What is "BioSecurity??"

 


Biosecurity.  It is a word heard more and more in communities of people who keep animals.  

In the poultry world in particular it has become more and more important with the spread of avian influenza (AI).  This is a lethal and potentially devastating disease for anyone who is attempting to make a living raising poultry.

Here at NowHere we made the decision early on to be a part of the National Poultry Improvement Plan.  This decision has been criticized by some but we decided it was best for our business.  Being part of NPIP means our state poultry inspector visits our homestead every six months and tests all birds who are over 20 weeks for two types of salmonella, three types of mycoplasma, and Avian Influenza.  We have tested clean at each visit, for which we are thankful.

In addition to being part of NPIP, we take other steps to protect our quail.  Customers do not come onto our property.  At this point, we are not participating in poultry swaps.  We may change our minds about that in the future, but for now, we are not taking our birds to any.

We may seem a bit paranoid but again, AI could wipe out our quail business.

Last week Cletus and I were working together in the quail shed cleaning up.  As I was about to walk out the door I glanced up and saw a sweet little bird's nest up above the door.  Aww, how cute! I pointed it out to Cletus and we both mentioned we had seen a bird fly through the shed.

WAIT.  WHAT???!!!???? 

Yeah, you can have all the biosecurity measures in the world, but one wild bird has the potential to undo everything you have done.

Suffice it to say the nest was quickly removed and placed in the front yard.  Of course we have trees out back and I am sure there are a gracious plenty birds' nests on multiple branches around the place but we are not going to have wild birds nesting in the quail shed!

In the past we have kept the two doors of the quail shed open to increase ventilation, especially during the heat of summer.  


As the shed is now mostly for the babies in brooders (who need more heat), the doors are now kept closed.


 Goodness, gracious!

 

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