I was wondering if any of the fellow Stewbies out there have chickens or other poultry....what are in the danger zone of getting Avian Influenza... I would love to share all the preventions that we are all taking.... I have about a 25 by 30 feet corral for them to graze. It has chain link fence around it with a poultry netting over the top so the hawks won't get them. Now we have no Avian Influenza in our area, they expect it to come by us when the native birds begin to migrate, this Fall. I have been talking to a USDA vet friend who is working with the sick birds. She has advised me of some things. I have covered my chickens with a blue tarp and used wood under it so the rain water will not sag down the tarp. It runs right off. I also use lime about 2 feet on the outside of the chain link fence. She said that helps kill or detour the virus from becoming active. I also always use fine lime in the corral and in the coup. There is a chemical that we can use to kill the virus that I will probably have on hand soon. As the virus gets closer we will have boots in a bin near the chickens what we will use exclusive in the fence and coup and use a boot rinse before entering. We will also use masks going into the chicken area. There are probably lots of things that we could be doing but this is what I have come up with in preparation..... So is anyone doing anything to protect their poultry?
Barb, we certainly don't have the large flock you have, but I've started preventive measures, just in case the Avian Flu comes to Texas. I've always had shoes or boots dedicated to the coop; I checked with the local feed store and they have lime available if I think I need it; and I examine one hen a day so each hen gets checked every week and a half, unless she shows some symptom of distress or disease, when she gets isolated and Pediacure is added to her drinking water. Let's hope our home flocks stay safe and healthy.
Have there been confirmed cases in the U.S.? I know supposedly the price of eggs if going up because of it, but we only buy a couple of dozen a month so that hasn't bothered us yet.
They have "killed" 38.9 million chickens in the USA most of them being in Minnesota and Iowa, this year. It is mostly in the NW Iowa in the large enclosed chicken and egg factories, indicating that it is not spread my migrating birds as they previously thought but spread in the feed. They thought until recently that it would spread to the east. We here in Pa. are on high alert for it spreading with the Fall migration but now that may not be true. So we use pellets that come from Tennessee where they have had no problems with the virus. Who knows if we are doing the right thing but we have to do things that seem logical for the situation.
I take eggs into town once a week--you wouldn't believe how thrilled people are to get a dozen big brown eggs from our ladies! So far our ladies are healthy, laying, and living a good chicken life. We use Purina Layer Pellets--I have no idea where they come from, but I'll check before I buy another 100 lbs. Like Barb, I'm trying to do what seems logical and protective for our hens. I feel for the chicken raisers who have had to destroy their flocks. If our members can buy eggs from a local producer, may I strongly suggest that you do so. The eggs may be a bit more expensive, but the money is well spent (disclaimer: this is from a woman who brings eggs into town and gives them out free to the clients at the local food pantry.) Barb has a large flock and sells eggs--I have pets who happen to lay eggs. Either way, the eggs taste great.
Yes, Barb has 250 chickens and lots of special pheasants and ducks. If I lost my chickens it would take me almost a year to get back into business plus the loss of sales, birds and replacement birds. Plus the mandatory state clean up of removal of soil and testing and replacement of soil. Don't want to go through that...
I have not heard of any alerts here. I buy my eggs from our nephew who has a good healthy flock . There has been nothing in all I have read about the poultry feed. Where did you hear that?
I looked on the net today. They also suspect that humans may harbor the virus in their bronchioli and that we should wear masks when entering in the coup in order to not spread the thing. We will do that if it arrives here.
There are some individuals selling eggs at Farmers Markets in the area but knowing nothing about their flock or growing conditions, I will continue buying the Eggland's Best Organic at the grocery store.
Mart, the flu hasn't arrived in Texas, so far. I just checked with a friend at A&M and they have no reports of Avian Flu. Toni, I'd buy eggs where I felt comfortable--as you said, you don't use a large amount of eggs so the extra cost isn't a factor for you, but the secure feeling is! Barb, if you have a Harbor Freight near you, they sell masks in boxes of 100 at a very reasonable cost. We keep them on hand for mowing during the "dust season" or if West Texas sends its soil to us on the wind. I still take eggs into town to give to friends--many of whom are on very limited incomes and with the price of eggs rising, might have to forgo their morning breakfast egg. If I even suspected any of our ladies were ill, I'd stop that immediately. Thank heavens the ladies are all full-bodied, healthy, and with attitudes. I just got back from the coop after turning on their fan, checking their watering stations (full), their feeder (full), and being watched by beady little eyes to make sure I didn't forget anything that contributes to their comfort and entertainment.
Thank you for the mask tip. I will stop down there in about one week. It's good to keep them in house anyway. I hand deliver about 50 dozen every week. My girls are good to me.
