Poultry health, diseases and prevention
Maintaining good biosecurity practices will help protect your birds’ health and welfare, your family’s health, and the broader agriculture industry against diseases. There are legal requirements under Victoria’s animal welfare, food safety, and livestock disease legislation that all poultry owners, including hobby farmers and pet owners, need to follow.
What is biosecurity?
Biosecurity is the procedures or measures in place designed to protect a population against disease. It ranges from simple practices such as handwashing to more stringent processes such as showering on and off a property and changing into dedicated clothing before handling animals. It also includes vaccination programs.
Important practices on your property include:
- Regularly cleaning and disinfecting the chicken coop, feeders, drinkers and equipment
- Preventing contact between your flock and wild birds
- Having an effective rodent control program
- Ensuring your birds drink the same high-quality water as you
- Keeping records of where you bought birds from, their vaccination history, and where you have given eggs or birds away
- Consulting a veterinarian to check on the health of your birds especially if any appear sick.
Find more information about biosecurity and poultry:
- Biosecurity for poultry producers
- Selling and sharing backyard eggs
- Quarantine advice when introducing new birds
- Caring for your health when handling poultry and eggs
Know what to look for
While outbreaks of avian influenza, Newcastle disease, Salmonella Enteritidis and other bird-related diseases are uncommon in Victoria, it is important to be aware of their signs. Early detection and reporting may help to prevent a large-scale outbreak.
Signs of a sick bird include:
- ruffled feathers
- unusual head or neck posture
- inability to walk or stand
- loss of appetite and reluctance to drink
- droopy appearance
- swollen head, wattles, or comb
- sharp drop in egg production
- breathing difficulties
- diarrhoea
- sudden death.
Find detailed information about specific poultry diseases:
What do I do if I suspect my birds are unwell?
Poultry farmers and backyard poultry owners are urged to immediately report unexplained large or unusual numbers of dead or sick birds or very sharp drops in egg production to their veterinarian, to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, or to the local Agriculture Victoria animal health officer.
How to ensure your birds welfare
Poultry are included in the Victoria’s animal welfare legislation. This means that if you own, manage or care for poultry, you have legal responsibilities in relation to its welfare. Keep in mind that birds kept in good welfare conditions are more productive.
Responsibilities include:
- Providing a well-balanced diet and ready access to water.
- Providing a spacious, weatherproof coop, so the birds can be protected from weather extremes and predators.
- Isolating any sick bird/s from the others and seeking veterinary advice in a timely manner.
Find more information on the Agriculture Victoria website: