Backyard hen and small flock owners are reminded that the Backyard Hen By-Law requires owners to register all hens with the Chicken Farmers of Ontario Small Flock Policy through their Family Food Program.
Registering will ensure that small flock growers receive disease notices and guidance to protect their flock. The Family Food Program website also offers bird health and disease management guidance.
Due to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) detected in wild waterfowl in Prince Edward County, owners of backyard flocks — no matter what the size or species — as well as commercial poultry producers should exercise extreme caution and invoke heightened biosecurity measures such as:
- Keep poultry away from areas frequented by wild birds and wild bird droppings.
- Maintain strict control over access to poultry houses and your premises.
- Make sure equipment is cleaned and disinfected before taking it into poultry houses.
- Do not keep bird feeders or create duck ponds close to poultry houses.
- Maintain the highest sanitation standards.
- Change footwear and prevent wearing contaminated clothing when entering the poultry house.
In addition to regular biosecurity measures, the following heightened biosecurity standards should now be applied:
- Control access to your farm site by communicating the situation to all essential visitors, including service providers, input suppliers, and feed providers.
- Keep mortalities in secure, covered containers until they are moved to the disposal area or transported off-farm.
- Place waste entering the public collection system in a sealed, waterproof bag with the exterior disinfected.
- If possible, keep all waste on-farm until the situation is resolved.
Avian influenza viruses, such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, can, on rare occasions, cause disease in humans. Transmission to humans has occurred when people have had close contact with infected birds or heavily contaminated environments.
Due to the potential for human infection, it is recommended that people working with poultry suspected of being infected with avian influenza, or in contact with such poultry, wear protective clothing. This includes face masks, goggles, gloves and boots. If you become ill with influenza symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat) within 10 days after handling wild birds or other wildlife, see your health-care provider. Inform your health-care provider that you have been in contact with wildlife.
Visit the CWHC website to learn more about avian influenza. Suspected instances of avian flu can be reported to the Ontario Regional Centre of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative 1.866.673.4781.
For more information, contact the County of Prince Edward at 613.476.2148 extension 1023, 613.962.9108 extension 1023 or info@pecounty.on.ca.