fuzzy, yellow baby chick — Raising backyard chickens is a trending hobby right now, but domestic poultry are at risk of contracting the highly contagious HPAI. (Photo by Todd Johnson, Agricultural Communications Services)

Backyard poultry at risk of deadly disease

Friday, October 21, 2022

Media Contact: Gail Ellis | Editorial Communications Coordinator | 405-744-9152 | gail.ellis@okstate.edu

Backyard poultry owners should take careful biosecurity measures this fall to protect their animals from highly pathogenic avian influenza. HPAI is a strain of the flu that is extremely infectious and most often fatal to all poultry.

Within the past few weeks, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has confirmed HPAI in backyard chickens in Tulsa and Creek counties. It has also been detected in wild waterfowl near Oklahoma City. Earlier this spring, HPAI cases were reported on a commercial poultry operation in eastern Oklahoma.

HPAI Signs and Symptoms

Coughing and sneezing
Difficulty breathing
Extreme depression
Lack of energy
Decrease in feed or water intake
Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and legs
Decrease in egg production
Sudden, unexplained death
Quietness among the flock

If poultry owners suspect HPAI, they should immediately contact one of the following:

Local county Extension educator: find your county
Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 405-744-6623
ODAFF State Veterinarian, Rod Hall, 405-522-6141
Your local veterinarian

Methods of prevention

Restrict visitor access to birds
Prevent contact with wild birds (especially waterfowl)
Refrain from visiting other poultry operation locations
Set aside clothing and footwear to wear only when working with birds
Disinfect footwear before entering a barn or coop
Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling birds
Reduce availability of food, water and any potential nesting areas for wild birds
Fix holes in roofs, screens and walls of poultry barns or coops
Do not share equipment with other bird owners
Birds that have been near other poultry should be quarantined from the rest of the flock for at least 14 days

Officials with Oklahoma State University Extension and ODAFF said the risk of HPAI transmission to humans and other animals is low. If contact with the disease is suspected, the Oklahoma State Department of Health Acute Disease Service can help monitor for symptoms and arrange for testing and treatment. The organization’s on-call epidemiologist can be reached at 405-426-8710.

Learn more about how to prevent the spread of HPAI in this recent Vet Scripts segment on SUNUP, a television show produced by OSU Agriculture.

OSU Extension offers a helpful fact sheet on Small Flock Biosecurity for Prevention of Avian Influenza, and poultry owners can access other state and national HPAI updates through the ODAFF disease alert page.