With cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, being detected across the United States recently, poultry owners need to be vigilant about biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. Bird flu can be devastating, wiping out entire flocks within days. However, there are steps backyard chicken keepers can take to reduce the risk of their birds contracting the disease.
What is bird flu?
Bird flu is caused by influenza type A viruses that occur naturally in wild aquatic birds worldwide. The virus is very contagious and can infect domestic poultry, including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. While most bird flu viruses cause minor symptoms or no symptoms at all in birds, some strains are highly pathogenic, meaning they cause severe illness and death in poultry. Two current strains of high concern are H5N1 and H5N8.
These highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses are deadly for poultry and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mortality rate for HPAI outbreaks in poultry flocks is 90-100%.
HPAI bird flu viruses are especially worrisome because they can sometimes infect humans in rare cases through close contact with infected birds. When transmission to humans occurs, the viruses have the potential to cause serious illness or death. However, no sustained person-to-person spread of bird flu viruses has been reported.
How does bird flu spread?
Wild waterfowl like ducks and geese can carry HPAI viruses without appearing sick and shed the virus in their saliva, mucous and feces. Domestic flocks become infected when they have direct contact with infected wild birds or contaminated surfaces or materials.
Within a poultry flock, the virus spreads easily through contact between infected birds or their bodily fluids. It can spread between properties by people, vehicles, equipment, or other materials moving between infected and uninfected premises.
Signs of HPAI infection in chickens include:
- Sudden increase in bird deaths in your flock
- Sneezing, gasping for air, coughing, and nasal discharge
- Watery and green diarrhea
- Lack of energy and poor appetite
- Drop in egg production
- Swelling around the eyes, neck, and head
- Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs
If you see any of these signs, immediately contact your veterinarian, state veterinarian, or USDA to report a suspected case.
Can humans get bird flu?
Human infection with bird flu viruses detected in U.S poultry, including H5N1 and H5N8 viruses, is very rare. There has been only one confirmed human case of H5N1 in the U.S., which occurred in 2022 after direct and prolonged contact with infected birds. No human cases have been linked to H5N8. When bird flu infections do occur in humans, they usually cause mild to moderate upper respiratory symptoms like conjunctivitis and influenza-like illness.
According to the CDC, the risk to public health from current HPAI bird flu outbreaks in U.S. poultry is low. There is no food safety concern for consumers because poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly.
How to protect your flock from bird flu
While the current risk level for backyard flocks is high due to widespread HPAI outbreaks in commercial operations and wild birds, there are important biosecurity steps you can take to protect your chickens:
Limit Contact with Wild Birds
Avoid attracting wild waterfowl like geese or ducks to your property. Remove any bird feeders or bird baths that may congregate wild birds near your flock. Cover any outdoor areas where your chickens spend time like runs or free-range areas with netting, roofing, or overhangs.
House Birds Indoors if Possible
Housing chickens indoors or under cover can decrease their exposure risk significantly. Confine them to a secure coop and run area if possible. Suspend any free-range activity.
Follow Strict Biosecurity
Isolate your flock from contact with other people’s chickens or poultry. Do not share equipment or visit other properties with birds. If you have been around other flocks, be sure to change clothing and disinfect boots before handling your own chickens. Require others to do the same.
Restrict access to your flock. Do not allow non-essential visitors or traffic onto or near your property. Carefully monitor the health of your chickens and immediately isolate any birds showing signs of illness.
Practice good sanitation. Scrub and disinfect poultry housing, equipment, and any items that come in contact with your birds. Use detergent and an antiviral disinfectant, rinsing surfaces thoroughly and allowing them to dry completely between uses.
Know the Warning Signs
Monitor your flock’s behavior and health very closely. Be vigilant for any signs of illness and contact authorities right away about any sudden increase in sick birds or deaths. Early detection and containment is critical for controlling HPAI outbreaks.
Report Sick Birds
Call your veterinarian, cooperative extension office, state veterinarian, or USDA immediately if your birds appear ill with sudden unexplained symptoms or deaths. Timely reporting is essential even if it’s just a suspicion.
Follow Proper Cleanup Guidance
If your flock becomes infected, follow specific federal and state guidelines for safe disposal of affected birds and proper cleaning and disinfection of the premises. Proper carcass disposal and virus elimination will be necessary before you can restock your flock.
Is there a vaccine for bird flu?
There is currently no approved vaccine available for bird flu strains circulating in the U.S. Vaccines are a management tool used by some countries dealing with endemic avian influenza in poultry flocks. However, vaccines cannot prevent infection completely and vaccinated flocks would still need to be monitored closely and managed under a comprehensive prevention program.
The U.S. does have a stockpile of H5 vaccine that could potentially be used in response to H5N1 outbreaks, but this would require an emergency use authorization from the USDA.
Outlook for backyard flocks
Biosecurity is the best defense backyard flock owners have against the unpredictable nature of migratory wild birds that can introduce bird flu. While the current U.S. outbreak is historically large with devastating impacts on commercial flocks, the past demonstrates that persistent, concerted control efforts and improved management can control the spread over time.
Backyard poultry owners should remain vigilant and continue meeting enhanced biosecurity protocols until health officials declare risks have subsided. With continued cooperation from poultry producers and communities, impacts can be mitigated.
Stay informed through state or federal agriculture departments and poultry organizations so you know current HPAI status and risks in your area. Following sound biosecurity principles, reporting illness quickly, and complying with containment measures will give backyard flocks the best probability of staying protected.
Summary of tips to protect chickens from bird flu
- Prevent contact with wild waterfowl
- House chickens indoors or under cover if possible
- Restrict access and isolate your property
- Routinely clean and disinfect equipment and housing
- Do not share supplies or visit other poultry sites
- Monitor bird health and report illness immediately
- Follow biosecurity mandates and guidance from regulators
With proper precautions, attentive monitoring, and swift action if problems arise, backyard flock owners can reasonably protect their birds from this challenging poultry disease.
Conclusion
Bird flu represents a serious ongoing threat to backyard and commercial poultry in the U.S. While sporadic infections from contact with wild waterfowl may be inevitable, vigilant monitoring and biosecurity can reduce risks. Isolating chickens, limiting exposure, and rapidly containing illnesses before they spread give flocks the best chance of staying safe.
Education and communication between regulators, industry, and backyard owners is paramount. Following the collaborative disease control model we apply to other poultry health threats gives us the best opportunity to mitigate bird flu impacts over time. With everyone informed and doing their part to block transmission pathways, we can protect food security, economies, and family flocks until this virus recedes.