KOONPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK
Start your flock with “clean chickens” by asking the hatchery, breeder or feed-supply store what diseases they screen and vaccinate for and whether they are enrolled in the National Poultry Improvement Plan register. Any of these should have a list of diseases they monitor as well as poultry businesses enrolled in NPIP.
Quarantine your new birds or those returning from competition or the fair for four to six weeks. It’s best if you can keep your chickens in separate buildings, but if this isn’t possible and your birds are sharing a common air sources — for example, living in the same barn or coop — it’s doubly important to change your boots and wash your hands before walking into your established flock.