Registration of backyard chicken flocks

I would like to apologize if I hurt anyone's feelings, or got anyone's dander up,by spouting off like I did. This thread would make more sense in the general chat section.

I violated one of my own rules.......If you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all.

Secondly, one of my pet peeves is people talking about rights. Admittedly, the 'rights' in question here, are not the same 'rights' spoken of elsewhere...all rights are not equal... The 'rights' so often spoken of in other areas/communities, are usually special rights, or rights only, without the second and balancing part of the equation>>>> Responsibility... Rights and Responsibility...

I have a right to carry arms. I also have a responsibility to carry them in a safe and peaceful manner. If I abuse that right, *shoot someone/rob a bank at gunpoint*, I shan't complain that my right to roam the streets have been violated...

ooops...off on another tangent!

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

Mrs_bombdog, just like thousands of other laws passed every year, congress just didn't inform the people to be affected but claims they did because all the big poultry businesses were involved in the drafting of the legislation.

Texican, remember how deadly West Nile was supposed to be? So bad they were predicting end-of-the-world scenarios for it. Seems to me if only 68 people have died there must have been thousands more exposed and suffered no to few effects. I'm willing to take the risk, so is the rest of my family.

Bob, my feed supplier hasn't heard of any new registration requirements going into effect on Jan. 1. I asked them about it today when I bought my feed.

Interestingly enough, I asked a different feed store, and the clerk didn't know about it. I am taking a wait and see attitude. I do have a ton of shelled corn here now though. I love my grain mill!

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That's how I see it. It's "possible" that it will be pretty bad. But I doubt it will be nearly as bad as media hype.

Having said that, I still believe in being prepared for the worst, just in case...

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Cindy and Cygnet hit the nail on the head.

If the avian flu becomes the problem people are talking about, that means it will have changed from a bird flu to a human flu. By then it will be too late to worry about transmitting the flu from birds to humans; if anything, perhaps the concern should be about transmitting it from humans to American birds.

(I mean really - how many chickens fly back and forth from California to Thailand? If it jumps the Pacific Ocean it is much more likely that it's transmitted by humans than by chickens.)

I really don't understand the mechanics here. Chipping birds will help prevent the spread of human-to-human disease HOW?!?

It seems to me that this is another example of the sheeple accepting impositions by the government that the government has no right or need to make.

If the government is truly "of the people, by the people, for the people", then why do we accept such demands from our servants?

Most backyard flocks do not move around enough to spread disease!

The execption is fighting cocks because they'll get moved across a couple of states to attend fights...or even sold & moved across the country! Of course that movement of those birds isn't going to get a lot of attention by scientists or the press because cock fighting is illegal in most states. During the last outbreak of Exotic Newscastles disease I found it fascinating to track the outbreaks and see how they occured in cock fighting areas.

deb
in wi

so, how will you know that by NOT killing your chicks you will die??
I say if you must kill them, cook the poor babies at least! Can 'em up and then you can eat later....
It is not feasible to think in this scenerio we would need to "kill off" all our flocks... more reason to keep them I would think.

This is such a brain dead thing the Government is doing. Chickens are the not the only bird that can get Bird flu.. are they going to kill every wild bird in the country. If they don't, it will not make a bit a difference wither we have chickens or not.
Talked with a Fed Vet and he said the "Bird Flu" that has been reported in europe is not the kind that can make people sick.

Government can't deal with the major problems in has now.

What is it doing about the collassal Meth problem? It is really out of control everywhere in the country.

How about all the Homeless people?

What about all the people that have AID's?

All the families that can't afford medical care.... I can go on and on.

They need to fix the problems this country has now,, not cry wolf and take away more of our rights as good citizens, under the pretense of something that "might" happen.

I for one will not allow them to make me tag all my animals. Its wrong,, it isn't going to help no matter what spin they put on it.

The government is turning this country into a Police state,, and we are going to be as bad off as Russia was during the cold war.

ohhh,, I saw part of that! didnt catch the whole thing. They are NUTS if they think they can replace all the chickens. Trying to make heirloom breeds extinct!! Insane. But, I believe it is happening,,, no one believes me when I try to tell them...
Pass the tinfoil please.

I dont remember any propaganda campaign of any kind that equals this one. Not even building up the evils of Saddam before the Iraqi invasion. Thier is no deadly human to human bird flu that can kill people. At least not outside the lab but the govorment and the news media are telling us it WILL happen not if. This is even bigger than the swine flu I heard about which only enriched the vaccine makers years ago. The only reasons I can see for that is A) an excuse to take more rights. B) distact us from something else. C) they know of a flue that is being kept somewhere and will be used in the near future. D) Make money on Vaccine (we know Rumsfeld owns a good chunk of Tamiflu) Or most likely E) all of the above.

Just ignore it. The flu virus has mostly been spread through faeces. Keep your coops clean & wear a surgicai mask & gloves. Cook the meat well & be careful when butchering. Things that you should already be doing.

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Freedom isn't Free

I don't want to get pushed into a corner and say what I'd do because I'm not sure. But I think a battle of some kind to protect my rights to have a chicken would make sense to me.

As I said if your scenario was happening I would kill my chickens

No problem... I'm not offended by you. I don't think this is a general chat topic just beacuse there are differing opinions.

I know the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to keep and bear arms and there are laws which prohibit citizens from using them to kill people threaten people or damage their property. But who gets to define the "responsibilities" further? For instance if the gov. decides that gun owners need to register their weapon in the interest of public safety should the citizens comply because thats the new "responsibility" to go with the "right" or should they stand up and say that their right is being violated by the act of registration.

That's my point on this issue.

I believe my right to own chickens imposes a extremely small (if any) risk to public safety and health and therefore does not warrant government registration.

I suppose I could use some of that tin foil as well....

In my opinion, the only way there is ever going to be a pandemic of this human to human flu, is if/when it is introduced by the government. (Thereby giving them the opportunity to become Nastradamous and Savior in one hit, increasing the populations fears and inevitable cooperation.) This is all a sign of the times in my opinion. And I agree that Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. And unfortunately, somewhere along the line we gave our politicians the idea that they're allowed absolute power.

This bunch of marlarkey media and gov. hype about 'keeping us safe and protected' is BS. The government is only out for itself and will not stop until we live in a total and complete POLICE STATE. I don't make comparrisons to WWII and Hilter at the drop of a hat, but I swear, it seems that Hitler and his cronies have been reincarnated into a new kind of Reich.

Will I register my birds or other livestock/pets? Heck NO. Do I trust the government to look out for my well being? Not in the slightest. Will I eliminate my birds if I perceive a threat to my life or that of my family or neighbors? You bet. Will I meet the witch hunters head on with opposition? Most definately.

This is ludacris. The government is out of control. And you know, not to incite anything 'illegal', but the whole purpose of having the 'right to bear arms' in the constitution was to be able to defend ourselves and 'take back' a goverment that was WAAAAAY overstepping their bounds. Hmmmmmm....

It will either end up as total war on the homefront or total brainwashing and Hitler like following.

I guess I am too paranoid, but even the paranoid have enemies.

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-Christina

C bar J Farm
Statesville, NC

Muddy Sneakers Photography
www.freewebs.com/muddy_sneakers

When I encounter companies prying deeper then I want them too, I fight it passively. If they want a name and address- fine, I am John Smith and I live on 101 Main Street. When the databases are filled with as many false leads as true names they may recognize the futility of the program.

Of course this works best if you can pay with cash- but that is a good thing.

My apologies to any Smiths who live on Main Street, it isn't anything personal.

A friend of ours used this one; Wolley Segap. I have used the addy 1313 Mockingbird Lane, made up city and zip. Funny thing is sometimes we use mil's zip, 44444. People really do act like you're lying when you give them that one.

thats exactly the beligerent attitude that built this country. The problem is therre are to many people who prefer to act like sheep instead of beligerent free americans. Everyone wont refuse. most people will just bow down and do what they are told

How does registering your chickens prevent this senario? Registered chickens can get the "flu" as well and by time the Govt even figured out what to do, who had what etc it would be too late. No there is something else at work here and I don't like it one bit.

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Christanie Farm...living life as it was intended

Animal registration is an effort to discourage homeowners from raising their own livestock. The USDA is attempting to pass a federal act, the National Animal Identification Act. If passed, by 2008, this act would require the individual registration of all livestock. The act states that each animal must be accounted for at all times. If a chicken, for example, were to exit the property for any reason (butchering, lost, loss to predator), a notice must be sent informing the USDA of the animals status. It isn't uncommon to own 20 chickens, a few goats, some sheep, ducks, weeder geese, rabbits, etc. Imagine registering them all and sending notification everytime you slaughter or take them to the farm show.
Now ask yourself, what types of things(physical property) do I actually register with the federal government...? Handguns and automobiles are, sensibly, registered to ensure safety. My small flock is my property and they have never posed a threat to anyone, save a few grasshoppers and earthworms. I keep them well fed, stress free, and very happy. As with any other animal on this planet, I have the right to procure my own food. When the USDA starts to regulate commercial animal products to the stringent guidelines I set, only then will I sit idly as my elected representatives allow the beurocratic legislation to pass through our legislative body.
If any of you feel as if this act would infringe upon your rights as human beings, you had better start writing to your representatives. Americans are too reluctant to make their voices heard. Represent yourself and your neighbors. Don't allow this legislation to pass.

Just started a thread on an article I found in Countryside mag. on this very topic. It's called National Animal Identification System, look it up!