Tom Tabler
Professor and Extension Poultry Specialist
Avian influenza continues to decimate poultry flocks in the U.S., particularly California. This is especially noticeable in the price of eggs, which has reached $8.97 per dozen in California. Flock losses during the last two months of 2024 accounted for 43% of total losses for the year with fully one-third occurring in December headed into peak annual shell egg demand period and resulting in record-high wholesale and retail egg prices. In recent days, winter storm warnings are driving people to the stores to stock up before the storm, putting additional pressure on the egg supply. In December, the USDA revised its 2025 outlook to include an 11.4 percent increase in the price of eggs throughout the year, compared to a previous estimate of 3.4 percent. While the holiday baking season may be over, winter storm season is just getting started. And with no end in sight to the avian influenza outbreak, expect high egg prices for the foreseeable future, at least through winter and well into spring. Lost flocks can and will be replaced but it takes time to raise the flocks and bring them into production. It takes three weeks for an egg to hatch and another 19 to 22 weeks for the hens to reach sexual maturity and start laying. That’s roughly six months, at best, before the lost flocks can be replaced. Granted, there are pullets in the pipeline that were scheduled for normal flock replacement. However, these birds were not intended to replace the massive losses that have occurred due to avian influenza.
The main reason egg prices are up is the ongoing avian influenza outbreak in the U.S., which has caused incredible damage to the country’s laying flock numbers and significantly diminished the egg supply. In December, nine confirmed cases of bird flu across California resulted in the culling of nearly six million egg-laying chickens. California is currently the center of the avian influenza outbreak, with some asking questions about the state’s ability to handle such agricultural crises. The situation in California is made worse by the number of dairy cattle herds also affected by avian influenza. As of January 7, 2025, there were 913 confirmed cases of avian influenza in dairy herds across the U.S. Of these 913 confirmed cases, 703 were in dairy herds in California, with 183 cases occurring in the last 30 days, making California the epicenter of infected dairy herds as well. Many of the affected dairy herds and poultry operations are in close proximity to each other and a breakdown or failure in biosecurity may be playing a role in some of the disease spread.
What does this mean for backyard flock keepers in Tennessee? It means biosecurity has never been more important than it is today. There is no cure for avian influenza. It is caused by a virus and, therefore, antibiotics are useless. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. There is no vaccine at this point although several companies are working on a vaccine. Biosecurity does require additional effort. It means more work on your part to keep your flock safe. However, a little extra effort to practice good biosecurity pays for itself many times over if it keeps your flock free of avian influenza. The time, effort, and physical, mental, and financial stress of dealing with an avian influenza break in your flock will be devastating. I can’t say it any plainer than that. Both Dr. Shawn Hawkins and I have spent time in California in recent weeks assisting USDA with disposal of avian influenza affected flocks. It is heartbreaking to see what the affected producers in California are going through.
Biosecurity takes on a whole new level of importance when you see the consequences and aftermath of an avian influenza break in a flock. The avian influenza virus will not just appear in your flock. It must be put there somehow. Often, it gets put there because humans unknowingly track the virus from one place to another. The virus is in the nasal secretions and manure of infected birds, especially waterfowl but this could also be starlings, blackbirds and a host of other wild birds that can carry the virus. The three components of a good biosecurity program are all critical to protecting your flock…. isolation, traffic control, sanitation. You must have all three to protect your flock. Providing only one or two puts your flock at risk.
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.
Disease moves by direct or indirect transmission. Direct transmission is physical contact between infected and healthy birds. Indirect transmission occurs when a disease agent is carried to susceptible birds by a host of methods…humans (likely the #1 threat), contaminated feed, water or environment, shared equipment, rodents, pets, etc. Follow USDA’s six steps to keep birds healthy:
- Keep your distance
- Keep it clean
- Don’t haul disease home
- Don’t borrow disease from your neighbor
- Know the warning signs of infectious disease
- Report sick birds.
How to report sick birds. Contact any of the following for assistance:
- Your local county Extension agent
- Your local veterinarian
- Tennessee State University Poultry Extension Specialist (615-963-5823)
- University of Tennessee Poultry Extension Specialist (931-486-2129)
- Tennessee Department of Agriculture Poultry Program Coordinator (615-361-4997)
- C. E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory (615-837-5125)
- Tennessee State Veterinarian’s office (615-837-5120)
Your county agent may not be a chicken person, and I can almost promise you that your local veterinarian is not a chicken person, but they will know folks that are chicken people that will be able to help you.
As of January 7, 2025, across the U.S., there have been 113 confirmed avian influenza cases in poultry in the last 30 days. Twenty-two of these flocks have been in California affecting 4,634,600 birds, mainly table egg layers but commercial broilers, turkeys, and ducks have also been affected. Since the start of the outbreak on February 8, 2022, 130.68 million birds have been affected. This includes a total of 1,389 flocks in all 50 states, 629 commercial flocks and 760 backyard flocks. As of January 6, 2025, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in the U.S. since 2024. One person in the U.S. with additional underlying health conditions died earlier this week as a result of an H5 infection. The CDC has carefully studied the available information about the person who died in Louisiana and continues to assess that the risk to the general population remains low. Most importantly, no person-to-person transmission spread has been identified. Most H5 avian influenza infections are related to animal-to-human exposures. Additionally, there are no concerning virologic changes actively spreading in wild birds, poultry, or dairy cows that would raise the risk to human health. However, that doesn’t mean you should take the situation for granted.
Domestic house/barn cats appear quite susceptible to avian influenza and California has reported a few cat deaths in animals exposed to raw milk on dairy farms with affected herds. Raw milk is a concern not only for cats but also for people. The CDC recommends that people avoid drinking raw milk. Anyone, even healthy adults, can get sick from drinking raw milk. Raw milk and products made from raw milk, including soft cheese, ice cream, and yogurt, can be contaminated with germs that can cause serious illness, hospitalization, or death. Always choose pasteurized milk and dairy products to protect your health and the health of your family. Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to a high enough temperature for a long enough time to kill disease-causing pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses.
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. With Chick Chain season just around the corner, county agents and their Chick Chain clientele should be aware that avian influenza remains a serious threat and everyone should practice the highest level of biosecurity to keep their flocks safe.
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.
