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Housing, Health & Hatching / A Hard Lesson on Biosecurity
« on: August 24, 2017, 08:12:42 AM »
I have always considered myself a conscious observer and enforcer of good biosecurity practices on my property. About six weeks ago, I had a lapse in judgement and let my guard down. As a result, my birds have been infected with Laryngotracheitis (ILT) and the Texas Animal Health Commission will be depopulating most of my flock. Fortunately, they are willing to work with me to save my bloodlines and the hard work I have put into them. I will be quarantined and allowed to keep only a select few birds for breeding purposes. As soon as I have enough chicks, the remaining breeders will be depopulated.
To protect everyone and to prevent the possibility of spreading the virus, I will not be entering or visiting any poultry shows this year. As much as I would like to see and visit with my poultry friends, I feel like this is the right thing to do.
If you have been fortunate enough to avoid a devastating disease outbreak within your flock, don’t take it for granted and don’t let your guard down. It only takes one person, one bird, one touch or one step in the wrong spot to spread disease. If you are unfamiliar with good biosecurity practices, I encourage you to research and learn all you can. One day, it may prevent you from losing your flock.
If you show or plan to show, vaccinate and follow good quarantine practices when you return home. It could save your flock as well.
After this, I don’t know that I will ever let another poultry related person enter the yard. I suppose with proper biosecurity measures it would be ok, but at this point I’m not willing to risk it.
On a more positive note, I have the opportunity to start fresh and eliminate any other diseases that may be present including those that are carried through the egg such as MG. I don’t know how long it will last but at least I know where I am starting from.
Click the link below and scroll to page 9.
https://books.google.com/books?id=PJ7XFY86HOQC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
To protect everyone and to prevent the possibility of spreading the virus, I will not be entering or visiting any poultry shows this year. As much as I would like to see and visit with my poultry friends, I feel like this is the right thing to do.
If you have been fortunate enough to avoid a devastating disease outbreak within your flock, don’t take it for granted and don’t let your guard down. It only takes one person, one bird, one touch or one step in the wrong spot to spread disease. If you are unfamiliar with good biosecurity practices, I encourage you to research and learn all you can. One day, it may prevent you from losing your flock.
If you show or plan to show, vaccinate and follow good quarantine practices when you return home. It could save your flock as well.
After this, I don’t know that I will ever let another poultry related person enter the yard. I suppose with proper biosecurity measures it would be ok, but at this point I’m not willing to risk it.
On a more positive note, I have the opportunity to start fresh and eliminate any other diseases that may be present including those that are carried through the egg such as MG. I don’t know how long it will last but at least I know where I am starting from.
Click the link below and scroll to page 9.
https://books.google.com/books?id=PJ7XFY86HOQC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
My blue cockerel won BV and my blue pullet won RV. BV Lavender was a pullet from John as well. I sold a Lavender pullet from John to a young boy from the Dallas 4H chapter to go with his RV Lavender cockerel from Paul Smith. Lots of people complimented on the birds and had lots of questions. I promoted the breed and the club to all who inquired. I had some nice compliments from Sam Brush as well.