Biosecurity and Keeping Your Flock Safe

This weekend I set up selling my children’s book at the Ellis County Poultry Trade Days and it got me thinking about biosecurity and keeping your flock safe. 

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What is biosecurity?

Merriam-Webster’s definition is security from exposure to harmful biological agents. 

The World Health Organization defines biosecurity as the strategic and integrated approach to analyzing and managing relevant risks to human, animal, and plant life and health and associated risks for the environment.

But how does that apply to your flock? 

Basically, it’s any precautions or steps you take to ensure your flock or livestock are safe from harmful organisms, viruses, or bacteria.  

To keep your flock safe, it’s important to know how diseases transfer. 

How do diseases transfer?

• Direct from animal to animal by coughing, sneezing, drinking, or through poop. 
• Indirect from hands, clothing, flies, feet, or shoes.
• From mother to unborn chick. When a sick hen lays an egg, she can pass the illness on to the embryo. Once born, the chick can expose the rest of the flock. 

Biosecurity and how to keep your flock safe

When adding new birds to your flock, it’s important to quarantine them for three weeks to a month. I heard lots of people this weekend that were just going to put their birds right in with their current flock. Lots of problems can come from this. You will probably see more pecking injuries plus you risk bringing illness into your existing flock. The poultry show did require all birds to be PT tested (pullorum-typhoid) but there are other illnesses and diseases to watch for. 

You also want to buy from a reliable source when adding birds to your flock. It was so nice to see so many great vendors at the show. 

Once home, it’s a good idea to tend to your original flock first, then the new ones. This way you aren’t transferring anything the new birds may have to your existing flock. Keep feeders and waterers separate. 

Wear designated shoes when working with your flock or livestock. When I first got my chicken shoes, I wore them everywhere! Walmart, Tractor Supply, the park. You name it. I was showing off my shoes. Then I realized, I could pick up bacteria on the bottom of my shoes and transfer it to the coop. So now, I only wear them at home and I take them off at the back door when coming in from outside. 

At the poultry show, I wore my cowboy boots. I never wear those in the coop! 

Wash your hands before going out to take care of your chickens and when you come back in. It’s probably rare that you would transfer an illness this way, but why risk it. 

Keep visitors to a minimum especially if they have chickens. You could offer disposable booties to wear or I’ve seen some people set up a washtub for shoes. Having extra shoes or boots that stay at your house that visitors can borrow, like Crocs, is a good option too. They are easy to clean and you don’t have to be wearing the exact shoe size. 

Don’t borrow equipment from other chicken tenders. It’s so tempting to do this especially if it’s something you only need to use one time. However, unless you wash and sanitize properly, you are putting your flock at risk. 

Don’t visit other flocks especially if they have sick birds. It’s hard not to help a fellow chicken momma out, especially when you could offer help or give advice. If you do, use precautions. 

We have an elementary school that does a yearly coop tour as a fundraiser. The school has a coop with about 10 chickens and a garden that the students take care of. I love attending but once I get home, I change my clothes and shoes plus wash my hands thoroughly, sometimes I even shower. 

Control rodent population. Mice and rats can carry diseases and pass them on to your chickens. Pick up any feed or leftover treats at night to help deter rodents in your coop or run. 

Try to keep wild birds away from your flock. This is impossible for us since we free-range but just be aware they carry mites, lice, avian flu, and other diseases. 

Beetles also carry disease. I started using First Saturday Lime as an insect repellent and love it. 

Have you considered your car or vehicle? Think about the gas station or grocery store. Our local Walmart has a huge bird problem and there is poop everywhere. You could pick up infectious poop on your tires or shoes. 

Most illnesses will present within 3 weeks. Set up a first aid kit. It’s nice to have supplies on hand in an emergency. Also, consider where you would keep a sick bird. We set up a sickbay in our bathroom. That way I can check on the girls frequently.  If you think you have a sick chicken and your flock is the same breed, put a leg band on the bird that’s sick so you can monitor her behavior.

You are the first line of defense in disease management and your birds are counting on you. Just putting a few of these ideas in place, could help stop the spread of disease and keep your birds healthy. If you are raising poultry or eggs to sell, you probably already thought about biosecurity and keeping your flock safe. If you have some biosecurity procedures in place, please let me know. I’d love to hear about them.