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| Free-ranging chickens are at risk. |
As avian influenza begins to emerge in even more backyard flocks of chickens, I thought that it was time to chat a little about how and why this is happening here in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
The Basics: Understanding the Flu
The next 2 paragraphs are a simplified explanation meant for the general public. There are many more details that have been omitted for the simplification of this article.
First, we need to talk a little bit about basic biology and epidemiology. All flus are viruses. There are three types of flu viruses- A, B, and C. Influenza Cs are mild and influenza As are typically the most severe. Although influenza Bs can cause severe illness, they usually do not spread across the globe and have been found only in humans and seals. For the purpose of this article we will be discussing only influenza A. Every flu strain that has caused global pandemics has been a strain of influenza A. Influenza viruses are named based on the type of flu, the first host, the location where found, strain number, and year of first isolation. So for example, when scientists discuss certain varieties of influenza A, this is how they identify them: A/Swine/Iowa/15/30 (H1N1). But for the non-scientific, we focus on the H and the N.
Influenza A viruses are covered in specific glycoproteins called hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. This is how these viruses are named, thus the H and N designation. To date, there are sixteen types of hemagglutinin and nine neuraminidase, all glycoproteins, that combine in a variety of combinations to create each strain of influenza A. Currently there are almost 150 different strains, ranging from H1N1 to H16N9. Every single one of these strains can be linked to aquatic birds. Thus influenza A is always avian. All flus have the ability to mutate. Mutation typically results when these viruses are able to survive in new hosts such as people or other animals. In the years ahead, we can expect new strains of avian flu due to new versions of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase as well as their ability to combine with one another. This can happen when a bird is carrying two or more different strains of flu inside their bodies at the same time. The flu viruses simply switch out the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase with one another. Lastly some of these flus have been dubbed as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). This means that these strains can be very harmful to all birds, including backyard chickens. These are the ones affecting the chickens in the Pacific Northwest.
How it Spreads
There are four major migratory flyways in the United States, the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific. It is along these flyways where diseases are carried. But perhaps the most important piece of this equation is to realize that some birds that travel all four of these flyways originate from the Arctic refuge.
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| Photo credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service |
What is happening in the US?
9. Do not move or ship birds if a member in your flock is showing signs of illness.10. Wash your clothing and shoes prior to entering different chicken coops in your backyard or even at friend’s houses.
Diagnosis/Treatment
Be vigilant.
If you suspect your flock might be infected, immediately call your state poultry inspector and do not move your birds off your property or from their location.
Testing will be done by the state and their lab to determine if avian flu is present.
There is currently no treatment. Flocks that are diagnosed are usually culled.
It is important to know that between 2005 and 2011 only about 10% of those wild birds that were tested for avian flus came back positive.
Unfortunately, my chickens love to free-range, but until this situation subsides, I am unable to take the risk. Living on Cape Cod, we are right in the middle of the Atlantic flyway and the birds have begun to migrate for the spring.
Photo credit unless specified: Tilly’s Nest
6 thoughts on “Avian Flu in Backyard Chickens”
Well I be on the lookout. Thank you
I am out west in UT where there's been one confirmed case of avian flu here, so I will definitely be watching our girls closely and following these practices. Thanks for this article!
Oh my goodness. That is just terrible. You are very welcome for the article. I hope you and your flock remains safe. Please keep us updated with how things go in Utah.
On another note, I see Lisa ripped off your article just two days after it was posted. She really sucks. Feel free to post this or not, just wanted to offer my sympathies.
From what I have read avian flu has not really been a problem for backyard flocks and it has been a challenge to even find it among wild birds. Some outbreaks on commercial farms have been tied to feed shipments.It seems small flocks are much less vulnerable even with increased exposure to wild birds.
Yes, backyard flocks do seem to show some immunity to the avian flu but that doesn’t mean that you can throw caution to the wind. The outbreaks in the commercial factories in both chickens and turkeys (over the flyways) are not related to the feed but perhaps rodents as potential vectors. However, there have been outbreaks in the mid-west and the Pacific Northwest in backyard chickens. Recall as well from the above article that every time the virus is transferred there is a possibility of it mutating. Practicing these rules and taking precautions will potentially help to prevent backyard chickens causing a more deadly mutation of the virus that could be more contagious or even transfer to people. The last thing that we want as backyard chicken keepers is for government agencies to cull backyard flocks based upon backyard chicken owners not doing their part by acting responsibly and being educated.