permission for that.

And I agree, I would not panic thinking AI. Birds die for all kinds of stuff. It could have been a young fledgling that didn't get off the ground fast enough and your chickens caught it. Many other things could have been cause of death. I personally think the tests are worthwhile.

Jody