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Nov
21

Backyard poultry

Backyard poultry have become increasingly popular in recent years as interest in locally produced food, including eggs, has grown. Many local municipalities allow a limited number of domestic fowl on residential properties.

Before getting a backyard flock, it is important to understand issues related to legal aspects, husbandry and health, and diseases that can be spread by poultry to people.

Notice to owners of backyard poultry (Updated May 24, 2023)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAI), A(H5N1), has been circulating since early 2022 in birds within the United States. Since May 5, 2022 when the first case of avian influenza was announced in Washington, several more counties have had infected domestic or wild birds, and several other suspect cases are being investigated.

Avian influenza can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus strains are extremely infectious and often fatal to poultry, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. Signs of infection in birds include nasal and eye discharge (may be blood-tinged), ruffled feathers, swollen combs or wattles, bluish combs/wattles/legs, tilted head, lack of coordination, depression and lethargy, and sudden death. If you experience any unexplained illness or death in your flock, call the WA State Department of Agriculture's Avian Health Program at 1-800-606-3056. If you see sick or dead wild birds, report to WA State Fish & Wildlife. The risk for human illness from HPAI H5N1 is very low, as is the risk of person-to-person transmission.

Backyard flock owners should take steps to protect their birds and prevent the spread of this virus:

  • Prevent contact between their flocks and wild birds by eliminating access to ponds or standing water on your property;
  • Keep different domestic species like ducks and geese penned separately from chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, and peacocks.
  • Limit access to their farms;
  • Do not lend or share farm tools or equipment;
  • Do not share or sell eggs from backyard flocks. While eating cooked eggs does not pose a health risk, transferring eggs off-farm could also transfer the virus.

Learn steps to take to protect your birds at the USDA's Defend the Flock website.
For updated information on the current HPAI H5N1 outbreak situation in Washington, visit WSDA's avian influenza website.

Backyard poultry husbandry

Educate yourself about poultry husbandry before getting your flock. For chickens, you will need a coop and enclosure with proper feeding and watering systems where your flock will be comfortable and safe from predators.

Keeping your flock healthy

You can greatly decrease the risk of disease entering your flock and persisting in soil, droppings and debris by following 6 basic backyard biosecurity tips.

Disease risks to people from poultry

To avoid getting infections from poultry, it is important to follow these guidelines.

Safe handling of eggs from your backyard flock

Eggs can contain harmful bacteria including Salmonella. For your protection, follow these instructions for collecting and cleaning eggs.

Food safety tips

These tips can also help prevent foodborne diseases such as infections with Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli.

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