Each year as spring arrives across the country, many people start or grow their backyard poultry flocks and this year in particular, the number of new flock keepers appears to be growing quickly. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has an educational campaign that offers many resources to help protect the health of all poultry flocks. The Defend the Flock campaign focuses on sharing good biosecurity practices that, when practiced every day, every time, will help protect poultry from infectious diseases. Many new owners are starting from scratch and the best time to implement strong biosecurity is right from the start. The same types of biosecurity practices, customized to each flock’s set-up, protect not only backyard flocks but also our nation’s commercial poultry as well. Biosecurity is the key to keeping our nation’s poultry healthy. It’s a responsibility that all poultry owners, raisers, and workers share. A few quick tips for new owners - Raising backyard poultry can be a fun and fulfilling experience, but it is essential that all flock owners learn about and practice good biosecurity daily. Practicing good biosecurity is vital in protecting your own birds, neighboring flocks and our nation’s poultry industry. Whether you are new to owning poultry or have years of experience, check out APHIS’ Defend the Flock website and visit the Resource Center. There you will find webinars, checklists, videos and social media graphics you can use to learn how you can defend your flock - and our nation’s poultry - from serious diseases like avian influenza and virulent Newcastle diseases. Visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock today!
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
