Biosecurity for poultry producers

Keep your poultry safe from disease

Protecting poultry from disease is vital for bird welfare and farm success.

Diseases like avian influenza or Salmonella Enteritidis can spread quickly and cause serious problems.

In parts of Victoria, large poultry farms are situated near one another or alongside backyard poultry. The chance of disease spreading between flocks is higher when birds are located close together.

Biosecurity is a shared responsibility. Government and industry must work together to protect poultry health and support safe food production.

These resources  help poultry producers develop biosecurity plans:

If you’re a contract poultry grower, you must follow your company’s biosecurity protocols. Work closely with the company veterinarian and service person to apply these protocols on your farm.

Every farm must have a risk assessment. This helps identify where disease risks may occur during daily operations.

Use a farm-specific biosecurity plan

A biosecurity plan is the best way to protect your flock. It helps reduce the chance of diseases like avian influenza, Newcastle disease and Salmonella Enteritidis entering your farm.

How diseases can spread between poultry flocks

Diseases can spread through many ways, including:

  • contaminated equipment and vehicles that move between farms
  • contaminated clothing and footwear worn by workers or visitors
  • infected animals, including wild birds, insects, rodents and pets
  • contaminated air, such as dust particles from nearby farms or markets
  • gardens that use untreated poultry manure as fertiliser
  • contaminated water from dams or creeks used for drinking or cooling.

Biosecurity practices that can protect your flock

Biosecurity helps stop diseases from entering and spreading through your poultry flock. Every producer must follow biosecurity procedures to keep birds  healthy and reduce the risk of disease.

1. Limit visitors to your farm

People can carry disease-causing microorganisms on their clothes, shoes, skin, and hair. To reduce the chance of this occurring, you should:

  • fence bird areas and put up signs on gates to restrict entry
  • allow only essential visitors
  • provide boots, coveralls, and headgear for essential visitors
  • ask visitors to wash or sanitise hands before and after entry
  • use footbaths with  fresh disinfectant each poultry house
  • direct traffic from younger to older birds, and from healthy to sick birds
  • educate staff  and your local community about biosecurity
  • keep a logbook of all visitors to your farm.

2. Avoid visiting other poultry farms including backyard flocks

To reduce the chance of spreading disease between farms or backyard flocks:

  • avoid visiting other poultry areas unless necessary
  • shower and wear clean protective clothing including before entering and leaving
  • wash and sanitise vehicles and equipment before entering
  • after visiting a poultry area, clean and disinfect all clothing, shower, and change into clean clothes
  • wash and sanitise vehicles and equipment again before re-entry.

3. Keep pets out of poultry houses

Pets such as dogs, cats and other animals can be carriers of poultry disease causing organisms.  Do not allow pets inside  poultry houses.

4. Control rodents and insects

Rats, mice and insects like flies and  beetles can  spread disease. Use traps and approved chemicals to reduce pests.

Ask your company or a licensed  pest controller for advice.

5. Avoid contact with other birds, including pet and wild birds

Other birds including pet and wild birds can carry diseases that threaten your flock. You must take steps to reduce contact and keep your birds safe. To reduce risk:

  • avoid contact with all other bird types
  • do not allow farm employees to keep poultry or pet birds at home
  • inform neighbours with pet birds or backyard flocks to report sick birds to a vet
  • secure poultry houses and ranges to stop wild birds accessing feeders and drinkers and to stop them having contact with your own birds
  • ensure water is adequately sanitised, especially if sourcing water from nearby dams or creeks that waterfowl use.
  • Regularly clean in and around poultry houses to prevent wild bird droppings from being carried inside

6. Deterring wild birds on your property

It is illegal to destroy or disturb native wildlife including wild birds, without a permit.

If you see wildlife crime, report it to Crime Stoppers Victoria:

You can make your property or premises less attractive to wild birds by using:

  • bird deterrents such as scarecrows
  • spike strips to stop perching
  • foils or streamers around sheds and buildings (narrow strips of material used for decoration)

Keep your bird housing and other sheds well maintained to prevent wild birds nesting or roosting by:

  • repairing any holes or gaps to stop wild birds getting in
  • fixing leaks to stop contaminated water getting in
  • fixing blocked drains or downpipes to stop contaminated water getting in
  • removing moss from the roof – it attracts wild birds

If bedding (such as straw and shavings) is stored outside they must be covered. Unwrap the bedding before you take it inside the bird house – only take clean bedding inside.

Regularly change the times you feed your birds. Wild birds can learn when poultry and other captive birds are fed and gather in the area. Keep feed and water inside the poultry house and avoid feeding poultry outside.

Talk to your neighbours about the need to remain vigilant for signs of disease in flocks.

7. Keep areas in and around poultry houses and feed bins clean

Clean areas around poultry sheds help reduce pests and disease.  Rats, mice, insects and wild birds are attracted to clutter and spilled feed.

To reduce risk:

  • cut grass and weeds around poultry houses
  • remove old equipment and rubbish that provide shelter for pests
  • clean up spilled feed around bins to avoid attracting wild birds, rodents and insects
  • regularly clean and disinfect poultry houses, feeders, drinkers and equipment.

8. Collect and dispose of dead birds promptly

Dead birds must be removed every day and disposed of using approved methods.  Leaving carcasses inside sheds increases the risk of disease spreading through rodents, insects or direct contact.

To reduce risk:

  • collect dead birds at least daily
  • dispose of carcasses promptly using approved method
  • never stockpile mortality inside poultry houses
  • report unusual deaths or health issues immediately.

What to do if you see dead wild birds

There is a risk of H5 bird flu arriving in Australia. We ask the community to be extra careful if they see sick or dead wild birds.

To help detect H5 bird flu early:

  • Avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds and their environment
  • Record what you see
  • Report to DEECA using the online form or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888
    • Report clusters of 5 or more sick or dead wild birds of any species
    • Even one sick or dead penguin, pelican, bird of prey (hawk, owl, eagle), black swan or marine mammal (seal, sea lion, dolphin)

DEECA will assess the need for testing and further investigation. We understand this may be distressing and thank the community for their support.

Advice may change if H5 bird flu is detected in Australia.

For updates and more information visit Avian influenza (bird flu).

For more information about poultry diseases:

Page last updated: 17 Oct 2025