If you are a backyard 

or pet bird owner, 

you know your birds 

depend on you to 

keep them healthy. 

There are some 

basic practices you 

can follow to prevent 

poultry disease.

More >

1) Keep Your Distance.

Restrict access to your property and your birds. 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.

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 where birds are present. If visitors to your property 

want to see your birds, be sure they wash up first and clean their shoes. Better yet, keep clean boots 

or shoe covers for visitors to wear. If your visitors have birds of their own, do not let them enter 

your bird area or have access to your birds.

Game birds and migratory waterfowl 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.

Since germs can be picked up on shoes and clothing, moved from one area to another, and can 

potentially make your birds sick, you need to protect your birds’ home by keeping it clean.

To keep your birds “germ-free,” have a pair of shoes and a set of clothes to wear only around your 

birds. Many people store these clean clothes in a covered pail at the entrance to their bird area. Or, 

clean and disinfect your shoes and launder your clothes before you check on or work with your birds.

Scrubbing your shoes with a long-handled scrub brush and disinfectant will remove droppings, mud, or 

debris. Wash your clothes with laundry detergent. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water 

before entering your bird area.

Keep cages clean and change food and water daily. Clean and disinfect equipment that comes in 

contact with your birds or their droppings. That includes tools such as feed scoops, shovels, rakes, and 

brooms. All manure must be removed before disinfectant can work, so clean surfaces with soap and 

water first. 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 location 

where other birds are present, or even to the feed store, be sure to clean and disinfect these items 

before you return to your property.

Biosecurity Tips:

6 WAYS TO PREVENT POULTRY DISEASE

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2140-1
APHIS Factsheet | Veterinary Services | Issued July 2013 | Reprinted April 2016

Biosecurity Tips: 6 Ways To Prevent Poultry Disease – Continued

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Media representatives 

may contact:

Public Affairs

USDA Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS) 

(301) 851-4100

Taking some of your birds to a fair or exhibition? Keep those birds separated from the rest of your 

flock and watch them for at least 2 weeks after the event to ensure that they didn’t pick up a disease. 

New birds should be kept separate from your flock for at least 30 days before putting them with 

the rest of your birds. To prevent disease, it is best not to mix young and old birds or birds from 

different species or different sources.

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 equipment, tools, or supplies 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 wooden 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.

Many bird diseases can be difficult to diagnose. The list below includes some of the things to look 

for that signal something might be wrong with your birds. Early detection of signs is very important 

to prevent the spread of disease.

• 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, combs, 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.

Do not wait to report unusual signs of disease or unexpected deaths among your birds. Call 

your agricultural extension agent, local veterinarian, the State veterinarian, or U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services office.

USDA operates a toll-free hotline (1-866-536-7593) with veterinarians to help you. USDA wants 

to test sick birds to make sure they do not have a serious poultry disease. There is no charge for 

USDA veterinarians to work with you to conduct a disease investigation. Early reporting is important to protect the health of your birds.

Call 1-866-536-7593 (toll-free) to report sick birds!