√

Checklist for Cleaning and 

Disinfecting Poultry Enclosures

Keeping poultry houses, coops, and other enclosures clean is one of the best 

ways to prevent germs from spreading among poultry flocks. A thorough cleaning, 

and then applying disinfectant, takes time. But the process is vital to stop disease 

spread and keep our flocks healthy. 

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or 

cooperative extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers 

for contacts in your area. The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease 

to a single flock.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy.

Report Sick Birds

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian

Cooperative Extension Office

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Checklist:Tips To Help Keep Your Flocks Healthy

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a 

site-specific biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their 

site-specific plans follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles. 

Wear personal protective equipment or 

clothing and shoes that you only use when 

caring for your poultry. This includes boot 

covers or boots that can be disinfected. 

Change into fresh protective gear between 

poultry houses or coops.

Enclosures must be empty for a thorough 

cleaning. If you have a poultry house, wait

until the house is empty to start the cleaning 

process. If you have a coop or other type of 

enclosure, move the birds to a separate area 

before cleaning.

Remove all litter, manure, and other debris.

“Dry” clean all areas—brush, scrape, and 

shovel off manure, feathers, and other materials. 

Disinfectant will not penetrate organic matter or 

caked-on dirt.

“Wet” clean all surfaces—scrub with water 

and detergent. Work from top to bottom and 

back to front. 

Rinse all surfaces carefully with water.

Apply disinfectant according to the directions 

on the label. Be sure to use a disinfectant that is 

registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) and indicates that it is effective 

against avian influenza and other poultry diseases.

Leave the enclosure empty until it is completely 

dry. Use fans and/or open doors and windows to 

help speed the drying process. Wet surfaces can 

be harmful to poultry. 

When you’re done, remove and discard your 

protective gear. If using dedicated clothing and boots, 

change clothing and clean and disinfect your boots. 

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. 

Wash and dry your dedicated clothing.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-1 • Issued November 2018 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

√
√

Checklist for Equipment 

and Vehicles

Whether you’re part of a large commercial enterprise or keep birds as a hobby, 

you can help protect the Nation’s poultry by keeping your equipment and vehicles 

clean and germ-free. Make sure everyone who comes in contact with your flock 

knows and follows all of the procedures to avoid spreading germs and diseases. 

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or 

cooperative extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers 

for contacts in your area. The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease 

to a single flock.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy.

Report Sick Birds

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian

Cooperative Extension Office

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
√

 • 

Checklist:Tips To Help Keep Your Flocks Healthy

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a 

site-specific biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their 

site-specific plans follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles. 

Clean equipment and vehicles with soap 

and water before and after they come in 

contact with your flock. Be sure to spray the 

tires and undercarriage of vehicles, where 

contact with infectious agents is most likely. 

Germs can survive months—or even years—

in small spaces that are hard to clean.

Do not share tools, poultry supplies, 

or lawn and garden equipment with other 

flock owners or neighbors. If you must, be sure 

to clean and disinfect the items before they 

reach your property and before returning them. 

Establish procedures for cleaning and 

disinfecting equipment and vehicles.

Don’t be afraid to change these procedures 

if you see a problem or if something’s just 

not effective or practical. There’s always 

room for improvement. 

Give clear and consistent instructions to 

everyone who handles your equipment or vehicles. 

Define paths where trucks, vehicles, and other 

equipment can travel to access your poultry area. 

This will help limit the spread of germs and disease. 

Know the warning signs of poultry disease,

like changes in how much your birds eat or drink,

increased deaths in your flock, or general malaise.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-2 Issued November 2018 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
√

Checklist for Personnel 

and Visitors

Whether you’re part of a large commercial enterprise or keep birds as a hobby, 

you and everyone who cares for your flock have a role in keeping the Nation’s 

poultry healthy. To prevent the spread of disease, limit access to your birds and 

property. Everyone who comes into contact with your flock, including visitors and 

family members, should use personal protective equipment to maintain biosecurity. 

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or 

cooperative extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers 

for contacts in your area. The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease 

to a single flock.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy.

Report Sick Birds

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
• 

Checklist:Tips To Help Keep Your Flocks Healthy

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a 

site-specific biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their 

site-specific plans follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles. 

Maintain routines so that everyone who 

comes into contact with your flock follows 

the same procedures. Don’t be afraid to 

change these procedures if you see a problem 

or if something’s just not effective or practical. 

There’s always room for improvement. 

Offer regular training on biosecurity 

practices to your current employees and any 

new hires. Training increases compliance and 

helps make sure everyone follows procedures 

consistently.

Use personal protective equipment like 

washable footwear or shoe covers, gloves, 

coveralls, and hair coverings when handling 

birds. These items should be worn only while 

caring for your poultry—never elsewhere—

and be changed between bird enclosures to 

prevent disease spread. 

Give visitors and family members personal 

protective equipment to wear when they are in 

contact with your birds. 

Always ask visitors if they’ve been in contact with 

wild birds or pet birds or if they have their own poultry. 

If so, they should not go near your flock. Some avian 

disease agents can survive in a person’s nose, 

without actually infecting the person, for 2 days. 

Clean and disinfect equipment to remove feces, 

feathers, and litter. Disease agents can survive for 

months inside these organic materials, so make sure 

nothing is tracked into or out of poultry houses or pens.

Do not share tools, poultry supplies, or lawn and 

garden equipment with other flock owners or neighbors. 

If you must, be sure to clean and disinfect the items before 

they reach your property and before returning them. 

Know the warning signs of poultry disease,

like changes in how much your birds eat or drink, 

increased deaths in your flock, or general malaise.

Did you know?

Personal protective equipment stops disease spread 

in two crucial ways: 1, it covers up any germs you’re 

already carrying, and 2, it traps any new germs 

you’ve picked up so you don’t spread them to the 

next enclosure.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-3 Issued November 2018 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

√
√

Checklist To Protect Against 

Wild Birds, Rodents, and Insects

Food, water, and shelter in areas where domestic birds live are a magnet for wild birds, 

rodents, and insects. It’s crucial to protect your poultry from the germs and diseases these 

pests can carry: mites and other parasites, viruses like avian influenza, bacteria such as

Salmonella and Campylobacter, or other disease agents. Whether you’re part of a large 

commercial enterprise or keep birds as a hobby, make sure everyone with access to your 

flock follows biosecurity practices to keep these threats away. 

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or cooperative 

extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for contacts in your area. 

The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to a single flock.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy.

Report Sick Birds

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian

Cooperative Extension Office

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
 • 

Checklist:Tips To Help Keep Your Flocks Healthy

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a 

site-specific biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their 

site-specific plans follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles. 

Understand what poses a disease risk: 

it’s not just the wild birds and pests themselves. 

Feathers, nests, feces, and other organic materials can also carry disease. These items can 

come in contact with your flock through poultry 

enclosures, feed and water supplies, and even 

vehicles at your property. 

Check coops, pens, and poultry houses 

regularly for areas that allow birds to perch, 

nest, or enter. These include extended roof 

eaves, rooftop ventilation, overhead wires, torn 

screens, holes, and broken door openings. 

Concrete aprons around building walls deter 

burrowing animals.

Sweep away old nests before nesting 

season—birds will return to the same nests 

year after year.

Clean and disinfect poultry enclosures.

This includes removing soiled litter and throwing 

it away. Sick birds can easily contaminate straw 

and other bedding.

Don’t give wild birds, rodents, and insects a 

free lunch! Remove spilled or uneaten feed right

away, and make sure feed storage units are secure 

and free of holes. 

Protect your flock’s water supply. Make sure 

wild birds, rodents, and other pests can’t access it. 

And if you can, use a municipal water supply or 

treated well water so you know it’s clean.

Don’t walk through or drive trucks, tractors, 

or equipment in areas where waterfowl or other 

wildlife feces may be. If you can’t avoid this, clean 

your shoes, vehicle, and/or equipment thoroughly to 

prevent bringing disease agents back to your flock.

Know the warning signs of poultry disease,

like changes in how much your birds eat or drink, 

increased deaths in your flock, or general malaise.

Be sure to:

Find out when wild bird migration season is in your 

area. Be extra careful during this time to protect 

your flock from infectious diseases. If you find 

native wild bird nests with eggs or young in them, 

contact your cooperative extension service.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-4 Issued November 2018 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

√
Checklist for Adding 

or Replacing Poultry

Starting out with healthy poultry is the best way to keep flocks safe from disease. 

That means buying your poultry from sources that participate in the National Poultry 

Improvement Plan (NPIP, www.poultryimprovement.org). Always practice good 

biosecurity to ensure that your flocks remain healthy and free of disease. 

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or 

cooperative extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for 

contacts in your area. The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to 

a single flock.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy.

Report Sick Birds

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

√
√ Checklist:Tips To Help Keep Your Flocks Healthy

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a 

site-specific biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should make sure 

their site-specific plans follow the NPIP biosecurity principles.

Only purchase or source poultry from 

NPIP-certified breeders, hatcheries, and 

dealers. When sourcing replacement poultry, 

you can request a copy of the hatchery or 

source farm’s biosecurity protocols. 

Confirm that the poultry you purchase

tested clean for the same diseases your

current flock tested for. 

When purchasing poultry in person, check 

for signs of good health and approximate age. 

Do not purchase birds that appear old or 

unhealthy. 

Always transport replacement or new 

poultry in equipment and vehicles that are 

regularly cleaned, disinfected, and inspected. 

For commercial operations, the tractor/trailer 

carrying the birds should follow premises entry 

biosecurity protocols when entering the farm.

Be sure to clean and disinfect tools, cages, 

and any other equipment used for transport. 

Return empty cages to the trailer and then clean 

and decontaminate the cages before taking 

them to another site.

Wear site-specific clothing, including footwear, 

when loading or delivering poultry. For commercial 

operations, personnel loading poultry cages into 

the trailer should wear site-specific clothing or not 

enter the Line of Separation. 

Once home, quarantine the new additions

for 30 days. Check for sneezing, coughing, nasal 

drainage, swollen eyes, mites, lice, and other

health issues daily. 

After combining new birds with your existing 

flock, check original stock daily for any signs of 

illness. The stress of this change can cause an 

underlying illness to surface. 

To prevent bullying, do not add young poultry 

to your existing flock until all the birds are about 

the same size.

Did you know?

Mail-order hatcheries offer vaccines for day-old 

baby chicks. Check for needed vaccines in your 

area based on past disease outbreaks and what 

vaccines the hatchery administered.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-5 • Issued March 2019 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Checklist for Using a 

Line of Separation

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Poultry diseases are caused by tiny viruses, bacteria, and other microscopic particles. They 

can be everywhere, so it’s important to avoid moving or spreading them on your clothes, shoes, 

or equipment. The best way to do this is to have clear separation between your poultry area 

(where your birds are kept) and the rest of the world. A line of separation is a functional line 

separating the poultry house or enclosure (and the poultry inside) from exposure to potential 

disease sources. Whether you’re part of a large commercial enterprise or keep birds as a 

hobby, using a line of separation will protect your birds’ health.

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or cooperative 

extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for contacts in your area. 

The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to a single flock.

Report Sick Birds

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-6 | Issued July 2019

Checklist:Tips for Using a 

Line of Separation

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a site-specific 

biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their site-specific plans 

follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles.

√

Define your line of separation. Include your 

entire poultry house/enclosure and any outdoor 

access areas. Have only one entry to better 

control who and what crosses the line. If 

possible, mark the line with colored tape.

If your poultry flock has outdoor access

that isn’t enclosed, a line of separation 

is still encouraged.

In your biosecurity plan, draw the 

boundaries for your poultry areas and 

clearly outline what caretakers, visitors, 

or suppliers must do when crossing it. 

This includes how to move birds, personal 

items, food, vehicles, equipment, and supplies. 

Give training on the procedures.

At your entry point, include a place to 

change out of footwear and outer clothing 

before entering. On the inside, have a place 

to put on site-specific footwear and outer 

clothing after crossing the line of separation. 

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Post signs at the entry point reminding everyone 

of the steps they need to take to cross the line 

of separation.

Provide site-specific coveralls, footwear, and 

cleaning/disinfecting supplies.

Have a sink with running water and soap or hand 

sanitizer at the entry point. Post signs reminding 

people to clean their hands. 

Keep an entry logbook. List who or what crosses 

into your poultry area (people, poultry, food, vehicles, 

equipment) and when those items enter and exit.
If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Report Sick Birds

Checklist To Report 

Unusual Mortality

While everyone who raises poultry works very hard to keep their flocks healthy and 

intact, the reality is that eventually you will encounter dead birds within your flock. But 

what is normal and when do you have a problem? It’s important to know when you might

have an issue and what to expect from there. Whether you’re part of a large commercial

enterprise or keep birds as a hobby, make sure you know when and how to report 

higher-than-normal or unexplained bird deaths.

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or

cooperative extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for

contacts in your area. The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to a

single flock.

Check the list on the back for tips

to help keep your flocks healthy. √
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-7 | Issued July 2019

Checklist:Tips for Reporting

Unusual Mortality

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a site-specific 

biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their site-specific plans 

follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles.

√

Know when to worry: Some bird death is 

normal. A large percentage of dead or dying 

birds in your flock is not normal.

Rule out obvious causes, such as predators, 

weather issues, or other external factors. You 

don’t need to report those bird deaths, but 

consider addressing the root cause so you 

can keep it from happening again.

If you see signs of illness in your flock, 

make note of what you’re seeing.

Report any signs of illness or unexplained 

deaths to animal health officials right away. 

This will help prevent the spread of disease 

and protect neighboring flocks.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Look for signs of illness: 

• Reduced energy or appetite

• Lower egg production; soft-shelled or

misshapen eggs

• Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb,

wattles, and shanks

• Purple discoloration of the wattles,

comb, and legs

• Difficulty breathing

• Runny nose, sneezing

• Twisting of the head and neck

• Stumbling or falling down

• Diarrhea

• Decreased activity

• Tremors

• Circling

• Complete stiffness
Checklist for Using a 

Perimeter Buffer Area

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

When caring for your poultry, you need to access everyday supplies and equipment. At the same 

time, you need to avoid carrying around germs that could make your birds sick. Having clear 

separation between your poultry area (where your birds are kept) and the rest of the world will 

help you meet both of these needs. You can establish a perimeter buffer area: a zone outside 

of your bird enclosures that gives you space to work in while caring for your birds, but is 

separate from the rest of your property. On small farms and in backyards, this might just be 

some ground around a coop or barn where you keep your feed bin and equipment. On larger 

farms, the perimeter buffer area might include feed bins, manure sheds, composting areas, 

egg rooms, generators, and pump rooms. Whether you’re part of a large commercial enterprise 

or raise birds as a hobby, keeping bird-related activities within the perimeter buffer area—and 

non-bird activities out of it—can help keep your poultry from getting sick.

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or cooperative 

extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for contacts in your area. 

The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to a single flock.

Report Sick Birds

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √
Checklist:Tips for Using a 

Perimeter Buffer Area

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-8 | Issued July 2019

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a site-specific 

biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their site-specific plans 

follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles.

√

Establish the perimeter buffer area with 

enough space to complete all of your 

normal bird-related tasks (except the removal 

of dead birds) without leaving the buffer area. 

Include a map that clearly outlines the 

perimeter buffer area in your biosecurity 

plan. List the rules people must follow when 

entering or leaving this area. Give training and 

post signs to remind people of the steps they 

need to take.

Keep non-essential people and items, 

including vehicles, from entering the 

buffer area. Have a parking area outside the 

buffer area, with a clear entrance to the buffer 

area nearby.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Require any vehicle or equipment that enters the 

perimeter buffer area to be cleaned and disinfected

before entering and before leaving the buffer area.

Consider a locked barrier at the site entrance. If 

this is not possible, place signs at the entrance to the 

perimeter buffer area to prevent unauthorized access.
Checklist for Biosecurity Training

Whether you have a small backyard flock or a large commercial farm, biosecurity works best 

when everyone follows your set procedures every day, every time. That requires a training 

program to make sure anyone who has contact with your flock—employees, service personnel, 

and visitors alike—knows exactly what they need to do.

Poor compliance usually happens when people don’t know or understand the biosecurity 

rules or when there’s no consequence for ignoring them. Through training, you can change 

the culture at your facility to make biosecurity compliance a regular habit.

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or cooperative 

extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for contacts in your area. 

The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to a single flock.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Report Sick Birds
Checklist: Tips for Biosecurity 

Training 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-9 | Issued October 2019

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a site-specific 

biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their site-specific plans 

follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles.

√

Train all owners, caretakers, and others 

who regularly enter the poultry area—

before they enter the first time. For employees 

who don’t speak English, make sure you 

offer training and signage in a language they 

can understand.

Cover these five key steps! Anyone entering 

a biosecure premises should understand how to: 

1. Contact the Biosecurity Coordinator(s); 

2. Respect the Perimeter Buffer Area (PBA), 

including parking in the right place; 

3. Enter the PBA using arrival and 

biosecure entry procedures; 

4. Cross the Line of Separation (LOS) per 

biosecure entry procedures; and 

5. Perform biosecurity tasks assigned 

to their specific job.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Always include site-specific procedures in your 

training program. If you’d like, you can add any 

premises-wide or company-wide procedures, too.

Stay ahead of visitors. Inform contract crews, service 

personnel, consultants, and other visitors about your 

biosecurity procedures before they arrive onsite. You 

can tell them in advance either by phone or in writing.

Give biosecurity training annually. Document all 

training and keep training records for 3 years.
Checklist for Coordinating 

Biosecurity at Your Site

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Good biosecurity is a crucial part of keeping your poultry healthy—and it takes good 

coordination to maintain it. That’s why every facility with poultry needs a biosecurity coordinator. 

The coordinator develops your site’s biosecurity plan and makes sure everyone follows it. This 

person should be knowledgeable about biosecurity principles, but does NOT have to be a 

poultry veterinarian. Biosecurity coordinators are leaders for all things biosecurity. They handle 

the small details—and the big ones—to make biosecurity an “every day, every time” routine. 

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or cooperative 

extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for contacts in your area. 

The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to a single flock

Report Sick Birds

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √
Checklist: Tips for Biosecurity 

Coordinators

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-10 | Issued October 2019

This checklist is a general guide for biosecurity coordinators at any location or level. Specific 

duties vary depending on the type and size of poultry operation. 

√

Get started on your biosecurity plan by 

using the information manual and template at 

poultrybiosecurity.org. Commercial growers 

should be sure their plans follow the National 

Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles.

Assess the risks at your site and address 

the biggest ones first. Every site is unique, 

with its own biosecurity strengths and 

weaknesses. Knowing what those are will 

help you set priorities. 

Focus on what you can control. The best 

plan is a practical one. It covers common 

procedures at the site, with clear steps people 

can follow. 

Work with onsite personnel to carry out the 

biosecurity plan. Every employee has a part in 

keeping the premises biosecure and protecting 

the flock, whether it involves the structure and 

layout of the facility or the day-to-day tasks of 

caring for the birds.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Train all personnel regularly entering the site in 

biosecurity protocols and document that training.

Check that the plan is being followed. If biosecurity 

protocols are violated, take corrective action.

Review the plan each year or any time there’s a 

change onsite that affects biosecurity. Document this 

review and update the plan as needed.

Adapt the biosecurity plan to address changing 

risks or recommendations. For example, if there’s a 

local avian influenza outbreak, consider enhancing 

biosecurity measures and writing these temporary, 

more stringent actions into the plan.
Checklist for Safe Disposal 

of Dead Birds

It’s an inevitable but unfortunate reality: you will deal with deaths in your flock. The best way to 

dispose of the birds depends on the size of your flock, the type of poultry you raise, and where 

you are located. You need to know what’s allowed in your area (rules vary by State) and how to 

handle disposal safely. This is a key part of good biosecurity. By planning ahead and using the 

right methods, you can lower the risk of bringing new germs or diseases onto your property 

and protect your flock from more losses.

If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or cooperative 

extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for contacts in your area. 

The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to a single flock.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √

If you see large numbers of dead or dying birds in your 

flock or other signs of illness, take action right away!

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Report Sick or Dead Birds

Phone Number
Checklist: Tips for Safe Disposal 

of Dead Birds

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-11 | Issued October 2019

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a site-specific 

biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their site-specific plans 

follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles.

√

Plan ahead! Include procedures for carcass 

disposal in your biosecurity plan. You’ll need 

routine procedures for all dead birds using 

normal mortality numbers, along with a 

contingency plan for a large number of deaths.

Make sure your procedures cover these 

basics: 

• Disposal methods follow all local, State, and 

Federal laws. 

• If using a pickup service, describe how the 

dead birds are moved to the pickup location 

and show that the vehicles/equipment at the 

pickup location never cross the perimeter 

buffer area.

• Draw carcass movements on the site map, 

or explain them in some other clear way.

Collect all bird carcasses as soon as 

possible, at least once every day.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Store or dispose of carcasses in a way that does 

not attract wild birds, rodents, insects, or other 

animals. Collection bins should have tight-fitting lids, 

and burial pits or compost piles should be covered 

adequately to deter burrowing scavengers. 

Avoid cross contamination from equipment and 

vehicles. Clean and disinfect them before and after 

leaving the farm. Don’t use the same equipment and 

vehicles for feeding chores, manure and carcass 

handling, and animal handling, unless you clean and 

disinfect them before using for a different task.

Visit disposal sites at the end of the day to avoid 

carrying contaminants from farm to farm.

Disposal methods 

Disposal methods may include composting, 

incineration, burial, or rendering. For most sites 

and flocks of all sizes, onsite disposal is more 

biosecure than taking carcasses offsite.
Checklist for Managing Poultry 

Manure and Litter 

When you raise or handle poultry, you’ll need to deal with manure. Depending on how you 

raise your birds, you may also need to dispose of used poultry litter. Managing these materials 

properly is a key part of biosecurity. Avian influenza virus can survive in manure and litter for 

long periods of time, and these items can carry other contaminants, too.

So, how do you manage poultry manure and litter safely? You can take some simple steps 

to protect your flock every day and plan ahead to guard them from disease spread during 

an outbreak.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Report Sick Birds
Checklist: Managing Poultry 

Manure and Litter 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-12 | Issued February 2020

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a site-specific 

biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their site-specific plans 

follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles

√

Assess your site and options for removing, 

storing, and disposing of manure and used 

litter. This might be onsite or offsite. The right 

approach depends on the species and number of 

birds and type of housing system at your facility. 

Define the scope: What kinds of manure and 

litter do you need to manage at your site, and 

how much is produced over a given timeframe? 

Set up standard procedures that cover these 

basics:

• Collecting, transporting, storing, and/or using 

manure

• Any State or local laws that apply

• Environmental concerns

• Wildlife, insect, and rodent control

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Develop a backup plan for long-term storage in a 

prolonged outbreak. Spreading or storing manure and 

litter offsite may not be allowed depending on the risk of 

virus spread.

Clean and disinfect any vehicles and equipment used 

in manure removal BEFORE they arrive onsite.

Remove all manure and litter from the poultry house and 

do a complete cleaning and disinfection before adding 

any birds.
Checklist for Maintaining 

a Safe Water Supply 

Having good quality water at your site is a crucial part of biosecurity. Your poultry need clean, 

safe water to drink, and you need it to cool your birds and clean your facilities and equipment 

without contaminating them. Water can carry disease agents, so the choices you make in how 

you source or treat your water are vital to protect your birds’ health. 

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Report Sick Birds
Checklist: Maintaining 

a Safe Water Supply 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-13 | Issued February 2020

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a site-specific 

biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their site-specific plans 

follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles.

√

Use water from a contained water supply

(well or municipal system) for drinking, evaporative 

cooling, and cleaning whenever possible. This is 

the most biosecure water source for poultry.

If you must use surface water, sanitize it first! 

Ponds, streams, and other surface water can carry 

disease-causing germs. Sanitizing the water will kill 

these germs. 

Test any water used within your poultry 

buildings for bacteria. Regular testing will 

give you a general idea of how clean your water 

system is. If bacteria numbers are too high (above 

maximum acceptable levels), you’ll know you need 

to sanitize the water. 

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Consult with experts when choosing water 

treatment methods. The right methods vary based on 

many factors. For example, if your poultry’s water supply 

contains certain vaccines, you need to use a water 

treatment that won’t inactivate the vaccine. Experts can 

help you pick water treatments that are effective and 

won’t harm your flock or water system.

Write it down. Include in your biosecurity plan the steps 

taken to provide uncontaminated water to your birds. 

This may include written water sanitation procedures, 

water treatment log sheets, and guidance for caretakers.

If water treatment is not possible, include 

alternatives in your biosecurity plan. Explain how 

you considered the risks of an untreated system and 

the steps you’re taking to mitigate those risks.
Checklist for Poultry Feed 

and Replacement Litter 

Food and clean litter are two items that you need to have in ample supply at your poultry 

facility. They can also attract unwanted attention from wildlife, rodents, and insects. It’s 

important to receive, store, and handle these items carefully to minimize the chance of 

contamination. By taking a few simple steps, you can make sure your poultry feed and litter 

are safe—and don’t carry germs that could make your birds sick.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Report Sick Birds
Checklist: Poultry Feed 

and Replacement Litter 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-14 | Issued February 2020

This checklist is a general guide to practicing good biosecurity, but if you have a site-specific 

biosecurity plan, please follow it. Commercial growers should be sure their site-specific plans 

follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan biosecurity principles.

√

Make sure delivery trailers are covered to 

prevent contamination of feed, feed ingredients, 

and fresh litter during transport to the farm.

Store feed, feed ingredients, and fresh litter 

in closed bins or buildings to prevent 

contamination.

Be careful when moving stored feed, feed 

ingredients, and fresh litter into poultry 

houses. Use only cleaned and disinfected 

equipment, or better yet, equipment dedicated 

only to handling feed and fresh litter.

Clean up any spills as soon as possible

to minimize the chance of attracting wildlife 

and rodents.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Keep any bagged feed above the floor and have 

rodent control measures in place.

Do a daily feed spill check. Identify where feed spills 

happen and work to reduce them.

Write it down. Include in your biosecurity plan the steps 

taken at your site to protect poultry feed and litter against 

contamination from wild birds, rodents, insects, and 

other animals. This may include written protocols, log 

sheets, and guidance for contractors.
Checklist for Biosecurity Auditing 

If you participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), meet certain flock size 

requirements, and wish to be eligible for maximum indemnity if highly pathogenic avian influenza 

ever strikes your flock, you will need to complete regular biosecurity audits. These paper-based 

audits with your NPIP Official State Agent ensure you have a solid biosecurity plan in place and 

are following it.

Though auditing is not required for other flocks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

encourages all poultry producers to follow NPIP biosecurity guidance. It’s one of the best ways 

to reduce the risk of introducing diseases to your flock.

Check the list on the back for tips 

to help keep your flocks healthy. √

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Report Sick Birds
Biosecurity Auditing:

What to Expect 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2235-15 | Issued March 2020

If you are an NPIP participant and eligible to be audited based on your flock size, here’s 

an overview of what you can expect during the audit.

√

A biosecurity audit is a paper-based audit.

Maintain your biosecurity plan and all related 

documentation in a place that’s easy for you 

and/or the auditor to access. The NPIP Official 

State Agent will decide whether to complete the 

audit in person (with the records) or electronically.

The auditor will look at the biosecurity plan, 

the training materials, documentation that the 

NPIP principles are being carried out, records of 

any corrective actions taken, and the biosecurity 

coordinator’s annual review.

Audits will take place at least once every 

2 years, or a sufficient number of times during 

that period for the NPIP Official State Agent to 

ensure compliance.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

If you fail the initial audit, you can request a “check 

audit.” This onsite audit would be conducted by a team, 

including a USDA poultry expert, the NPIP Official State 

Agent, and a licensed, accredited poultry veterinarian 

familiar with your type of operation.

After completing a check audit and showing you’ve 

taken corrective actions, you would be reinstated as 

compliant with NPIP biosecurity principles.
















Do you own or 

work with poultry?

Let’s keep our poultry 

healthy together.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
1. Always practice good biosecurity.

 Review the 14 National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) 

Biosecurity Principles (www.poultryimprovement.org/documents/

StandardE-Biosecurity Principles.pdf) and create a biosecurity 

plan for your premises. 

2. Remember to wash your hands before and after coming 

into contact with poultry. 

If you don’t have soap and water, use hand sanitizer.

3. Protect yourself. 

Don’t kiss or snuggle with your birds. 

4. Protect your poultry.

 Put control programs in place for wild birds (including their feces and 

their feathers), rodents, and insects. Clean and disinfect any poultry 

equipment before and after use.

5. Monitor your flock’s health.

Know the signs of disease and check your flock daily for any signs

of illness. Quarantine sick birds right away.

6. Report sick birds!

 Call USDA toll-free at 1.866.536.7593 to reach our veterinarians. 

USDA can test your birds free of charge to make sure they don’t 

have a serious poultry disease.

For free resources and to learn more about good biosecurity, 

visit: www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock

Let’s Keep Our Poultry Healthy Together

Program Aid No. 2248 | Issued September 2019

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

Use these basic tips to keep your birds healthy 

and prevent the spread of serious diseases like 

avian influenza and virulent Newcastle disease.