Biosecurity Resources for Poultry Growers

Posted on by MDW

Attention all session attendees: Poultry sessions during Delaware Ag Week are canceled. All attendees, regardless of whether they raise poultry, or not should implement best biosecurity practices. Please come clean. Do not wear clothing or shoes that have been in or around poultry. We will have footbaths and shoe covers for you to utilize while attending sessions. We will also have hand sanitizer and Lysol available. We are taking these additional steps to minimize risk. Currently there is an elevated level of virus in the environment; working together can prevent the spread of the HPAI by following strict biosecurity best practices.

 

Control Order Requiring Specific Handling, Transport and Storage of Poultry Litter due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (link)

The following information is provided by Georgie Cartanza, UD Poultry Extension:

BIOSECURITY BEST PRACTICES:

As a poultry grower, following strict biosecurity protocols is the best way you can take steps to protect your flock. One wild bird dropping contains enough virus to infect 1,000,000 birds. We cannot control where wild birds defecate but we can take steps to not introduce this virus into the houses. Some of the suggestions below may seem extraordinary and will pose some inconvenience. The time taken now to take these extra precautions will reduce risk of infection.

  • Have dedicated shoes for each poultry house. These shoes never step outside the Line of Separation. When walking from one house to another there is the potential for stepping in a wild bird dropping. If not using dedicated footwear by house, consider using disposable boots for each house. Use footbaths containing disinfectant. Shoewear should be free of organic material. 10 minutes of contact with disinfectant increases the effectiveness of reducing virus on the sole of the shoewear.
  •  Wash and sanitize hands between houses. I have observed wild bird droppings on poultry house doors.
  •  There should be no wild birds within the house. Make sure bird wire is secure and there are no entry points for birds and rodents to enter the facilities.
  •  Limit the movement of people and equipment as much as possible. Make sure equipment is clean and free of manure.
  •  Buckets used for mortality should not be set outside and then put back poultry house without being disinfected. Areas just under the roof line and outside the house could have wild bird droppings or viruses present.
  •  Clean bin pads so they are free of feed. Feed in or around the poultry house attracts wild birds and rodents. Both are vectors for disease/virus transmission.
  •  Proper Composting. Follow the “recipe” for composting mortality properly. Mortality should be completely covered. No wild birds or animals should have access to the composting material. If a farm is experiencing issues with wild birds or animals gaining access to compost, bird wire and a gate can be added to restrict access. For examples or more information, please contact me.
  •  For hunters who may have contact with wild birds, they should shower and wear clean clothes and footwear prior to contact with any poultry. Any items in contact with a wild bird should be cleaned and disinfected (cell phone, jacket, glasses, gloves, vehicle, inside and outside, etc.). If possible, it would be best for this individual not to enter the poultry house for 48 hours.
  •  To discourage wild birds from surrounding farm ponds/ drainage areas, Install bird deterrent devices, such as spikes, noise makers, fake predators, and chemical deterrents.
  •  Keep houses closed between flocks to reduce the chances of wild birds entering the house. Starlings, songbirds, and vultures can be carriers of avian influenza and not show disease signs.
  • Consider hanging a bird deterrent in the doorway while doors are open, here is an example:Bird-deterrent image