Don't Let Biosecurity Take a Holiday Vacation

The winter holiday season is an exciting time to travel and visit friends and family near and far. The peak of wild bird migration is in the fall and spring, but some species travel outside of these times or are winter residents. Wild birds may carry and spread diseases that significantly affect poultry, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). While HPAI is not the only disease of concern spread by wild birds, it is one of the most impactful. Maintaining biosecurity is key to protecting the health of your flock.

Here are a few best practices to reduce your flock’s risk of disease:

• Have clean, poultry-only boots and clothing. Your everyday clothing and shoes may look clean, but pathogens could have been picked up on them from places you visited. Boots should be cleaned first with soap and water, then have disinfectant applied. Remember, disinfectant does not work on dirty surfaces!
• Clean and disinfect vehicles. It is recommended to spray tires with disinfectant when entering and exiting a poultry premise. A full carwash is also recommended for anyone returning from hunting or recreation in locations where wild birds gather, such as parks and campsites. When disease risk is high from wild birds, poultry owners and caretakers should avoid these activities or wait 72 hours before accessing the flock.
• Integrated pest management reduces the risk of disease spread by insects and rodents. Fly populations decrease in winter, but rodents and other small animals will be looking for food and shelter as it gets colder. Make sure any holes or entryways for rodents are covered. Store feed in rodent-proof containers and minimize spillage of feed by the birds. Feeder troughs should be level with the backs of the birds and not overfilled.
• Keep poultry separate from other livestock. Some strains of HPAI are transmissible between birds and mammals, such as dairy cattle. More information and recommended entry procedures for dairy cattle and poultry can be found on the Penn State Extension website.
• Check birds in a specific order: young to old and healthy to sick. Prepare an isolation pen in case you need to separate one or more birds due to illness or injury. Quarantine any new birds for 3-4 weeks to watch for signs of disease, even if they are from a trusted source.

If you have someone taking care of your birds while you are away, make sure they know and follow all biosecurity protocols. Your written plan should be accessible to all bird caretakers, and signage can help remind you and others to follow its steps. It is also a good idea to do a walkthrough demonstration of the plan with the people who will be taking care of the flock. PPE (boots and coveralls) can either be provided by you or brought in by the caretaker. If they bring their own, the items must be cleaned and disinfected upon entry and exit. Less movement means less risk, so consider keeping all PPE on the premises. Single-use polyspun coveralls are a good option and should be disposed of on-site before the caretaker leaves the premises.

Our poultry team is happy to answer further questions about biosecurity and can help producers of all flock sizes with their plans. Contact your local Penn State Extension office to be connected to a member of our team.

For more information on Avian Influenza, visit Penn State Extension's HPAI landing page.