Boundary County UI Extension offering free avian flu testing

Mark your calendar for free Avian Flu testing on Tuesday, July 28, from 2-6 p.m. in the Boundary County UI Extension Office back parking lot.

Testing is mandatory for all open class and 4-H poultry to be entered in the fair, and at a normal rate of $70 per bird you don’t want to miss this date!. This is also a test recommended by veterinarians to be completed on a yearly basis to ensure the health of your home flock.

The test consists of a simple, non-invasive throat swab of each animal, which will then receive a special numbered leg band. If they are being entered into the fair, they will wear this band until, and for the duration of, the fair to show they have been tested and are free of the parasite that causes Avian Flu. Testing isn’t just for Boundary County Fair, however. Officials recommend a 30% random sampling of a home flock be tested for an accurate picture of overall flock health.

This testing is only for chickens and other non-aquatic birds. No water fowl are allowed to be entered in the fair.

When you bring your bird down for testing or fair entry, you will be given a spot in the barn by filling out an entry tag which will be placed on your assigned cage at animal check-in on Tuesday, Aug. 11 from 3-6 p.m. As always our amazing and dedicated 4-H members will be on hand all during fair to make sure birds entered in the fair are taken care of with fresh water and food; the feed is supplied by a generous donation from Carter Country Farm & Feed.

There will be 2 open class special awards this year in the poultry barn, one for top hen, and the other for top rooster, with the winners of each award receiving a $15 gift certificate from General Feed and Grain, as well as a keepsake special award ribbon.