{"id":41254,"date":"2024-05-06T15:29:03","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T15:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/?guid=4d35b712edc0b2352091aecc16e18df6"},"modified":"2024-05-06T15:29:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T15:29:03","slug":"defend-your-flock-4-tips-for-backyard-bird-owners-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/defend-your-flock-4-tips-for-backyard-bird-owners-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Defend your flock: 4 tips for backyard bird owners"},"content":{"rendered":"

(BPT) – Raising backyard chickens has become increasingly popular, and an estimated 10.6 million U.S. households — from city dwellers to rural residents — own poultry. However, many of these backyard bird owners are not aware of the threat avian influenza viruses pose to their flock. These respiratory diseases are easily spread by migratory birds and wild waterfowl populations. The U.S. is now experiencing the largest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in our country’s history, and this extremely contagious form of the disease is deadly to our domestic birds. The good news is that having the right safety and protective measures in place can help protect backyard chickens and pet birds. Here are four tips all bird owners should know to help defend their flock:<\/p>\n

#1: Understand the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza <\/strong><\/p>\n

Some necessary potty talk here: HPAI can be carried in the poop and slobber of wild birds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that a gram of poop from a human can contain over 1 trillion germs, so it’s possible one gram of poop from a wild goose can also hold about 1 trillion germs (gross)! These wild waterfowl and migratory birds can carry the disease without showing any symptoms so if they interact with your birds, drink from your outdoor and poultry water source or poop in your backyard, your flock could be at extreme risk for HPAI. That’s why biosecurity is critical for all bird owners, big and small.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
#2: Implement proper biosecurity to protect birds<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Biosecurity refers to everything people do to keep diseases — and the viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms that cause disease — away from birds, property and people. Biosecurity contains two major categories:<\/p>\n