Avian influenza information for backyard poultry owners
Current situation
Last updated 19 November
Agriculture Victoria continues to respond to the detection of avian influenza at 8 poultry farms.
Avian influenza is a viral disease of birds found globally. Virus strains are described as low pathogenicity (LPAI) or high pathogenicity (HPAI). Seven properties close to Meredith were infected with a high-pathogenicity strain of avian influenza called H7N3. A property near Terang was infected with a different high-pathogenicity strain called H7N9.
No further cases of high pathogenicity avian influenza have been detected in Victoria since 24 June.
From Tuesday, 19 November 2024 the Meredith Control Area has been significantly reduced in the north and east and trimmed in the south to remove all the town of Bannockburn.
Four impacted properties have now had their quarantine status lifted. Four infected properties remain under quarantine.
Properties that remain in the Meredith control area still require permits for moving birds, poultry products, and equipment.
Domestic poultry are no longer required to remain inside enclosures anywhere in Victoria.
Permits are not required for vehicles transporting poultry feed in the Meredith control area as long as they meet biosecurity requirements.
Agriculture Victoria is grateful for the support of communities and industry in providing information and abiding by movement controls, to help ensure an effective response.
Agriculture Victoria thanks producers and poultry owners within declared areas for their help and willingness to work alongside Agriculture Victoria to carry out testing and surveillance activities, to help demonstrate proof of freedom of the virus.
Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease that affects many bird species, including pet and farmed chickens. It can result in significant deaths on poultry farms. It is also known as bird flu or fowl plague.
Good biosecurity is the key to protecting your backyard poultry against avian influenza.
Most susceptible to avian influenza are:
- domestic poultry
- ducks
- geese
- turkeys
- guinea fowl
- quail
- pheasants
- emus
- ostriches.
Many wild birds, including waterfowl and seabirds, can carry the virus but usually show no signs of disease.
Effects on pet birds
Avian influenza in pet birds such as budgies, canaries and other caged birds has not been a notable feature of previous outbreaks in Australia.
Keeping birds under cover and separate from wild birds will help protect them from avian influenza.
Signs of avian influenza
The first sign of avian influenza may be the sudden death of some of the poultry. Other signs include:
- decreased appetite
- decreased egg production
- ruffled feathers
- decreased activity
- birds having trouble breathing
- swelling around the head
- conjunctivitis.
For more information read the Avian Influenza factsheet
Steps you need to take
All bird owners need to be vigilant for any signs of avian influenza in their flocks, especially when multiple deaths occur or many birds are unwell.
Owners of backyard poultry or free-range poultry should be especially cautious. They are more likely to be exposed to avian influenza-infected wild birds.
Avian influenza is a notifiable disease. Owners must report any unexplained sick or dead birds to the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
Protecting your birds from avian influenza
Put in place good biosecurity measures to keep wild birds from your poultry's food and water. These may include:
- keeping domesticated poultry away from open ponds, lakes, creeks or other watercourses used by wild birds
- separating poultry and their food and water from wild birds (for example, by using netting)
- making poultry enclosures wild bird and rodent-proof
- storing litter and feed securely to avoid contamination by wild birds
- practising good hygiene at all times
- ensuring facilities (such as poultry sheds and coops) provide safe and hygienic containment
- quarantining new birds or birds returning from a bird show until you are comfortable they are disease-free. This should be for at least 14 days
- purchasing poultry and birds, litter and feed from accredited sources
- not permitting visitors access to areas where poultry are kept
- using good biosecurity practices between and within properties. Clean your boots, vehicles and equipment before entering areas where poultry are kept.
Water for poultry should not come from sources that wild birds frequent. The following water sources are less likely to be contaminated:
- treated (chlorinated) mains water
- bore water that has been tested and is suitable quality for poultry. Poultry have a low tolerance to saline water.
Talk to your veterinary practitioner for more advice on biosecurity measures for your backyard poultry.
Bird swabbing procedure
When we visit your property to swab for diseases like avian influenza, you'll notice us in full protective gear – suits, gloves, face masks, and goggles.
Our job is to ensure your flock is healthy by collecting swabs from chickens' throats and cloacas (the chicken’s bottom).
These samples are sent to AgriBio, our state veterinary laboratory, where they are tested.
[Cock-a-doodle-doo!] [Upbeat, happy music plays]
Dr Jeff: When a surveillance team like Kate and myself come to visit your property, this is how we'll enter your property. So we'll have these tieback suits on, we'll have our hands gloved, we'll have a face mask on, and we'll have goggles. So I guess it becomes a novel experience having somebody visit your property looking like this.
[Chicken: Cock-a-doodle-doo!]
Dr Jeff: So what we're about to do is to enter the area where the chickens are and we'll catch them one by one and we'll take a swab from them. The two places that we take the swab from are from the trachea, which is just in the back of the throat, and also the cloaca, which is like the chicken's bottom.
Dr Kate: The swabbing of the chickens is quite a quick procedure. We essentially walk in, pick up the chicken with a handler and then someone takes a swab. Then it's up here and down the back end, and then the chicken can be replaced onto the ground and join its friends again.
Dr Jeff: So we've just collected swabs from the trachea and the cloaca of these chickens. And from here, what we'll do is we'll send these samples off. They'll go to our state veterinary laboratory at AgriBio, and they'll be tested for avian influenza. At the moment, we're at proof of freedom testing, so we're anticipating from here on in that the testing results will come back negative for avian influenza, and that's important for us to be able to show the rest of the world.
Are my eggs safe to eat?
No food safety issues have been identified. Properly cooked chicken meat and eggs are safe to eat. In the USA where dairy herds have been infected, milk and dairy products have been safe to consume.
Giving eggs to family or friends
If you are giving eggs to family and friends, please keep a record of who you are giving them to and the date. You should also:
- use new cartons if possible or keep reused cartons away from your birds
- clean your chicken coop regularly and collect eggs daily
- discard any cracked or heavily soiled eggs and clean dirt off others with a soft cloth
- keep your eggs in the refrigerator and cook them thoroughly.
Privately selling eggs
You can sell eggs for human consumption. If you do, you must comply with the Food Act 1984, the national Primary Production and Processing Standard for Eggs and Egg Product and all other obligations.
During an outbreak of avian influenza in Victoria, you must follow Agriculture Victoria's instructions on selling eggs in your region.
Keeping poultry safe at bird shows
Bird shows are a great opportunity for breeders and exhibitors to showcase breeds and compete for coveted titles. However, disease can spread because of close contact between birds and handlers from different locations.
Here are basic and effective biosecurity measures at bird shows to help prevent the spread of diseases:
- Don’t bring any birds to the show if there’s illness in the home flock.
- Clean and disinfect all bird equipment, cages and containers before and after shows.
- Judges and handlers should disinfect hands between birds where possible. Exhibitors should only handle their own birds.
- Ensure you quarantine show birds for 14 days before they’re reintroduced to the home flock.
- Keep records of bird movements to assist traceback in the event of a disease outbreak.
HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b
Since 2021, a new strain named high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4.b has spread rapidly across several continents. This new strain has never been detected in Australia but is now established in many countries worldwide. It causes mass mortalities in wild birds and poultry and in some terrestrial and marine mammal populations.
All bird species are thought to be susceptible to HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b. It has also been detected in over 50 species of mammal. In the USA it has also been detected in some dairy herds without the severe signs seen in birds. The H7 bird flu type found in Australia has not been seen in mammals.
More information
See Keeping backyard poultry for more information on keeping your chickens safe from disease and what to do if you suspect disease.