United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 1765

Backyard Biosecurity

Practices To Keep

Your Birds Healthy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of

race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons

with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,

etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202)

720–2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director,

Office of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or

call (202)720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal

opportunity provider and employer.

Issued May 2004

www.aphis.usda.gov/vs

Disinfectants 

Cleaning and disinfecting is one of the most important

steps you can take in practicing backyard biosecurity.

Below are some examples of disinfectants available on the

market. Follow the directions on the label carefully for the

best results.

• Thoroughly clean and scrub objects before applying

disinfectants. Disinfectants cannot work on top of

caked-on dirt and manure, so thoroughly wash surfaces before disinfecting.

• Apply disinfectants using brushes, sponges and spray

units. Allow adequate contact time (follow manufacturer’s instructions.)

• Dispose of used disinfectant according to local regulations.

Examples of Disinfectants

• Roccal®: Mix 1/2 fluid oz of Roccal per gallon of water.

• Nolvasan® (chlorhexidine diacetate 2 percent): Mix

3 fluid oz of Nolvasan per gallon of water.

• Household bleach (sodium hypochlorite 6 percent):

Mix 3/4 cup of household bleach per gallon of water.

• Lysol® spray for footwear

• Purell® hand pump for hand disinfection

REPORT

Sick Birds.

Don’t wait—early detection and

reporting can make a difference. If

your birds are sick or dying, call

the USDA Veterinary Services office

at 1–866–536–7593 or your State

Veterinarian or local cooperative

extension office to find out why.

LOOK

for Signs.

Watch for signs of disease 

or unexpected deaths among 

your birds.

PRACTICE

Backyard Biosecurity.

Restrict traffic onto and off your

property. Disinfect shoes, clothes,

and hands to prevent the potential

spread of disease. You are the

best protection your birds have. 

Note: Trade names used in this publication do not constitute an endorsement, guarantee, or warranty of these

products. USDA bears no responsibility resulting from

the use of the described products. These procedures are

not guaranteed to prevent highly contagious diseases

from affecting your birds; however, they will reduce the

risks.

Why Be Concerned?

• Not only could an outbreak of a bird disease such as

exotic Newcastle disease or highly pathogenic avian

influenza harm or kill your birds, it could spread quickly and kill other nearby birds.

• Early detection and reporting is the most important

step in eradicating a disease outbreak. Don’t be afraid

of “crying wolf.” State and Federal veterinarians want

to hear about sick and dying birds.

• There is no charge for USDA veterinarians to work

with you to conduct a disease investigation.
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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 bacteria, viruses,

or parasites. In a single day, these germs can

multiply and infect all your birds. However, by

practicing backyard biosecurity, you can keep

your birds healthy.

If you follow these basic tips and make them

part of your routine, you decrease the risk of

disease entering your flock and persisting in

soil, droppings, and debris. Practicing biosecurity is an investment in the health of your birds.

Keep cages, food, and water clean on a daily basis.

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.

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.

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.

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 wooden pallets or cardboard

egg cartons because they are porous and cannot be adequately cleaned and disinfected.

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 (AI)

• Tremors, drooping wings, circling, twisting of the head

and neck, or lack of movement (END)

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 protecting the health of your birds!

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

Biosecurity Tips: 6 Ways To Prevent Poultry Disease

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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 surrounding your birds, and the dirty or

buffer area must be considered to be infected with germs,

even if the 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 for visitors to wear. If

your visitors have birds of their own,

do not let them near your birds at all.

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.

Keep It Clean. 

You wouldn’t think of tracking dirt and disease into your

house, where it could infect your family. Don’t do that to

your birds either! Germs can be picked up on shoes and

clothing and moved from one area to another. To keep

your birds “germ-free,” keep a pair of shoes and a set of

clothes to wear only around your birds. Many people

keep 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 (see section on disinfectants) will

remove droppings, mud, or debris. Clothes should be

washed in a washing machine with laundry detergent.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap, water, and a

disinfectant before entering your bird area.