Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 1765

Backyard Biosecurity 

Practices To Keep 

Your Birds Healthy

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Mention of companies or commercial products does not imply recommendation 

or endorsement by USDA over others not mentioned. USDA neither guarantees 

nor warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are 

mentioned solely to report factually on available data and to provide 

specific information.

Revised March 2015

http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov

Using Disinfectants

Cleaning and disinfecting is one of the most important parts 

of backyard biosecurity. But you need to make sure you do it 

correctly to inactivate disease.

1) Thoroughly clean and scrub items before applying 

disinfectant. Disinfectants cannot work on top of caked-on 

dirt and manure, so wash surfaces thoroughly before 

disinfecting them. 

2) Apply disinfectant using brushes, sponges, or spray units. 

Allow adequate contact time (follow the manufacturer’s 

instructions). 

3) Dispose of used disinfectant according to local regulations.

Examples of Disinfectants

For the best results, carefully follow the directions on the 

label of your disinfectant. The U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency registers pesticide products, including disinfectants. 

Approximately 100 disinfectant products are registered 

and intended for use against influenza A viruses on hard, 

non-porous surfaces. This list of disinfectants is available 

online at www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/avian.htm. 

REPORT

Sick Birds.

Don’t wait. Early detection and reporting 

can make a difference. If your birds are 

sick or dying, contact your agricultural 

extension office/agent, local veterinarian, 

local animal health diagnostic laboratory, 

or the State veterinarian. Or, call USDA 

toll free at 1-866-536-7593.

LOOK

for Signs.

Know the warning signs of bird 

diseases such as AI (or “bird flu”) 

and END, also known as virulent 

Newcastle disease.

PROTECT

Your Birds.

Restrict traffic onto your property. 

Disinfect shoes, clothing, and 

equipment. Wash hands thoroughly. 

Keep other birds and people away 

from your birds. 

You can also use:

• Household bleach: Mix three-fourths of a cup of bleach 

per gallon of water. Use it to disinfect tools, equipment, 

and hard surfaces.

• Waterless hand sanitizers (gel form or hand wipes): Be 

sure to work the cleaner all through your fingers and 

under your nails.

• Spray disinfectants: Be sure the label says the product 

kills bacteria and viruses. Use it for shoes and boots. 

Making an Easy Footbath

You will need:

1) A low plastic pan or bin, wide enough to fit an adult’s 

foot and shallow enough to step into easily.

2) A plastic doormat (the “fake grass” mats work well).

3) A disinfectant that works well for most situations, such 

as Tek-trol or One Stroke Environ.

4) Water.

Mix the disinfectant with water per the label instructions. 

Put the doormat in the plastic pan. Add the disinfectant so 

the bottom of the mat is wet. Ask visitors to walk through the 

footbath, wiping their feet on the mat. The mat scrubs their 

shoes and applies the disinfectant. When the liquid starts to 

get dirty, empty it and put in new disinfectant.

Why Be Concerned?

An outbreak of a bird disease such as avian influenza (AI) 

or exotic Newcastle disease (END) could not only harm or 

kill your birds, but also spread quickly and kill other nearby 

birds. In addition, an outbreak could seriously damage 

the domestic poultry industry and affect trade with other 

countries. The United States is the world’s largest producer 

of poultry breeding stock, the world’s largest producer and 

consumer of turkey meat, the second-largest egg producer, 

and the second-largest exporter of broiler meat. 

With so much at stake, bird owners have a responsibility 

to protect against disease. Remember, early detection 

and reporting is the most important step in eradicating 

a disease outbreak. State and Federal veterinarians want 

to know if birds are sick or dying. There is no charge for a 

disease investigation, if one is needed.

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Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before 

entering your bird area. If soap and water are not available, 

use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers with 

60-percent alcohol content. Hand sanitizers without this level of 

alcohol will not be as effective.

Keep cages clean and change food and water daily. Also, clean 

and disinfect equipment that comes in contact with 

your birds or their droppings. Make sure 

to clean off all dirt and manure before 

disinfecting, or the disinfectant won’t 

work. Properly dispose of dead birds 

by burial or incineration or take them 

to a landfill. Check on local ordinances 

for acceptable disposal methods.

3. Don’t Haul Disease Home.

Car and truck tires, poultry cages, and equipment can all 

harbor germs. If you travel to a place where other birds are 

present, or even to the feed store, be sure to clean and disinfect 

these items before returning to your property. 

If you take some of your birds to a fair or exhibition, keep those 

birds separated from the rest of your flock for at least 2 weeks 

after the event. New birds should be kept separate from your 

flock for at least 30 days. It is also best not to mix young and 

old birds or birds from different species or different sources. 

And, always buy birds from a reputable source. 

4. Don’t Borrow Disease From Your Neighbor.

Do not share birds, lawn and garden equipment, tools, or 

poultry supplies with your neighbors or other bird owners. If 

you do bring these items home, clean and disinfect them before 

they reach your property and remember to clean and disinfect 

borrowed items before returning them.

Never share items such as wood pallets or cardboard egg 

cartons because they are porous and cannot be adequately 

cleaned and disinfected. 

5. Know the Warning Signs of Infectious 

Bird Diseases.

Early detection is important to prevent the spread of disease. 

Here’s what to look for: 

• Sudden increase in bird deaths in your flock

• Sneezing, gasping for air, coughing, and nasal discharge

• Watery and green diarrhea

• Lack of energy and poor appetite

• Drop in egg production or soft- or thin-shelled, 

misshapen eggs

• Swelling around the eyes, neck, and head

• Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs 

(avian influenza)

• Tremors, drooping wings, circling, twisting 

of the head and neck, or lack of movement 

(exotic Newcastle disease) 

6. Report Sick Birds.

Don’t wait. If your birds are 

sick or dying, contact your 

agricultural extension 

office/agent, local 

veterinarian, local animal 

health diagnostic laboratory, 

or the State veterinarian. 

Or, call USDA toll free at 

1-866-536-7593, and we’ll put 

you in touch with a local contact. 

There is no charge for a disease investigation, 

if one is needed.

Biosecurity Tips: 6 Ways To Protect Your Birds

1. Keep Your Distance.

Restrict access to your property and your birds. Other people 

and birds—including new birds you’ve just bought and wild 

birds—can carry diseases to your flock. 

Allow only people who take care of your birds to come into 

contact with them. Your caretakers should not attend bird 

shows or other events and places where birds are present. If 

visitors want to see your birds, be sure they wash up first and 

clean their shoes. Better yet, keep clean boots or shoe covers 

for them to wear. You also can keep a clean footbath for them 

to walk through (see “Making an Easy Footbath” 

in this brochure for instructions). If visitors 

have birds of their own, do not let them 

enter your bird area or have access 

to your birds at all. Also, avoid 

visiting farms or other households 

with poultry.

Consider fencing off the area 

where your birds are to form 

a barrier between “clean” and 

“dirty” areas. The clean area is 

the immediate area completely 

surrounding your birds. The dirty 

(or “buffer”) area is the immediate adjacent area—consider 

this area to be infected with germs, even if your birds appear 

healthy and disease-free.

Wild birds should not have contact with your flock because they 

can carry germs and diseases. If your birds are outdoors, try to 

keep them in a screened area.

2. Keep It Clean.

Germs can be picked up on shoes and clothing and moved 

from one place to another. To keep your birds “germ-free,” 

have a pair of shoes and a set of clothes to wear only around 

your birds. Or, clean and disinfect your shoes (see “Using 

Disinfectants” for more detail) and launder your clothes before 

you check on or work with your birds.

You 

are the best 

protection your birds have.

What Is Backyard Biosecurity?

Backyard biosecurity means doing 

everything you can to protect your birds 

from disease. As a bird owner, keeping 

your birds healthy is a top priority. 

Your birds can become sick or die from 

exposure to just a few unseen germs. 

In a single day, these germs can 

multiply and infect all of your birds. 

By practicing backyard biosecurity, 

you can help keep your birds healthy. 

Backyard biosecurity is similar to what we do every day 

to protect ourselves from many human infections. We use 

personal hygiene to avoid catching or spreading germs. 

We wash our hands and our dishes, stay away from people 

sick with the flu and colds, and cover our mouths and noses 

when we sneeze. Good hygiene and other common-sense 

practices are also important to prevent disease in birds. 

If you follow some basic tips and make backyard biosecurity 

part of your routine, you’ll reduce the risk of disease 

entering your flock through contaminated soil, droppings, 

and debris. Practicing backyard biosecurity is an investment 

in the health of your birds.

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