News Affecting Club Members

At the March 15th Board Meeting, Ted Golka made the suggestion that the board start thinking about a Legacy Program to replace Article I Section II of the Amendments to the By Laws which reads: “In the event that the society ceases to exist, all assets of the club shall be given to the American Pheasant and Waterfowl  Society.”  This organization has been loosing members and might not outlast HOAGBA.  Creating a Legacy Program  with a list of avicultural related organizations would allow the club to have something set up for properly disposing of HOAGBA funds when the time comes.  It’s like making out a will.  No one likes to do it, but eventually it will be needed.  He stated that the club has lost 3 of its older members to death in as many months, and he would guess the average age of the HOAGBA board members is close to 70 if not older.     

Proposed by-law change wording:  Article 1 Section III In the event that the society ceases to exist, all assets of the club shall be given to an organization or cause predetermined by the Board of Directors and voted on by the general membership. This proposal will be printed in the May-June and the July-August newsletters and will be on the agenda for the Board Meeting in September.  Please contact your director if you have questions or an opinion that you want to share.

Consignors who participate in the drawing to determine consignment numbers donate 1 cage of birds or small animals to be  auctioned at the beginning of the main arena auction with the proceeds being deposited in to the Scholarship Fund.  About two weeks before the auction Gerald Olson of Parker, Kansas, called me offering to donate some peafowl to the club.  I called Joe Twombly to see if he would make some cages. Joe brought the cages to the sale and on Friday afternoon, John Christner, Thomas Lehman, and John Smith drove to Parker to box up nine peafowl.  Those peafowl and a roost sold for over $700.00.  Thanks, Gerald and all the guys who worked to get the birds boxed for the auction.  Our scholarship fund deposit was for $1314.00.  This included sales and cash donations from LaDonna Lickteig, Bill Vinduska, John Christner, and Terry Smith.

I received this information 5/3 from the office of Justin Smith DVM Animal Health Commissioner KS Dept. of Ag, Division of Animal Health  “Due to a nationwide shortage of antigen needed to conduct pullorum-typhoid testing in poultry,  the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health is waiving certain poultry testing requirements.  As a result, poultry owners do not need to test their birds for the pullorum disease while the waiver is in effect. Although we still consider pullorum-typhoid testing important in maintaining pullorum-clean poultry within Kansas, pullorum disease is rare. Due to this low risk of spread of pullorum disease, and the fact that the antigen for testing will not be available, KDA is waiving the requirement for pullorum-typhoid testing until October 1, 2019. If you have questions, please call the KDA Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and look forward to working with you all again when pullorum-typhoid antigen becomes available. If you do not live in Kansas. call your state vet about testing requirements.  

6/3/19 Update from the manufacturer of Salmonella Pullorum Plate Antigen: Salmonella Pullorum stained antigen will not be available until toward the end of this year and into the first part of 2020 because it will take a few months to build up an inventory to supply the entire market. Some states are waiving testing.  Call your state vet about testing requirements.

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2019 - The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease in a small flock of pet chickens in Coconino County, Arizona. This is the first case of virulent Newcastle disease in Arizona. This case is believed to be connected to the current outbreak of virulent Newcastle disease in California, as tests show the virus is almost identical to the virus causing the disease in California.  Since May 2018, more than 400 cases of Newcastle disease have been confirmed as part of this southern California outbreak, primarily in backyard exhibition birds. Virulent Newcastle disease is not a food safety concern.  No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry products. Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat.  In very rare instances people working directly with sick birds can become infected. Symptoms are usually very mild, and limited to conjunctivitis and/or influenza-like symptoms. Infection is easily prevented by using standard personal protective equipment.   APHIS is working with the Arizona Department of Agriculture to respond to the finding. Federal and State partners are also conducting additional surveillance and testing in the area.  It is essential that all bird owners follow good biosecurity practices to help protect their birds from infectious diseases.  These include simple steps like washing hands and scrubbing boots before and after entering a poultry area; cleaning and disinfecting tires and equipment before moving them off the property; and isolating any birds returning from shows for 30 days before placing them with the rest of the flock. In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to their veterinarian or to State veterinary officials.  Additional information on biosecurity for all poultry flocks can be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.  Virulent Newcastle disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry. The disease is so virulent that many birds and poultry die without showing any clinical signs. A death rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. Virulent Newcastle disease can infect and cause death even in vaccinated poultry. Clinical signs of virulent Newcastle disease include: sudden death and increased death loss in the flock; sneezing; gasping for air; nasal discharge; coughing; greenish, watery diarrhea; decreased activity; tremors; drooping wings; twisting of the head and neck; circling; complete stiffness; and swelling around the eyes and neck.

HOAGBA membership is required for advertising in the club newsletter. Ads have been listed with the advertiser’s approval.  The first 50 words are free.  Additional words are 10¢ each.  Payment is due at the time the ad is placed.   E-mail ads to  smithkct@centurylink.net or fax them to 913-533-2497.  Consider guarantee the integrity of advertisers nor will they get involved in any transactions or misunderstandings between a buyer and a seller. 

WANTED Breeder Paradise (New Zealand) Shellduck drake.  Call Randy at 620-724-3386. 

FOR SALE or TRADE  2 2018 hatch Silver hens - $30.00 ea., 2 2017 hatch Swinhoe hens - $40.00 ea., 1 2018 Red Golden cock - $20.00.  WANTED  2 Blue Scale Quail males, 1 Yellow Golden hen.  Jim Morelli, ph. 509-476-2831.  (WA)

WANTED Gray Junglefowl hens. White chukar eggs or chicks. John Smith, ph. 913-879-2587.  smithkct@centurylink.net (KS)

FOR SALE  Birds of all kinds: Finches, Softbills and more.  Over 30 species of finches, Quail, Exotic Doves, and a variety of parrots.  Request a current list from ksfinchman@yahoo.com  or call Mike Langerot at 620-429-1872.  Shipping available. (KS)  

Visit The Game Bird & Waterfowl Pages, the online game bird and waterfowl  since 1997. Located at www.gbwf.org & the HOAGBA site http://www.gbwf.org/hoagba (12/19)  

Our 2019 catalog prices have been posted to our web site. Call us by the Wednesday before the shows, swaps and auctions we attend, and we will deliver in-stock supplies to you at no extra charge. Our 2019 catalog prices are posted on our web site www.poultrysupplies.com  (12/19)