What to look for if your flock has Bird Flu

Firstly, Bird Flu has two forms.  Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI).  If your flock has HPAI, then you will likely have little to no warning that they are sick with the disease before mortality occurs within a day or two of infection, with some cases being so rapid that flock members are deceased the next day.  Your only early warning before mortality sets in may be that the flocks begin to look unthrifty and perhaps have respiratory symptoms with coughing, sneezing, cawing, or rattling breaths.  What is meant by unthrifty?  Flock members may be reluctant to move, can isolate themselves, may look hunched with their necks pulled into their bodies or have ruffled feathers. 

If your flock should have LPAI, then you may see and hear respiratory symptoms, like coughing, sneezing, rattling breaths or mucus discharge from the nose or mouth.  LPAI has two skills that need to be respected.  First, it is easily spread on common everyday items like shoes, tires, clothing or equipment, or even through the air over longer distances.  The same can be said of HPAI.  Second, it is capable of switching, without warning, to HPAI. 

So, what are you looking for in a flock that may have Avian Influenza?  Sudden deaths and respiratory symptoms.  Of course, this description sounds like a dozen other problems with illness in backyard flocks so it is important to establish a good working relationship with that rare one or two veterinarians within a 3–4-hour drive that will see chickens.  You are looking for a veterinarian that sees Avians so be sure to also check with exotic vet hospitals. 

You have another alternative.  Every state has at least one diagnostic laboratory.  You can work with your veterinarian to send samples to the diagnostic laboratory for an accurate diagnosis.  In some cases, you may live closer to your nearest diagnostic laboratory.  They will take sick birds and humanely euthanize them and perform diagnostic tests on these birds to determine the cause of the illness.  Or you can take the diagnostic lab a cooled but not frozen, recently deceased, bird and they can do the same testing on the bird.  Some diagnostic labs charge a small fee while others are free.

-Drs. Brigid McCrea & Ruediger Hauck | Alabama Cooperative Extension Service & Auburn University Poultry Science Department

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