Flockdown: Everything Backyard Chicken Keepers Need to Know About Bird Flu

Unfortunately, bird flu is on the rise worldwide. It can be a worrying issue for many, especially anyone new to keeping chickens. Here at Nestera, animal welfare is our absolute no.1 priority, so we’ve compiled a list of essential things you need to know (and do) to ensure your flock is kept as safe as possible.

Firstly, there are two important things to remember:

1. ‘Bird flu’ and ‘avian influenza’ (AI) are the same thing.
2. Despite the increase in cases, the chance of a backyard flock catching the virus are low. If keepers follow good biosecurity and any housing orders, it’s extremely low. 

Biosecurity 

Use ONE dedicated pair of boots to tend to your birds. Keep the boots clean and disinfect them on the way in and out of your enclosure using a foot bath and disinfectant, which should be changed often.

Credit: Lisa Steele

Keep feeders and drinkers away from wild birds and rats, clean and disinfect them regularly, and discard any unused food and water. The sheltered area underneath our Raised Coop is ideal for this. The 10ft Run we offer for our Large Raised Coop protects your birds’ food and drink from contamination by wild birds and rats by featuring a lockable rear hatch.

Housing Orders 

Housing orders come from the government and are compulsory. This does not mean that your flock should be locked in their coops, but does mean that you should stop free-ranging them and keep them separate from wild birds. 

Our 10ft Run is ideal for providing a secure outdoor space, and can be extended as far as you like in additional 3.5ft sections. 

Different Strains

The virus is mutating constantly, meaning there are various different strains of bird flu worldwide. Some are classed as highly pathogenic (HPAI) and some as low pathogenicity (LPAI). Pathogenicity means how ill something makes you if you catch it.

The strain we’re most worried about at the moment is called H5N1 and is ‘highly pathogenic’. That means if any bird catches it, they are likely to become very sick; for many, it will be fatal.

It is mostly transmitted by infected migrating wild birds such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls and birds of prey. It can also be spread by keepers with poor biosecurity and rats. 

The virus does not spread through the air. It is spread by contact with infected bird poop, drinkers and dead birds. Infected areas, such as the banks of a pond, can still harbor the virus for several months.

It is extremely contagious. It’s easily passed from one bird to another, so please remain vigilant.

There is NO cure or treatment for bird flu. Sadly, this means that if ONE bird in a flock gets infected, all of them will need to be culled to prevent transmission.

Bird Flu Indicators

The most obvious indicators of bird flu include:

• Finding several birds ill or dead in a small area
  
  
• Birds looking tired and dragging their wings or legs
  
  
• Birds with swollen or twisted heads with closed watery eyes
  
  
• Birds coughing, sneezing, gaping or gurgling
  
  
• Birds eating, drinking and laying less
  
  
• Birds with bruising on their combs and legs
  
  
• Birds shaking and having a loss of balance

Credit: Chicken & Scratch

What To Do

If you suspect one of your flock members are infected with bird flu please contact your local veterinarian and follow this article from the USDA about how you can defend your flock.

Some countries are introducing a vaccine for bird flu; however, it doesn’t stop birds from getting or transmitting the disease - it only helps prevent them dying from it.

Humans and other mammals can catch bird flu but it is unlikely and, thankfully, it doesn’t have the same effect as it does in birds. This may not always be the case though, so it’s important we all do our bit to stop it spreading and mutating.

In more positive news, please rest assured it is still safe to eat poultry products, such as eggs and meat. 

Nestera coops have been intelligently designed with both your flock’s safety and ease of use for the owner in mind. All our easy-clean chicken coops are made from durable 100% recycled plastic that, unlike traditional wooden coops, are quick and easy to clean and disinfect if needed. Our coops also offer easy access for egg collection, while our optional accessories, including our 10ft Run, keep your flock safe from unwelcome visitors, like wild birds, rats and predators. 

Check out our coop customizer here.