WASHINGTON — Biosecurity steps are essential to keeping a poultry farm healthy from disease, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, as well as others. The techniques are tools used to protect a very valuable asset — your poultry flock.
With fall wild bird migration still occurring, the spread of avian influenza is being seen again nationwide and through the flyway paths. Wild birds are a top cause of bird flu making its way around the nation. These shorebirds, ducks, geese, etc., can carry the disease and show no signs of infection. But domestic poultry like chickens, turkeys and ducks, once infected, it is extremely deadly. Bird flu is a respiratory disease caused by influenza A viruses and is very contagious.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service provides several basic, and more detailed, biosecurity steps. Among the first steps includes:
· Keeping germs off the farm
Wash hands and boots before and after entering a poultry facility or use disposable boot covers and coveralls when it is possible. Disinfect hands, shoes, clothing, vehicles, tires, egg flats, crates and trays. And keep disinfected equipment away from an area where it can become contaminated from any wild bird exposure.
· Visitor limitation
Control and restrict all traffic on and off farm property. Also, prevent visitors from any contact with poultry flocks. And avoid visits to other poultry farms.
· Keep wild birds away
Wild birds and rodents will spread disease, so keeping them off the farm is vital to stopping disease spread.
· Have a biosecurity plan
For commercial poultry producers, maintain and adhere to a site-specific biosecurity plan; and anyone entering poultry areas or has any contact with the poultry flock, needs to know and follow the biosecurity guidelines.
APHIS adds that biosecurity should be an “every day, every time practice.”
“It takes just one contact with this (bird flu) virus to sicken or kill your birds,” APHIS notes. “In a single day, the avian influenza virus can multiply and infect every bird on your premises.”
Signs of bird flu
Knowing the signs of avian influenza is also essential to preventing the disease’s spread. APHIS notes the following as signs to watch for in your flock:
· Lack of appetite or energy.
· A reduction in egg production, or with misshapen or soft-shelled eggs.
· Eyelid, wattle, comb or shank swelling. Or a purple discoloration in the wattles, combs or legs.
· Difficult breathing or gasping for air.
· Sneezing, coughing, and a nasal discharge.
· Head and neck twisting.
· Falling down or stumbling by the bird.
· Diarrhea.
· A sudden death without showing any previous signs of disease.
If these symptoms are noticed, contact your state’s poultry diagnostic laboratory, state veterinarian, or contact USDA at 866-536-7593.
Wildlife management
“The best way to prevent HPAI at your farm is by consistently using appropriate biosecurity measures,” APHIS adds. “You can build upon and enhance these measures with the addition of simple wildlife management practices around your farm … management practices can help you prevent wild birds and other wildlife from coming into direct contact with your poultry, as well as wild bird fecal material and secretions from being accidentally transported on boots, equipment, and food to your birds.”
APHIS notes the following as some wildlife control tips:
· Reducing wildlife engagement
Removing any standing water. Fill any areas where standing water exists for more than 48 hours; avoid walking or moving any equipment through or near standing water that could have been accessed by wildlife; use drains or culverts to divert water away from a poultry house; and, if possible, grade a property to avoid standing water. Also remove any vegetation from manufactured water structure banks; and use deterrents such as wire grids to keep wild waterfowl from bodies of water near a poultry house.
Reducing any wildlife food sources. Inspect pipes and connections for leaks; quickly clean up at feed storage areas; mow frequently; remove any fallen fruit from nearby trees; make sure dumpster and trash can lids are closed and latched; and do not feed wildlife.
· Preventing access from wildlife
Make sure any wall holes or tears are repaired. If there are any unnecessary horizontal surfaces or ledges, remove them. Use perch deterrents like bird spikes and repellent gels. Check with state and federal regulations during nesting season on the removal of wild bird nests. Also, it is unlawful to remove nests with young or eggs anytime of the year. Check for foam insulation damage from rodents or bird pecking or chewing.
· Adding deterrents
The use of scare devices and wild bird decoys need to be moved around frequently to be most effective.
Wildlife biosecurity assessments
With bird flu being such a destructive virus, the USDA offers two free, voluntary, biosecurity assessments for poultry operations that have not been affected by bird flu — a Wildlife Biosecurity Assessment and a Biosecurity Incentive-Focused Assessment — one or both can be requested.
“USDA-trained staff will visit your facility and identify actionable strategies that you can immediately implement to strengthen your operation’s defenses against HPAI,” APHIS notes. “Additionally, USDA will share up to 75 percent of the costs to fix the highest-risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments.”
The department adds that, “If your operation is hit by HPAI or you’re operating in an area impacted by the virus, we will conduct a mandatory biosecurity audit before you restock to help protect your flocks and ensure you are eligible for indemnity for your restocked poultry.”
APHIS is making this program available to all commercial poultry producers that have not been impacted by HPAI, but adds that prioritizes its assessments for commercial egg laying operations that are in the largest egg producing states, which is states as part of an effort to maintain lower egg prices for consumers.
To request a wildlife biosecurity assessment, contact APHIS via email at poultry.biosecurity@usda.gov, or call 844-820-2234.
And for more information on poultry biosecurity, avian influenza, and wildlife management practices, visit APHIS at www.aphis.usda.gov.
