Tom Tabler
Professor and Extension Poultry Specialist
After being avian influenza free (for the most part) for most of the summer, the U.S. has seen 3 new cases appear in the last 2½ weeks. The country saw four total cases throughout all of June, July, and half of August. Now, however, with the worst of summer’s heat behind us and fall on the horizon, migration season has started and waterfowl are headed south. This should be a warning to revisit your biosecurity program and make sure you have all three components to a sound biosecurity program….. isolation, traffic control, and sanitation. You must have all three to protect your flock. Providing only one or two puts your flock at risk. The commercial poultry industry understands biosecurity very well….the backyard poultry world, not so much. Still, both the commercial poultry industry and backyard poultry keepers must take precautions and practice good biosecurity to keep their flocks safe. Knowing good biosecurity won’t help you if you don’t practice it!
Isolate your flock as much as possible. Keep birds indoors to prevent poultry flocks from coming in contact with wild or migratory birds. Restrict poultry access to any source of water that may have been contaminated by wild birds. Separate birds by age. Do not mix species. Folks often mix ages and species without incident, but it increases the risk to do these things, and the goal is to decrease risk as much as possible. We cannot totally eliminate the disease threat, but we can take steps to decrease the risk. Traffic control…know who comes and goes and why. Keep a visitor’s log. Very few people, outside of you and your family, have any business around your chickens. Increased traffic flow means increased disease risk. Sanitation is your friend. Clean and disinfect everything…materials, equipment, people. Keep hand sanitizer near the coop and use it. Dedicate footwear to only be worn in the coop or use disposable booties to prevent tracking disease into the coop or pen. For those that have raised backyard birds for years, this is simple common sense. However, for those new to backyard poultry, this is something you must quickly learn and understand and follow through on to protect your flock.
Avian influenza cases have appeared in California, New York, and South Dakota since August 15. No location is safe and every location must be protected, both commercial and backyard flocks. Since the start of the outbreak in February 2022, 175 million birds have been affected in 1,712 flocks in all 50 states and 1 territory. County fair and Chick Chain show season is in full swing across Tennessee, so let’s be careful out there. Practice good biosecurity to keep your flock safe. Yes, it’s more work, and it takes more time, but it is well worth the effort if it prevents avian influenza in your flock. Remember…. Isolation, Traffic Control, and Sanitation. You must have all three to have good biosecurity.
UT Animal Science/Extension continues to monitor the avian influenza situation and is committed to supporting our stakeholders and clientele throughout this continuing threat. As stewards of animal health and welfare across the livestock and poultry industries, our team of experts are constantly reviewing this changing and challenging situation and will continue to provide updates as necessary.
