Avian influenza basics for urban and backyard poultry owners (2024)

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Avian influenza basics for noncommercial poultry flock owners

Quick facts

Avian influenza harms poultry flocks especially if it’s highly pathogenic (HPAI). Always report any signs of disease to your state agency or veterinarian. Preventing disease is the best way to keep your flock healthy.

Separate your flock from disease sources including wildlife and wild birds.
Keep your poultry area and equipment clean.
Separate new or returning birds from your flock for at least 30 days.
Don’t share equipment with neighbors.

2022-23 HPAI outbreaks

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has appeared throughout the United States in recent years. Many confirmed cases of HPAI have been detected in backyard flocks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reports cases of HPAI with details on location, type of bird and size of the flock.

HPAI is a reportable disease. If your flock has sudden, high death rates or many birds with signs of HPAI, contact your veterinarian or the Minnesota Board of Animal Health right away. Please use the Minnesota Avian Influenza Hotline at 1-833-454-0156.

See the Minnesota Board of Animal Health website for up-to-date information on HPAI detection in Minnesota.

See the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website for up-to-date information on HPAI detection in the U.S.

What is avian influenza?

Avian influenza (AI) is a disease that affects domestic poultry including:

Chickens
Turkeys
Pheasants
Quail
Ducks
Geese

Waterfowl and shorebirds are natural hosts for the avian influenza virus. These birds will shed the virus, often without showing signs of illness.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is rapidly fatal for poultry. Sudden onset of HPAI and high death rates are common among all poultry (except ducks and geese).

In chickens, HPAI signs often include respiratory (gasping) and digestive (extreme diarrhea) signs followed by rapid death. Chickens may have swelling around the head, neck, and eyes. The heads and legs may also have purple discoloration.

HPAI in your flock

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health responds to avian influenza cases.

If your flock has sudden, high death rates or many birds with signs of HPAI, contact your veterinarian or the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, at 651-296-2942, right away.

The Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory (MPTL) works with the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) to conduct and coordinate testing for AI.

You can contact the laboratories at:

Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory: 320-231-5170
University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory: 612-625-8787

Stopping the spread of HPAI

Birds are euthanized on farms confirmed with HPAI. Flocks within a 6-mile radius of a confirmed case will be tested for HPAI. These flocks will also be checked throughout the outbreak. Euthanasia will only occur on-premises with infected birds. Financial reimbursem*nt will be provided if your flock is euthanized under the Minnesota Board of Animal Health or USDA care.

Signs of illness

Detecting HPAI early is key to limiting the spread. Sadly, one of the first signs of HPAI is sudden, unexplained death. Most HPAI cases reported poultry drinking less water before unexplained death.

Egg layers may show signs of depression, have ruffled feathers, and be quieter than normal. Other signs may include purple or dry combs.
Turkeys may be quiet and depressed, lay down more than normal, and have swelling around their eyes.
Waterfowl do not always die from HPAI or show signs of illness, but they can carry the virus and spread it to other birds.

Protecting your flock from HPAI during an outbreak

You can protect your flock by being mindful and using biosecurity.

Avoid attracting wild birds to your residence.

Cover or enclose any outdoor feeding areas for poultry.
Promptly clean up any feed spills.
Avoid visiting any ponds or streams, especially with pets.
Consider reducing large puddles and standing water that may be a nice resting place for migratory birds.

Limit or halt any travel with your birds to sales, shows and swaps.

Ensure you have clean hands, clothes and footwear before handling your birds if you do attend any poultry events.
Do not allow others to handle your birds.

Limit who visits your birds at home.

If someone else must visit your birds:

Ask them about what other bird contact they have recently had.
Ask them to wash their hands and wear clean clothes and footwear.

Preventing disease

Biosecurity plans are steps flock owners must take to prevent disease in their flocks.

Poultry get HPAI from infected waterfowl (ducks and geese) and gulls. Infected poultry can spread disease to new flocks. Review your biosecurity plan often. The USDA has the following biosecurity tips.

Separate your flock from wildlife and wild birds. Use an enclosed shelter and fence outdoor areas. Smaller mesh hardware cloth can keep out wild birds and allow your flock outdoor time.
Caretakers shouldn’t have contact with other poultry or birds prior to contact with their birds. Restrict access to your poultry if your visitors have birds of their own.
Keep different species of poultry and age groups separated. These traits can make poultry more or less prone to disease.
Prevent your birds from having contact with other birds that could introduce HPAI.

Keep feeders and waterers clean and out of reach of wild birds. Clean up feed spills.
Change feeding practices if wild birds continue to be present.
Use dedicated or clean clothing and footwear when working with poultry
Clean and disinfect equipment that comes in contact with your birds such as shovels and rakes.
Clean and disinfect poultry housing and equipment often to limit contact of birds with their waste.
Evaluate your cleaning practices.

Separate new birds and returning exhibition birds from the flock for at least 30 days.
- Make sure you separate the birds well enough to keep your flock safe.
Return crates or other equipment back to the property only after you’ve cleaned and disinfected them. Make sure to clean and disinfect vehicle and trailer tires.
- Be aware of where you clean crates. Make sure the runoff can’t get to your birds.
After hunting, do not allow poultry to come in contact with your hunting clothes, footwear, equipment, dogs, or vehicle, which may be contaminated.
Follow these biosecurity steps (USDA) to best protect your flock during hunting season.

Don't share equipment or reuse materials like egg cartons from neighbors and bird owners.
Make sure you separate your birds from your neighbor’s birds.
Limit who visits your birds at home. If someone else must visit your birds:
- Ask them about what other bird contact they have recently had.
- Ask them to wash their hands and wear clean clothes and footwear.

Researchers found highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 1878. They discerned it from other poultry diseases that shared a high death rate. Current evidence suggests that HPAI changed over time. Strains before 1996 had a low risk of causing disease. Later, strains appeared more often and affected millions of chickens and other poultry.

HPAI Outbreak of 2014 – 2015

In 2014 – 2015, HPAI led to the loss of almost 50 million chickens and turkeys in North America. The outbreak began on the West Coast and moved through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. Highly pathogenic avian influenza affected only one commercial flock on the West Coast. The other cases occurred in what was considered backyard poultry flocks, which included a pheasant farm with over 5,000 birds.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza arrived in the Midwest in March 2015. It showed a different pattern of infection than it did on the U.S. West Coast. Highly pathogenic avian influenza only affected six backyard flocks in the Midwest, one each in Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. All the rest (over 180) were commercial farms.

Alexander, D.J. & Browe, I.H., (2009). History of highly pathogenic avian influenza. 28(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.28.1.1856

Lupiani, B. & Reddy, S. M. (2009). The history of avian influenza. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 32(4), 311–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2008.01.004

Authors: Wayne Martin and Abby Schuft, Extension educators; Robert Porter Jr., Extension poultry specialist; Sally Noll, Extension poultry scientist; and Carol Cardona, Extension poultry virology specialist

Reviewed in 2023

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