Ask SAM: Monitor chickens for flu symptoms

This column is provided by Larimer County Extension's Small Acreage Management (SAM) Program to assist rural residents.

Dear SAM,

I hear a lot about the problems with bird flu in chickens in Asia. Do I need to get rid of my backyard chicken flock?

John C.

Dear John,

You don't need to sharpen the hatchet just yet.

The H5N1 avian influenza virus making headlines has been detected primarily in Asia, Russia and Eastern Europe. This virus has been detected in poultry and other bird species, including wild waterfowl. The presence of the virus in migratory birds could hasten spread of the virus to other parts of the world, including North America. Waterfowl are the migratory birds of greatest concern, since this group of birds acts as a reservoir, or carrier, of avian influenza viruses.

The H5N1 virus made headlines because it began to infect humans. Culture could help to explain the incidence of H5N1 virus in humans in Asian countries. Many Asians have closer contact with live and freshly killed birds than we have in the United States. It is common for ducks and chickens to wander freely in homes. Poultry are often sold live at Asian markets and butchered by the consumer. This increases the chance that a person comes into contact with a strain of the H5N1 virus that can infect humans.

No cases of H5N1 infected poultry have been reported in the United States or any other part of North America. The poultry industry has taken measures to protect commercial flocks. Most states, including Colorado, have established avian influenza surveillance programs. Our program in Colorado conducts avian influenza surveillance in backyard flocks throughout the state and is expanding surveillance efforts to include wild birds.

Live poultry are not legally imported into the United States, so the risk of buying infected chicks or chickens for your backyard flock is extremely low. A more likely pathway for bird flu to enter a backyard flock is through contact with an infected wild bird or an infected, illegally imported bird.

Housing your chickens to prevent contact with wild birds or their feces is a recommended security practice. Place a solid roof over outside runs and minimize free-range grazing, especially in areas where wild ducks and geese congregate. In addition, make sure the birds you add to your flock come from a reputable source and quarantine all new birds for a minimum of seven to 10 days.

If your birds show flu-like symptoms such as coughing, lethargy or sudden death, contact the Larimer County Extension Office at 498-6000. The Extension Office will work with the CSU Veterinary School to have your bird tested for disease. This monitoring program helps officials to understand what diseases are present and where the diseases are moving.

So far, the virus does not spread easily from human to human. The potential for human-to-human transmission is what concerns public health officials, as a worldwide pandemic could result.

If flu pandemic does develop, you will probably be more concerned about catching the virus from your neighbor than from your chickens. But you won't be allowed to use your hatchet on your neighbor.

SAM

Have a question about rural living? Write to Ask SAM, Larimer County Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 543, Fort Collins, CO 80522.