Avian Flu Outbreaks In Illinois

Apr 29, 2022

Humans aren’t the only ones who’ve had to quarantine in the hopes of avoiding a potentially deadly virus. A highly contagious strain of avian flu is decimating flocks of birds across the U.S., forcing farmers of both domestic and commercial flocks to attempt to contain the spread.

With approximately 31 million birds dead, the strain has hit 1-in-10 egg-laying hens across 29 states. The mortality rate among chickens is 90-100% and often within 48 hours according to the CDC.

Here in Illinois, the Department of Natural Resources is recommending feeders and baths be removed from homes and backyards through the end of May or until the flu subsides in the Midwest. This is just one of the many solutions wildlife experts are advising to minimize the virus’ threat.

We were joined by the State Veterinarian and the director of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors to talk about the outbreak and its impact on Illinois.

Source : illinois.edu

Video: WARNING! Rough Start To Breeding Season!!

WARNING! Sheep Breeding Season Begins With A Bang! Breeding season is officially underway at Ewetopia Farms, but it didn’t exactly start the way we planned!

This vlog begins with us sorting through our rams to find the perfect match for a customer’s breeding program. What should have been routine quickly turned dangerous when one of our more nervous rams panicked. In seconds, Arnie’s knee was injured, and then I was slammed hard onto the concrete floor — both of us taken down by one ram!

Thankfully, it was just bruises, but it’s a reminder of how unpredictable and powerful mature rams can be. Once we recovered, it was time to get back to the real work — the start of breeding season.

We sorted the ewes into four breeding groups (two Suffolk and two Dorset), checking parentage as they ran through the chute, deworming those that needed it, and setting aside thinner ewes for session two of breeding season in a month’s time.This staggered approach keeps lambing organized and prevents overcrowding in the barns.

From rogue rams to the excitement of new breeding groups, this episode is full of action. Stay tuned for the next vlog, where we’ll share how we chose the rams for each group!