Biosecurity for Your Backyard Chickens

Posted by Chickens for Backyards

“Biosecurity” is not a word we throw around very often, but it’s an important concept to understand when you’re raising backyard chickens. It refers to the steps we take to protect humans and animals from infectious diseases. As we have learned from dealing with the coronavirus, viruses can easily travel from animals to humans, and vice versa. As such, you need to practice proper biosecurity measures to better protect your family and your backyard flock. 

Restrict who comes into contact with your chickens Biosecurity for Your Backyard Chickens

Diseases spread when we come into contact with other people or other animals. So, be careful with who your chickens interact with. Only allow those who regularly care for your chickens (such as friends or family members) to get close to them. Additionally, protect your flock from predators or wild birds by installing fencing and netting around your backyard. 

Keep the environment clean 

Regularly cleaning your chicken coop, tools, run, and the rest of your backyard will help to keep viruses and bacteria at bay. A clean environment will also make your chickens happier, and isn’t that what we all want when raising backyard chickens? 

And keep yourself clean 

Raising chickens can be a messy business, but you don’t want to track germs and other bacteria into your coop or your home. To protect yourself, your flock, and your family, follow these steps anytime you’re interacting with your chickens: 

  • Wash your hands before and after interacting with your flock. 
  • Wear disposable boots that you can throw out after taking care of your chickens. You can also use a disinfectant footbath if you’d prefer. 
  • Change your clothes before and after interacting with your flock. 

Keep an eye out for symptoms 

There is a chance that no matter how careful you are, one of your chickens still gets sick. During this stage, your first priority should be caring for your sick chicken and then preventing the illness from spreading throughout the rest of your flock. To do this, you need to catch it early by knowing the signs and symptoms of common bird diseases. 

Report sick birds 

Finally, if you have a sick bird on your property, report it to your veterinarian or the USDA. Knowledge of the disease can help prevent it from spreading even further. 

To learn more about proper biosecurity measures for your flock, contact Chickens for Backyards today.