Our Approach to Poultry Health
At Country Hatchery, Inc., poultry health is an important part of responsible breeding, hatching, and poultry sales.
We understand that customers purchasing chicks, bantams, game birds, waterfowl, hatching eggs, and other poultry want confidence that their birds are being handled responsibly.
Our health practices are designed around responsible poultry management, sanitation, observation, biosecurity, and applicable testing or certification requirements.
Poultry Health
Healthy poultry begins with responsible flock management. We monitor birds for visible signs of illness and maintain appropriate sanitation and husbandry practices within our poultry operation.
Customers should also understand that no live-animal seller can eliminate every potential health risk associated with poultry. Stress, transportation, environmental changes, exposure to other birds, and conditions after arrival can affect poultry health.
Poultry Testing & NPIP
Poultry testing requirements can depend on the type of poultry, purpose of movement, destination state, and applicable regulations.
The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is a voluntary cooperative Federal-State program for poultry breeding flocks, baby chicks, poults, hatching eggs, hatcheries, and dealers. The program establishes testing and certification standards related to specific poultry diseases.
NPIP programs address diseases and organisms including Pullorum disease, fowl typhoid, avian influenza, Salmonella Enteritidis, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and Mycoplasma meleagridis.
Interstate Poultry Health Requirements
Poultry moving between states can be subject to Federal animal-health rules as well as the entry requirements of the destination state. Most states have additional animal-entry requirements, and those rules can change.
Depending on the destination and type of poultry, requirements may include testing, certification, permits, official identification, a certificate of veterinary inspection, NPIP documentation, or other records.
Customers are responsible for confirming the current requirements applicable to their destination before purchasing or arranging transportation. When in doubt, contact the destination state's animal-health authority before ordering.
Poultry Biosecurity
Biosecurity means taking practical steps to reduce the chance of disease entering or spreading through a poultry flock. Good poultry biosecurity is important for backyard poultry keepers, breeders, farms, hatcheries, and larger poultry operations.
Important poultry biosecurity practices can include:
- Limiting unnecessary contact with outside poultry
- Cleaning and disinfecting equipment appropriately
- Maintaining clean, dry housing
- Controlling visitor and equipment movement
- Separating new or returning birds when appropriate
- Watching birds for changes in health
- Reducing contact with wild birds where practical
- Properly managing feed, water, bedding, and waste
Poultry Health Documentation
When health certificates, testing records, permits, NPIP documents, or other paperwork are required for a shipment, the documents needed will depend on the poultry being shipped and the current requirements of the destination.
Customers should contact Country Hatchery, Inc. before ordering if their state requires specific poultry health documentation. Customers should also verify current entry requirements directly with their state animal-health authority.
Keeping Poultry Healthy After Arrival
Country Hatchery, Inc. believes responsible poultry sales begin with responsible poultry care. Prepare a proper brooder, coop, pen, or enclosure before your poultry arrives and maintain good sanitation and biosecurity practices after receiving your birds.
Observe newly arrived poultry closely. Make sure they have appropriate feed, clean water, suitable temperature and shelter, and watch for changes in behavior, appetite, drinking, breathing, droppings, appearance, or activity.
If a bird appears sick after arrival, separate the affected bird when appropriate and contact a qualified poultry veterinarian or animal-health professional for guidance.
Important Poultry Health Notice
Information on this page is provided for general educational purposes and should not replace veterinary advice or current state and Federal animal-health requirements.
Poultry regulations and disease-control requirements may change. Customers should verify current requirements with the appropriate state animal-health authority before moving poultry across state lines.