Infectious diseases, like bird flu and Newcastle disease, can spread directly to poultry from wild birds or from clothing, footwear, equipment or vehicles that have been contaminated by infectious birds.
Learn how to protect your poultry and pet birds on your property:
Avian influenza and your backyard
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a disease carried by wild birds that can cause severe disease in poultry.
There are many strains of the virus, including the H5 strain that’s caused mass poultry deaths overseas.
Australia does not have this strain.
Avian influenza can be carried by wild birds such as ducks, geese, and swans.
If wild birds mix with our backyard poultry and pet birds, the virus can spread to them.
If you own or work with any type of poultry or birds, look for health changes in your birds.
The signs of avian influenza are similar to other bird diseases, so always check with your vet if you notice something unusual.
Look out for:
- single or several birds suddenly dying
- diarrhoea
- birds eating or drinking less
- unusual reduction in egg production
- birds sneezing or looking unwell.
There are simple things you can do to help protect your birds.
Don’t feed wild birds or encourage them to mix with your poultry or pet birds.
Use netting to prevent contact between domestic and wild birds.
Clean your birds’ housing and equipment regularly and don’t share it with other bird owners.
If you bring in new birds, keep them separate and monitor them for at least 30 days before introducing them to your existing flock.
If your poultry are free range, monitor them daily for signs of disease.
Be ready to house your birds separately if they show signs of illness.
Avian influenza does not easily spread to people, and it’s a low risk to the public, but it’s still important to maintain good hygiene around poultry and pet birds.
Avoid touching sick or dead birds, or if you need to touch them, wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards.
Always wash your hands after handling birds, eggs and equipment.
Clothes and shoes should be washed after visiting a bird show, aviary, or chicken run.
If you see sick or dead birds, contact your vet or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Learn the facts about bird flu and how to protect your birds at agriculture.gov.au/birdflu
Steps to protect your birds
If you own backyard poultry or other birds, these 8 simple steps will help protect them from these diseases:
- Keep your equipment and poultry yard or aviary clean.
- Remove litter, sand and grit from the aviary between batches of birds, and every few months for resident birds.
- Thoroughly clean concrete floors, walls and aviary wire with soapy water, and disinfect as needed.
- Clean and disinfect feed and water containers regularly.
- Don't share equipment with other birdkeepers unless it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
- Avoid contact between your birds and wild birds.
- Prevent contact with wild birds by restricting access to open ponds, lakes and creeks. Protective netting can also help prevent wild birds from entering domestic bird areas.
- Clean up surrounding areas to reduce shelter and hiding places for wild birds.
- Don’t let feed and water become contaminated by faeces or other animal waste.
- Ensure water supplied to birds is from a chlorinated mains water supply, a clean bore, or treated appropriately if these sources aren't available (also see the Water Biosecurity Manual).
- Don't allow wild birds or pest animals to contaminate your birds' feed. Store it in a container with a secure lid.
- Practice good hygiene when handling birds including at bird shows.
- Always thoroughly wash your hands with soap before and after handling birds.
- Clean your footwear and wash clothing regularly and avoid using the same clothing and footwear around your own birds if you have visited other flocks or events such as shows.
- Do not take any birds to a show if there are signs of illness in your flock.
- All bird equipment and permanent carrying containers should be cleaned and disinfected before and after a show.
- At the show, avoid handling birds other than your own, if possible.
- At home, show birds should always undergo a period of quarantine before returning to the flock.
- Keep a register of all bird movements in and out of your premises.
Bird hygiene resources
Use these resources to help you protect your bird at shows.
- Limit visitors' access to your birds.
- Restrict access to bird areas.
- Ask visitors to wash hands, practice good hygiene, put on clean protective clothing and use footbaths containing appropriate disinfectants at the entrance to bird areas or sheds.
- Keep a record of visitors.
- Quarantine new birds.
- Separate and monitor new birds for at least 30 days before introducing them to your existing flock.
- Always source birds from a reputable producer or breeder whose bird health status is known.
- Always buy healthy birds and avoid buying them from markets.
- Feed and clean quarantined birds after you have tended to other birds.
- Know the signs of disease.
Signs of disease usually appear in several or all birds in a flock, including:- sudden death
- lethargy or reluctance to walk, eat or drink
- droopy appearance or ruffled feathers
- head or limb swelling
- bruising of the wattle, comb, feet or skin
- respiratory signs such as panting, nasal discharge or sneezing
- diarrhoea
- unusual head or neck posture, incoordination, inability to walk or stand
- unusual reduction in egg production.
- Immediately report any sick or dead birds.
If you see sick or dead birds, talk to your local vet or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. This will put you in touch with your state or territory agriculture department. Bird flu and Newcastle disease are notifiable animal diseases. You must report a suspected outbreak.
Visit farmbiosecurity.com.au for more detailed information on preventing disease in chickens, ducks and other species.