My chicken show trip showed a real health risk

Honestly, I took my hens to a regional poultry event last month. Tbh, I spotted a few birds with runny noses and droopy wings. One rooster had gross, wet feathers near its tail. Ngl, I quickly moved my group to another area. A friend later said her chickens caught a bug after that same show. Now I always keep my birds separate for a bit after any travel. Please be smart and watch for signs of sickness at these places.

4 comments

4 Comments

andrewlewis1mo ago

Man, that's a good reminder. A pal of mine took his birds to a show and they all came down with something nasty. He said it took weeks to get them back to normal.

knight.blair1mo ago

Disease spreads easy in any crowded setting, bird shows or human events.

troyp371mo ago

Yeah, that two week separation rule only works if everyone's doing it. One careless person can wreck it for a whole show.

jade_mason981mo ago

Springfield requires a vet check for every bird before the show. I've brought my finches there three times with no issues. The key is to avoid mixing birds from different sources right away. My friend who runs a loft always keeps new arrivals separate for two weeks. It's more about management than avoiding shows entirely.