Backyard poultry
Everyone who works with or owns animals has a duty of care to take all reasonable measures to protect the health and welfare of those animals:
- Ensure poultry have adequate feed, water and shelter at all times
- Reduce the risk of pests and diseases so your hens remain happy and healthy
- Know your flock – inspect your poultry regularly and know what normal behaviour and appearance is
- Investigate any signs of ill health or unusual behaviour and consult your vet if your birds are sick.
Preventing disease
Reducing the risks of disease being introduced or spreading is the best defence to protect poultry flocks:
- Keep your equipment and poultry yard or aviary clean
- clean and disinfect feed and water containers regularly
- remove litter, sand and grit from the aviary between batches of birds, and every few months for resident birds
- thoroughly clean concrete floors, walls and aviary wire with soapy water, and then apply a disinfectant
- Avoid contact between your birds and wild birds
- using netting or housing to keep wild birds away from yours
- keep feed and water inside sheds where practical, or ensure they are covered and difficult for wild birds to access
- minimise the presence of vegetation that attract wild birds
- Don't let feed and water become contaminated by faeces or other animal waste
- ensure drinking water is treated, especially if it is straight from a natural water source, such as a river or dam
- ensure fresh feed and water is provided daily
- Prevent the mixing of poultry species – keep chickens, ducks and turkeys separate
- Keep new birds separate from your flocks in a quarantine pen for at least 2 to 4 weeks, until you are sure they are disease-free after transportation
- Contact a dedicated bird veterinarian or your local private veterinarian to improve your overall flock's health, such as by vaccinations
- Always wash your hands when handling birds.
Common poultry diseases
Poultry can be affected by many types of diseases, including those caused by parasites, infectious diseases, poor nutrition, and behavioural issues.
A strict hygiene program is required to keep diseases out of poultry. Some diseases are controlled by vaccination or medication strategies.
The two most serious diseases that must be kept out of poultry flocks are Newcastle disease and avian influenza. Other poultry diseases include coryza, chronic respiratory disease, infectious laryngotracheitis, lice and mite infestations, chlamydiosis, blackhead and internal parasites.
Know what to look for
While outbreaks of avian influenza, Newcastle disease, Salmonella Enteritidis and other bird-related diseases are uncommon in Australia, early detection and reporting of sick and dying birds is important to prevent a large-scale outbreak.
While you don't need to be an expert on the specific signs of every bird disease, it is essential you learn what signs to look for, including:
- ruffled feathers
- unusual head or neck posture
- inability to walk or stand
- loss of appetite and reluctance to drink
- droopy appearance
- swollen head, wattles, or comb
- sharp drop in egg production
- breathing difficulties
- diarrhoea
- sudden death.
See more on:
- Avian influenza
- Newcastle disease
- Salmonella enteritidis (SE)
- Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT)
- Pigeon paramyxovirus
- Vaccinations and antibiotics for poultry
- Caring for livestock during a heatwave
Report unwell birds
Immediately report large or unusual numbers of dead or sick birds or very sharp drops in egg production to your vet or the all-hours Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.