Official BYC Poll: What Are You Doing to Protect Your Flock From Bird Flu (H5N1) Infection?

[BYC Project Manager]

Avian influenza (avian flu or bird flu) is a disease caused by infection with avian influenza type A viruses. These viruses spread naturally among wild waterfowl worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic infections of humans with avian influenza viruses have occurred.

With the current 2022 Bird Flu outbreak we would like to know: What Are You Doing to Protect Your Flock From Bird Flu (H5N1) Infection?

Place your votes above, and please share your thoughts in reply to this thread.

For regular updates on the 2022 Bird Flu outbreak, please visit the CDC or the USDA websites.

Further Reading:

• Bird Flu: What You Need To Know
• Necropsy Labs, Necropsy Manual, & Necropsy Videos
• Just the facts... Avian Influenza

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[N F C]

Important info to get out to everyone, thanks for putting this together with the links.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

Really helpful links, thank you!

 

[RubelliteRose]

Many of these things I did before the AI anyway. My biggest change is that I now carry a can of disinfectant in the car and spray down my shoes and the floor/pedal area of my car before returning home.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I've stopped freely feeding the wild waterfowl visitors and anytime they come looking for me on the property, I lead them back to their designated feeding area, away from my chickens and ducks. If I don't feed them, they will walk all around the property looking for me (pooping all along) because I have always fed them and interacted with them. I have also started doing all chicken chores before doing any chores with my ducks. I carry my big ducks down to their duck house at night and to their "run" in the morning so they're not stepping in any wild waterfowl poop since we now have so many wild waterfowl visitors that spend a lot of their day pooping in the path to and from the big duck house. I keep a very close eye on the wild birds around here as well, not that this helps prevent necessarily.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

Much to my girls dismay they don’t get free range time in the yard anymore. The run was already covered. I added 1/2” wire around last week.

My biggest worry is across the road from me is a pond where the wild geese congregate. The neighbors who have the pond bring their 5 year old granddaughter to feed my chickens grapes most days. I left a place in the door that can be opened to throw grapes in for her. Now I’m changing my shoes at the door of the run before I go in. It’s a pain.

I hope this passes in June like we are all hoping it will. The girls don’t know what to make of not being let out and have become skittish and fussy. I’m the weakest link here to not give in to their complaints and my complacency.

 

[MeanCheek]

Does being in a run help that much if it isn't covered with something solid?

 

[Chickeeaholic]

It needs to be covered. I have a roof over mine. I had to add 1/2” gage wire around to keep birds from getting in that way. Some people are using tarp to cover the top. I guess birds flying over can get poop etc. in from above if it doesn’t have a roof.

 

[Poodlemum]

We have a case in our county, so my birds have all been locked in the coop. I’ve got more panels coming and tarps to cover the breezeway between the fence and coop, thinking of moving the prefab out of the coop to create another accessible area outside the main coop… Trying to remain calm and collected

 

[TXKukupantsKoop]

We're still finishing our run. If wild birds have already dropped poop in it, should I be concerned? My babies still have several weeks left in the brooder before going out there? Is there anything to spray the run with prior to putting them out there?