And, Amy, it's really good to have your deep experience with poultry because today we're going to talk about avian influenza. PAUL TREADWELL: Well, it's great to have you both here. But prior to coming to Extension, I worked in the commercial poultry industry. I've been with Extension for about three years. So I'm essentially Nancy's counterpart in the Southwest Region of the state. I am the livestock and beginning farm specialist for the Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program. PAUL TREADWELL: Great to have you join us, Nancy. And I've been with the team roughly 24 years. I am the small farms and livestock specialist on one of the regional teams for Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Team. NANCY GLAZIER: Well, good morning, good afternoon, whatever time you're listening to this. When an infected bird is found contacting the Department of Environmental Conservation is the essential first step. Symptoms of an infected flock can include depressed appetite, sneezing, and decreased egg production. “When this disease gets itself ramped up in a flock, it'll kill off a flock in about 24 to 48 hours,” said Barkley. The spread of H5N1 can be rapid and devastating. This is likely due to these raptors, as well as corvids such as crows, feeding on the carcasses of wild birds that were carrying the virus.Īccording to Glazier “avian influenza has been around for a very long time and in normal years… there may be the low pathogenic strains that are around.” “We are also seeing with this particular outbreak, a huge number of wild raptors that are affected,” said Barkley. While associated by many with poultry flocks, avian influenza reaches far beyond the chicken coop. While it has been found in some mammals the threat to humans is low, at this point. Removal of any wild bird feeders, for the duration of the migration period, can also mitigate the spread to nearby poultry.

Clean hands and a dedicated pair of boots for the coop are two basic elements of sound biosecurity practice.

In this episode of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s ‘Extension Out Loud’ podcast, Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist with Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Program, and Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist with CCE’s Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops team, discuss the current avian influenza outbreak and its fallout.Īs spring migration progresses, practicing sound biosecurity measures is the primary method for reducing the potential for an outbreak. The recent resurgence of avian influenza – fueled by the return of migratory waterfowl that carry, but are typically not impacted by the virus – is causing significant damage to both commercial poultry and wild bird populations worldwide, while also impacting backyard flocks.

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