Re: From the small flock chicken world

[Guest guest]

First of all, from what I've heard, small flocks in the US are not as likely to get avian flu but if it makes you feel better to keep them inside then go for it. I believe there's also a vaccine for chickens...you might want to check with your vet. IMO that would be better than pulling them indoors since it's a proactive way to prevent the spread of the virus and would cause less disruption to your flock.

As for catching the flu from birds, it's the amount of exposure to infected birds that is a risk. People who have caught avian flu from chickens tend to live with their animals...I mean LITERALLY live with them and their standards of hygiene aren't like ours. Their homes become infested with the virus, their eating utensils, everything.

As for the popular thought that bird flu is no threat to humans...I see that as a pure denial. Thousdands of birds are being culled because of the virus, millions of dollars are being spent to prepare for a pandemic. People have died from it. IF the virus didn't have the ability to jump to H2H transmission I would have to agree that it's not a global threat to humans. However, the influenza virus constantly mutates. It's just a matter of time before the virus "learns" how to jump from human to human. In fact, it's believed that the 1918 pandemic was a strain of avian flu that went H2H. There's no lack of scientific data that influenza kills people. Every year our normal, seasonal flu outbreaks claim lives. It's common knowledge how the flu is spread among humans and that it's easy to catch the flu. It's also common knowledge that the population of the world has no immunity to the H5N1 strain. We have no vaccine for H5N1 influenza (for humans) and the virus is showing resistance to antivirals in those people who have contracted avian flu. Considering all these facts I can't see how anyone can believe that it's not at least a possibility that this avain flu could turn into a human flu pandemic. I'm sure the people on your other list, especially those who have a financial interest in the poultry industry or who have their own flocks don't want to believe that avian flu could become a threat to humans but they aren't doing themselves any favors by sticking their heads in the sand and pretending there's nothing to be concerned about.

Cat~www.niteflytes.us

[Flu] From the small flock chicken world

Hi all,There has been a discussion on another list among people who keep small flocks of chickens about whether to pull their chickens indoors (as I am doing).Apparently the popular thought is bird to human is no threat. They say that there are billions of people over in Asia and only 80 or so have died. (Probably many have recovered unaware they had it) So it is not worth worrying about.My contention is, why take the risk.. and that they will have to do it anyway, because just as in Europe, it will be required by law.What do you guys think????Do they have a point?Kathy from MN

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy, The UK is telling people that there is no reason yet to pull

birds indoors. I am sure that the same is true in the USA. But this

recommendation is something that could change at any time, so you need

to monitor this.

What list did you see this on?

[Guest guest]

>I believe there's also a vaccine for chickens...you might want to

check with your vet.

>

I actually called around to a bunch of vets and no one had a clue...

So I called the Vet school at the University of Minnesota and a Dr.

Halverson told me that the USDA was stockpiling the vaccine but would

not let anyone use it. They would cull rather than use the vaccine.

That was a couple of months ago, however so things might have changed.

>it's the amount of exposure to infected birds that is a risk. People

who have caught avian flu from chickens tend to live with their

animals...I mean LITERALLY live with them

>

Well... I don't believe that is unique to the third world. Chickens

actually make great pets. All the neighborhood kids, including our

own, play with them, carry them around, etc. This is true for

anyone who has kids and a backyard flock, here or there.

>I'm sure the people on your other list, especially those who have a

financial interest in the poultry industry or who have their own

flocks don't want to believe that avian flu could become a threat to

humans but they aren't doing themselves any favors by sticking their

heads in the sand and pretending there's nothing to be concerned

about.

>

Sticking their heads in the sand is how I would characterize them...

I believe they are mostly made up of people who raise chickens for

their own meat and eggs rather than commercial producers. I have

given up " talking " to them. I am just posting relevant news articles

now... Maybe it is just the outspoken ones who are not concerned..

hopefully the lurkers will take heed.

Kathy from MN

[Guest guest]

I am near Brainerd, MN...how local are you:)????

Kay

[Flu] Re: From the small flock chicken world

>I believe there's also a vaccine for chickens...you might want to check with your vet. >I actually called around to a bunch of vets and no one had a clue... So I called the Vet school at the University of Minnesota and a Dr. Halverson told me that the USDA was stockpiling the vaccine but would not let anyone use it. They would cull rather than use the vaccine. That was a couple of months ago, however so things might have changed.>it's the amount of exposure to infected birds that is a risk. People who have caught avian flu from chickens tend to live with their animals...I mean LITERALLY live with them >Well... I don't believe that is unique to the third world. Chickens actually make great pets. All the neighborhood kids, including our own, play with them, carry them around, etc. This is true for anyone who has kids and a backyard flock, here or there.>I'm sure the people on your other list, especially those who have a financial interest in the poultry industry or who have their own flocks don't want to believe that avian flu could become a threat to humans but they aren't doing themselves any favors by sticking their heads in the sand and pretending there's nothing to be concerned about.>Sticking their heads in the sand is how I would characterize them... I believe they are mostly made up of people who raise chickens for their own meat and eggs rather than commercial producers. I have given up "talking" to them. I am just posting relevant news articles now... Maybe it is just the outspoken ones who are not concerned.. hopefully the lurkers will take heed.Kathy from MN

[Guest guest]

>

> I am near Brainerd, MN...how local are you:)????

> Kay

We're in the Cities.. We're one of those crazy suburban families that

have backyard chickens... ugh ... now basement chickens (4 Bantums).

Kathy from MN

[Guest guest]

Too bad you can't get the vaccine. I'm sure you're much cleaner about your chickens than in third world countires. You don't let feces collect, you don't let your kids play in the feces and I'm sure you have them wash after handling the birds. Also, you probably have a small flock if they're living in your basement. For people in the US with pet chickens or small farm flocks my thoughts are that the risk is more to the birds than the humans. The risk to us humans is when the virus jumps H2H. That could occur anywhere, anytime and either directly to humans or through another animal, such as a pig. Oddly enough, when these things occur they tend to happen in more than one location in a short period of time. So, if H5N1 goes human pandemic we could see localized outbreaks all over the globe in a matter of days that have the potential of spreading very quickly.

Can't change people's minds about this stuff so my advice is go at it from a different angle with them. Encourage them to stock up for any kind of disaster (tornado, flood, whatever naturally occurs in their area). Being prepared for disasters in general will come in handy if there is a pandemic. Talk about general good hygiene practices for bird owners, keeping their birds healthy, that sort of thing. Those things will go a long way in prevenenting all kinds of illnesses in both birds and their owners. If they don't want to believe that bird flu is a threat to humans then I'm sure there are other avian diseases and health risks for chicken owners that seem like more of an immediate concern. Taking steps to prevent those things might be easier for them to think about.

Good luck with your basement birdies :-)

Cat~www.niteflytes.us

[Flu] Re: From the small flock chicken world

>I believe there's also a vaccine for chickens...you might want to check with your vet. >I actually called around to a bunch of vets and no one had a clue... So I called the Vet school at the University of Minnesota and a Dr. Halverson told me that the USDA was stockpiling the vaccine but would not let anyone use it. They would cull rather than use the vaccine. That was a couple of months ago, however so things might have changed.>it's the amount of exposure to infected birds that is a risk. People who have caught avian flu from chickens tend to live with their animals...I mean LITERALLY live with them >Well... I don't believe that is unique to the third world. Chickens actually make great pets. All the neighborhood kids, including our own, play with them, carry them around, etc. This is true for anyone who has kids and a backyard flock, here or there.>I'm sure the people on your other list, especially those who have a financial interest in the poultry industry or who have their own flocks don't want to believe that avian flu could become a threat to humans but they aren't doing themselves any favors by sticking their heads in the sand and pretending there's nothing to be concerned about.>Sticking their heads in the sand is how I would characterize them... I believe they are mostly made up of people who raise chickens for their own meat and eggs rather than commercial producers. I have given up "talking" to them. I am just posting relevant news articles now... Maybe it is just the outspoken ones who are not concerned.. hopefully the lurkers will take heed.Kathy from MN