Keeping the Birds Safe: Avian Influenza Update

12 million domesticated farmed birds have been killed over the last two months as a strain of avian flu (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza—HPAI) spreads across the United States, following wild bird migratory patterns; as well as likely being spread by large-scale transport and shipping routes that animal agriculture corporates use to move billions of birds from hatching facilities to stores and farms, and from hatching facilities directly to feeding operations and then to slaughterhouses.  

This is an extremely virulent virus that is nearly 100% fatal for domestic chickens and turkeys if they catch it. When a bird tests positive and that test is reported to the state, every bird on that same property will be killed. Those 12 million birds didn’t die in large part from HPAI but because they were killed as part of mass culls to prevent the spread of the flu from agriculture facility to agriculture facility. These mass “depopulation” killings are horrific and brutal and there are no humane slaughter protections for birds. 

HPAI is spread through direct and indirect contact including shared water and the spread of feces. It is very contagious among flocks or any birds that share a space and water – including spaces that have wild and farmed birds who share a pond or outdoor space. 

This is very scary—we have 250 birds to protect here at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. In February we realized that HPAI was likely on its way to Upstate NY after there was a case in a small flock on Long Island. The Sanctuary is home to a large wild bird population and we are also a stopping point for Canadian Geese on their way north this time of year; so the risk of transmission from wild birds carrying HIPA to our birds and then our birds to each other is very high. After consulting with some other sanctuaries who have experience with biosecurity protocols like Farm Sanctuary and also the great animal care resource The Open Sanctuary Project, we instituted what is essentially a bird lockdown.  

Cher outdoors in her pasture in 2021.

All 250 of our bird residents are being kept inside coops, barns, or other buildings until the HIPA risk passes (likely in 1-2 months when it is consistently warm). We reinforced buildings so that wild birds couldn’t come in and mingle with the chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, and turkeys in our care and installed new fans and lights to keep the areas cool and to mimic the sunshine. Caregivers are changing protective footwear between each coop so that they don’t track any fluids between bird areas, and they put on full body protective suits when they hold birds for treatments or are spending time with them. As all the birds are inside, we are also doing extra enrichment for them to try to keep them as happy and healthy as possible even though it’s so hard to not be able to let them out to enjoy the spring. We are adding perches, toys, pools, and dust baths and just hoping that it’s enough for them for the time being. We are also cleaning the coops, barns, and buildings where they are held often which also creates more work for our team. But there is no other option but to do our absolute best to keep the birds in our care safe. We have spent over $12,000 so far to implement these new protocols and our guess is that it’ll be over $20,000 by the time it’s finally safe to let the birds out into the sun. 

And very sadly we are limiting our rescuing right now – we are unable to take in new birds due to the risk, and unable to take in other animals because all of our quarantine spaces are full of birds. It is always hard to turn away animals in need because often there is nowhere else safe for them to go. It is incredibly brutal on our hearts to do this and we hope the threat of HPAI lifts soon for the sakes of all those who need to be rescued from dangerous situations as well.  

Meanwhile though, as we and other rescues and sanctuaries struggle to protect the birds in our care, animal agriculture corporations continue to breed, exploit, and transport the birds who are vulnerable to HPAI. When you look at the media around this virus, everyone is blaming the wild bird migratory patterns for the spreading and contagion. However, far more birds are shipped by animal agriculture than migrate. In fact billions of birds are shipped for short and long distances in this country every year – and these are the birds most vulnerable to HPAI. It’s highly likely that a major cause of the spread of HPAI is shipping birds who are sick from facility to facility, state to state.  

While millions are culled in mass death events at large industrial farms, ducklings, poults (baby turkeys), and chicks from the same hatcheries are shipped to ag stores like Tractor Supplies and are being sold right now in giant display cases. There are no warnings to people who are purchasing these babies that HPAI is a threat and if they buy babies they should keep them away from other birds and inside or otherwise protected. There is no concern about protecting birds at all.  

And those farms that are killing the millions of birds at once? They are all insured. So, they lose no money through that horrific loss of life and mass killing. As usual, the birds are the victims at every end and every turn.  

Yulie enjoying the summer sun in 2020.

Here at the Sanctuary, we are waiting it out and determined to keep our amazing bird residents safe. We are here also to help any rescues or sanctuaries who need guidance and resources to keep their birds safe. Please reach out if you need help. 

Please know that Cher, Yulie, Clyde, Kermit, and all their flocks here are safe and loved and we wish that was true of all farmed birds everywhere.