Getting NPIP Tested (National Poultry Improvement Plan):
Initial Thoughts About Getting NPIP Tested:
This past week has been absolutely insane around our farm, preparing for our first time being tested for the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Certification. I am not going to lie, we really did not know what to expect, except for what we saw on social media, and even then, we were still nervous.
All we knew was that we wanted to get NPIP certified, since many of the places we chose to buy our poultry were NPIP-certified. They explained to us that it was a great thing to have because it helps keep the public safe and lets everyone know, when buying your birds, that they are free of certain diseases, including avian flu, aka bird flu.
The only catch was that if we ever tested positive, all of our birds would have to be euthanized (culled), and surrounding farms would be put on alert of some kind. Also, if ever the case, we tested positive, there was government assistance to replace our flocks, like insurance. So, with that being our only knowledge, we knew we wanted to go that route. We felt it would be best not only for our safety, our flocks’ safety, but also for the safety of our consumers!
Initial Steps We Took for Getting NPIP Tested:
Like most people, we did the first thing: Google it. I did not have much knowledge to go on, except for a few videos we watched and the words of our vendors. I went to their website (linked below) to find information and instructions on how to get started. It was hard to figure out where to get started. I had to go to the contact page to find our state’s contact information, and that’s when I started with a simple email.
A couple of days later, I got a response, and it was simple. I was told to send over some information about us, and that their local representative would reach out to us to get everything set up. Also, there was a $75.00 annual cost. We anxiously waited for our representative to reach out. Luckily, about a week later, she contacted me and explained a bit of the process, and then we set a date: October 25, 2025!
Preparing For Getting NPIP Tested:
After texting back and forth, we found out she wanted to test a total of 30 birds: 5 turkeys, 5 ducks, 2 quail, and 18 chickens. All the birds we had to test had to be over four months old. Thankfully, I kept outstanding records; otherwise, I would have had to guess. If there is anything I can stress, it is to keep excellent records!
It took some careful planning to figure out how we would catch our free-ranging turkeys and ducks for testing. Our quail were easy to plan for as they are easy to see. Our chickens come when called. For the most part, we may have to have snacks on hand, but they still come when we want. Then, with our limited space/pens to keep animals, we had to reorganize just for this testing.
Catching The Animals:
We emptied one of our Amazon chicken pens to put our five turkeys in. However, getting the turkeys in was a battle in itself. Our turkeys tend to do what they want. We got the bright idea to get the feed bucket and have the turkeys follow us into the pen. Shaking the food, they did follow us, but it’s like they knew something was up. We had two come in the pen and start eating. After some more coaching, we managed to get all five into the pen and sat down for a quick break.
Not even five minutes later, the five turkeys managed to break out —they bent the metal on the door to get out! I was personally shocked that they could do something like that. So, we started over with another bucket of feed, but this time we took bungee cords to put around the door. Luckily, that managed to hold them in! Next, we got our five ducks together. We planned that, on the morning of the test, when we would usually let them out for the day, we would snatch them up as they emerged from their coop. Thankfully, for us, that worked!
Getting NPIP Tested: The Testing
We managed to get all the birds to a central location to make the testing process as smooth as possible. Kim, our state representative, showed up, backed right in, and got everything set up. We started with the turkeys because Jason knew they could be a handful. Next, we moved on to the ducks, quail, and finally our chickens. She swabbed the mouths of our birds, except for the ducks, as we learned you have to go from the rear on them! No, video prepared us for that! Besides the swab, she needed a small blood sample from under every bird’s wing.
- The swab was testing for the Avian Flu, aka the Bird Flu.
- The blood sample was tested for Pullorum Typhoid.
We paid our $75.00 and got a yellow slip titled “Flock Selecting and Testing Report.” It showed that we tested negative for Pullorum Typhoid and that the Avian Influenza was pending. That test has to be sent off, but Kim explained we should have those results in pretty quickly. Once those results are back, the state will send us all the information we need along with our certification numbers. So, now it’s just waiting!
The Aftermath and Final Thoughts:
After Kim packed up and left, it was time to get the animals back to their homes and finish the chores. All day, leading up to the test and after, our birds could tell things were not normal on the farm. Everything started acting up and being more routine than usual. Our ducks even quit laying eggs the next day. Luckily, today things all seem right in the world, and we are getting back to regular business as usual.
Getting NPIP Tested went smoothly and was nothing like what I had pictured. I initially wanted to give her a tour of our farm and explain how we care for it, what steps we have taken to ensure our biosecurity, and so much more. Thankfully, it was better than I expected. At the end of the day, we are glad we took the steps to get our certification! Now, we wait!
Want to Learn More About Getting NPIP Tested? Visit Their Website:
https://www.poultryimprovement.org/index.cfm
With Love Always,
Jennifer Yardley
