An update on biosecurity for your poultry flocks as we move into the migration season.
Here are some simple steps to decrease the chance of your birds contracting any disease from other birds as the migration season arrives. These are basic biosecurity practices to help your flock to stay healthy.
- Try to minimize contact of wild birds have with your flock. Wild birds can be carriers of disease that affect poultry and can be transmitted to your birds through droppings and shared water sources. Keeping migrating waterfowl from mingling with your birds is important.
- Be cautious about introducing new birds into your flock. The best policy is to quarantine any new birds including chicks, ducklings, goslings, and turkey poults (all baby birds) for a minimum of two weeks. Keep all equipment separate and if possible, change or disinfect shoes/clothing before entering the different areas where your birds live.
- Always disinfect any shared or used equipment before using it with your birds.
- Be cautious about visiting other people’s flocks and again, change or disinfect shoes and clothing if needed before working with your birds.
- Isolate any sick birds and take extra precautions such as feeding, cleaning, and working with these birds last at chore time.
- Call a vet at the CSU Avian Hotline (970-297-4008) if you have an outbreak of illness or sudden deaths not due to predators.
- Consider having sudden deaths tested by the CSU Avian team.
These measures will help to keep your flock healthy.
Avian Influenza has been reported in Europe and Asia but at this time there are NO cases in North America. USDA officials are monitoring the situation and testing birds for the virus. The upcoming migration season is when cases can spread when an infected bird migrates through a flyway. Check the USDA website for updates on Avian Influenza (HPAI) and for other resources to maintain a healthy flock!
Thank you.
Marilyn Lasich
Poultry Key Leader