The Purpose of Our Health Program

• It is impossible to compete in this sport without a healthy team. This is "Rule 1" and it simply can not be broken.
• While it is impossible to maintain a strictly isolated flock since our race teams get mixed each week at basketing, it is still a good idea to minimize the risk of disease outbreaks by limiting this exposure to just the race team and keeping the breeders as isolated as possible.
• In this day and age of world wide competitions and international bird sales, the need to protect our breeding flocks from disease outbreaks becomes even more critical. New strains of viruses, bacteria and parasites that can cause disease in our birds can spread around the world in a matter of a few short seasons.
• The health condition of our flocks is a complex combination of factors. The best health program simultaneously seeks to minimize the exposure or impact of disease causing organisms (practices such as isolating new purchases, providing regular vaccinations and posting dead birds) while aggressively promoting good health (maintaining balanced nutrition and reducing stress for example by not over crowding).
• As a breeding stock supplier, Shewmaker Genetics must maintain a strict health program to minimize the risk of introduction to our customers of any health problem.

The Health Program

• The breeding flock is closed to visitors. This is one I wish we didn't have to put in place. We are very proud of our breeders and customers very often want to handle the parents prior to purchasing youngsters. However, one of the principle mechanisms by which bird diseases can be spread is through handling.
• All new additions to our breeding flock are isolated for a period of 30 days before being introduced to the breeding barn where they are then placed in individual breeding cages. New additions are vaccinated for PMV and Pox at least two weeks prior to introduction to the breeding barn.
• We vaccinate all birds on the property annually for PMV. All birds sold are vaccinated for PMV at least two weeks prior to leaving the farm.
• We vaccinate all new additions and all young birds for Pox. All young birds sold are vaccinated for Pox at least two weeks prior to leaving the farm.
• We worm regularly with Ivermectin as well as other brands which are used in rotation.