Be ready for bird flu with good biosecurity
Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease that affects wild and domestic birds and poultry. If you own birds, you can help keep them safe from diseases by implementing good biosecurity practices.
Being ready now will give you the best chance of protecting your birds from bird flu.
About bird flu
High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) – more commonly known as bird flu – is a viral disease of birds. It can make birds very sick, and often causes death.
There are many strains of avian influenza, but one of the strains we are concerned about is known as H5N1 2.3.4.4b. This strain has adapted to a wide range of birds and other wildlife, meaning it can spread quickly and over long distances. This strain has caused the deaths of millions of birds overseas, affecting wild birds as well as domesticated birds such as poultry and birds kept as pets. In rare cases, people and other mammals have also become infected with bird flu.
The H5N1 strain can infect a much broader range of birds and spread across a larger geographical range than previous strains have. This means it could spread to New Zealand with migrating wild birds and, once here, spread through bird movements to other parts of the country.
If HPAI H5N1 arrives in New Zealand, backyard chickens, ducks, turkeys and other poultry, pet birds and commercially farmed birds could catch bird flu from infected wild birds. Free-range birds and birds with access to the outdoors will be at greater risk because they are more likely to come into contact with infected wild birds.
A different strain of bird flu, H7N6, was detected in chickens at an Otago egg farm in December 2024. This strain is likely to have developed from interactions with local waterfowl and birds.
The H7N6 strain is not a wildlife adapted strain like HN51, so is unlikely to be transmitted to mammals.
A strain of bird flu (H7N6) in Otago
How bird flu spreads
Bird flu spreads quickly by direct, bird to-bird contact as well as indirectly through bird contact with feed, water, clothing, equipment, materials and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus.
Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and faeces (droppings). Droppings from a single bird can contain enough virus to infect thousands of birds.
Bird flu is very infectious – once one bird in a flock is infected, it can spread through the flock within days.
Signs of bird flu
Detecting bird flu early is important to limit its spread. Unfortunately, one of the first signs of bird flu is sudden, unexplained death in several birds.
If you see signs of bird flu in multiple birds in your flock, consult your veterinarian first to rule out more common diseases. Wait for your veterinarian's instructions before handling any sick or dead birds.
Signs of bird flu in chickens and other poultry
- Lack of energy/reluctance to move.
- Eating less than normal.
- Droopy head.
- Darkened and/or swollen comb/wattle.
- Coughing, panting and runny nostrils.
- Swelling around the head and neck.
- Laying fewer eggs than normal.
- Watery or green diarrhoea.
- Bruises on body and legs.
- A silent hen house.
Signs of bird flu in water birds like ducks
The signs are similar to chickens but can be less severe and take longer to appear.
- Weak neck and lack of co-ordination.
- Blindness.
How to protect your birds
The best way to keep your birds safe is to prevent them having contact with infected birds or contaminated materials and environments.
Keep your birds away from wild and sick birds
- Make enclosures bird proof by repairing or blocking holes.
- Keep your birds away from open ponds, lakes, creeks, or other water used by wild birds.
- Keep new birds in a separate area away from other birds (quarantine) for 14 days. Ensure they are healthy before introducing to your flock.
- Keep pet birds such as budgies, cockatiels, parrots, finches, and doves inside, or undercover and separate from wild birds.
Maintain good hygiene
- Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling birds.
- Keep bird housing, bedding, and equipment clean.
- Don't share equipment with other bird owners – including egg cartons and other storage materials.
- Clean your footwear and wash clothing regularly. Avoid using the same clothing and footwear around your birds if you have visited other flocks or events such as shows.
- Use pest control to control rats and mice, which can carry diseases on their feet and fur.
Keep feed and water free of contamination
- Use fencing or netting to keep wild birds away from your bird’s feed and water.
- Buy birds, litter, and feed from accredited sources.
- Make sure the water you use doesn’t come from sources that wild birds frequent or could contaminate. Treated (chlorinated) mains water and bore water that has been tested are less likely to be contaminated.
Other things you can do to protect your flock
- Avoid visiting any ponds or streams, especially with pets.
- Consider reducing large puddles and standing water on your property that may attract wild birds.
- Avoid letting other people handle your birds. If someone else must handle or visit your birds, they should wash their hands and wear clean clothes and footwear.
- If you can, keep different species of poultry and poultry of different age groups separated. These traits can make poultry more susceptible to disease.
Attending bird shows
If you attend bird shows, agricultural shows or other events where birds are present, maintain good hygiene. Additional steps you can take include:
- Do not take any birds to a show if there are signs of illness in your flock.
- All bird equipment and permanent carrying containers should be cleaned and disinfected before and after a show.
- At the show, avoid handling birds other than your own, if possible.
- When returning home, show birds should be kept separate (quarantined) from your other birds for 14 days before being reintroduced to the home flock.
- Keep a register of all bird movements on and off your property.
Protecting yourself and other animals
Since 2020, more than 60 mammal species have become infected, generally after eating infected wild birds or being in very close proximity with them. Some species experience mild symptoms and recover with supportive care, but for other species, it can be deadly.
Avian influenza viruses are zoonotic, which means the viruses may occasionally infect humans through direct or indirect contact.
Protect yourself and other animals by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling birds. Do not touch sick or dead birds.
Chicken and eggs remain safe to eat
Bird flu viruses including H5N1 are destroyed by heating. This means that even if we had an outbreak of bird flu in New Zealand, thoroughly cooked eggs and poultry meat would remain safe to eat.
Eggs should be cooked until the white is completely firm and the yolk begins to thicken.
Chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of:
- 75°C for at least 30 seconds, or
- 70°C for 3 minutes, or
- 65°C for 15 minutes.
If you see anything of concern in your animals or anything else out of the ordinary contact your veterinarian.
