chickens

If the high cost of eggs has you considering starting your own backyard chicken flock, fire officials urge you to understand the safety risks.  Bend, OR Fire and Rescue Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said his agency responded to a pair of chicken coop fires in the past week, both caused by electrical problems associated with heating lamps.   “...

On Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed the first case of bird flu in Mason County, northwest of Olympia.  The H5N1 case was discovered in a small backyard flock of ducks last week, but wasn't confirmed until Monday February 10th.   ...

Egg Production in the United States totaled 9.12 billion during December 2024, down 3% from 2023.  Production included 7.83 billion table eggs and 1.29 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.9 billion were broiler-type and 95.9 million were egg-type.  Th...

Finalizing a poultry tournament system rule designed to improve fairness.   “This is a system that has come under a great deal of concern and criticism by producers across the United States," Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack noted this week.  "And we'...

U.S. egg production totaled 8.92 billion during November 2024, down 4% year-over-year.  Production included 7.68 billion table eggs and 1.24 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.15 billion were broiler-type and 90.3 million were egg-type.  The ave...

The first case of bird flu found in a pig appears to be here in the Northwest.  State health officials say a pig was infected with bird flu at a Central Oregon farm where the virus was detected in ducks and geese last week.  State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz says f...

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza this year in a commercial poultry operation.  The WSDA says a commercial farm in Franklin County reported high numbers of sudden deaths in chickens on Friday, October 11th.  In addi...

More than 400 cases of salmonella across the country have been linked to backyard poultry.  The CDC says over 100 people have been hospitalized during this outbreak.  Texas and Missouri have the most cases, followed by Minnesota, Washington, Michigan, and Oklahoma.   Almost 70%...

An outbreak of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle across several states in recent months has served as a reminder for the importance of bio security within livestock and poultry operations.   “When we think about endemic diseases and foreign animal diseases, the bio security practices really protect against both,” noted Megan Neidenwerder with the Swine Health Information Center.  Her organizati... Re

A surprised cat is a dangerous cat.