Avian Influenza – Protect Pet Birds NOW
Another Avian Inflenza Outbreak IS COMING
Current advice is: We need to be ready for the arrival of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
To date, Australia remains almost the only continent that is free from the strain of avian influenza that is causing global concern: HPAI H5 N1 You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out that birds fly and migrate, so it is a status that is going to be difficult to protect. This is not the strain that we saw in April-June 2024. This strain is significantly more serious. It IS coming and it IS coming very soon. Authorities say we can expect it to land here this summer (NOW).
This is a highly contagious disease. The recommendation for infected birds is euthanasia because there is no effective treatment for them. There is currently no vaccination.
We are most likely to see this in chickens and water birds BUT it is contagious to ALL birds. Wild birds are bringing this in and so any bird that has access to wild birds or an outside environment is at risk.
There are recommendations on how to protect your own birds and we will list them below but there is one very important thing pet bird owners should do NOW.
If you haven’t already - please MICROCHIP YOUR BIRDS.
We’re not saying this because we’re desperate to track your birds. We’re saying this because in the current climate, if you lose your bird a microchip could save your bird’s life.
Members of the public frequently bring lost birds to avian clinics because they generally require immediate medical help and it is a quick way to check for a microchip and get them home. Unfortunately, very few of them have microchips.
AVIAN INFLUENZA - WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW:
Avian veterinarians are currently being advised by authorities that if an outbreak is detected, we should turn away stray birds and wildlife rather than see them at the clinic. Stray birds and avian wildlife will need to be diverted to non-avian clinics or animal rescues. This is to prevent contamination and closure of the very few avian clinics that exist, which is what happens if a clinic is exposed to avian influenza.
If the avian clinics decide to do this (and we don’t want to but it’s a discussion that vets are having to have), the impact of this is going to be devastating.
One thing is clear and that is that avian veterinarians will likely be triaging birds in their carparks. If an infected case is seen in a clinic, the clinic will have to close for at least 72 hrs and staff will not be able to go home if they have pet birds.
When an outbreak happens, you are going to see things change rapidly at your veterinary clinics, including dog/cat vets. It should also be noted that bird rescues and sanctuaries may be forced to close to intakes in order to protect existing birds. All it takes is one infected bird to slip through the cracks into a group environment and all the birds at that environment could die.
The chances of stray birds dying and being euthanised just got significantly higher than they have ever been before. If your bird does not have a microchip, it has no one to speak for it and nowhere safe to go if it’s lost.
Triage at vets is going to include scanning for microchips in lost birds. If you lose your bird, a microchip is no longer just a way to get your bird back. If you lose your bird, this may be the one thing that save’s your bird’s life. It stops it being simply classified as a stray.
Microchips are tiny, it’s an injection. For smaller birds, we usually recommend doing this under anaesthetic. Registration is for life. It’s not a risky procedure. It should be routine. It isn’t just limited to parrots, you can microchip pigeons, chickens, ducks - any bird that weighs over 50g. (Anything smaller, discuss with your veterinarian.)
Do not make the mistake of thinking you will never lose your bird. Accidents happen to the best of us.
How To Protect Your Flock From Avian Influenza:
There are some steps you can take to minimise the risk to yourselves (yes it’s contagious to humans and other pets) and your personal flock. These include (but are not limited to):
- Prevent your birds coming into contact with wild birds. (Consider changing your coop or aviary design by adding netting, tarping or roofing as needed.)
- Remove wild bird feeders from your yard.
- Create enclosed runs for your chickens (no more free ranging in the backyard).
- Make sure water sources are under cover to avoid being contaminated by wild bird droppings.
- Rodent proof all enclosures.
- Ensure your personal hygiene standards are high. Wash your hands regularly.
- Wash food and water bowls with a vet grade disinfectant such as F10.
- Wear PPE such as gloves and a face mask when cleaning your coops.
- Lightly mist bedding or soiled materials with water to trap dust before removing it.
- Dispose of any waste materials responsibly.
- Quarantine and vet check new birds before adding them to your flock.
- Restrict your bird's access to water sources frequented by wild birds, particularly during an outbreak.
- Do not free fly your birds right now.
- Take extra measures to make sure your birds don’t escape and get lost (consider adding an extra door entry to your aviary so that you have a ‘catch’ room if a bird flies through a door).
- MICROCHIP your birds
- Monitor the outbreak as it happens. Find and follow your avian vets on social media as they will be sharing information as it comes to hand.
For more detailed information on symptoms and FAQs please refer to this article that was written earlier this year (and continues to be updated as new information is received).
I have two water bowls in my yard for birds, should I remove these?