provocation, that all the federal vets knew the problem was too many birds crammed in too tight density in too many houses located too closely together. But they said if any of them publicly made such a comment, he’d be fired within a day. Is HPAI a conspiracy? Who knows? Is it real? Yes. Is the best response mandatory extermination of every bird and a future vaccine? No. Chickens are highly susceptible to respiratory problems. They scratch and dust and fluff, living in dusty conditions. If those dusty conditions are unhygienic, they will breathe in pathogenic particles. In an industrial confinement house, of course, fecal particulate coats all the tender respiratory membranes. Flocks of more than 1,000 birds in size create emotional stress on the birds. Unhygienic conditions can happen in a backyard flock if it’s in a dirt yard or unsanitary bedding. Nature sanitizes in two ways: rest and sunshine or vibrant decomposition (like a compost pile). Nature never creates sterility; living systems thrive in a veritable biological soup of microbes. The whole idea is to have enough good microbes that overwhelm the bad ones; about 95 percent of microbes are good, and only a few are pathogenic. The correct response to HPAI is first to leverage the survivors. Be grateful that the strong identified themselves and then do everything possible to
What Would You Like Joel to Write About? Joel is always looking for reader suggestions on which topics to cover. Please email all suggestions to: reachout@plainvalues.com
duplicate their genetics. Second, don’t spray down things with anti-microbials; rather, cultivate habitats that encourage a broad range of microbes. Third, get the chickens into an environment that is hygienic and sanitary—that’s not sterility; it’s sanitary, meaning it’s not toxic or pathogenic. Rest and sunshine if they’re outside or vibrant decomposition if they’re inside or in a coop are the two best ways to stay ahead of disease. Dirt is the worst condition you can have for your chickens. A deeply bedded run is fine because the dirt has a layer of vibrantly decomposing carbon on top of it. Chickens on a compost pile tend to have robust immunity. Don’t be paranoid about HPAI. It’s out there, but a good habitat with young, healthy chickens can go a long way to reducing risk. //
Joel's Upcoming Speaking Events April 15
Asheville, NC (Farm Where You Live Fair)
April 21
Fredericksburg, TX (Force of Nature Meats)
May 6
North Augusta, SC (Farm Where You Live Fair)
June 2–3
Columbia, TN (The Homestead Festival)
June 9
Richmond, VA (Home Educators Association of Virginia)
June 21–22
Walnut Creek, OH (Food Independence Summit)
June 30–July 1
Kootenai County, ID (Pacific Northwest Homesteaders Conference)
July 17–18
Swoope, VA (Polyface Intensive Discovery Seminar)
July 21–22
Swoope, VA (Polyface Intensive Discovery Seminar)
July 28–29
Lancaster, PA (Family Farm Day)
August 4–5
Swoope, VA (Polyface Intensive Discovery Seminar)
August 17–19
Swoope, VA (Bio-Fert Seminar with Jairo)
August 25–26
Marshfield, MO (Ozarks Homesteading Expo)
September 7
Columbia, South America (Expo Agrofuturo Medellin)
Sept. 30–Oct. 1
Wheeling, WV (The Vineyard Church)
October 13–14
Front Royal, VA (Homesteaders of America)
October 21–22
Indianapolis, IN (Indiana Homestead Conference)
Joel co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. When he’s not on the road speaking, he’s at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems. 15
