If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news at all, then you’re probably aware that there is a particularly nasty strain of bird flu going around and causing all kinds of trouble for fowl in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 15 other states and various countries around the world. Egg prices have skyrocketed a shocking 58% in the wake of so many chickens becoming infected–around 47 million or more, some say.
Now, I’d love to say that I’m an expert on this sort of thing, but viruses aren’t something to mess around with and honestly, I’m not. In fact, I don’t personally even have chickens at the moment. However, I know some of you that do have feathered friends are likely a little concerned about the flu—and I certainly don’t blame you. Bird flu is spread any number of ways, and it can be pretty nasty.
However, as it turns out there are some things you can do to ensure that your flock is healthy and has a smaller chance of catching one of these strains. Over at Common Sense Homesteading, I read an absolutely fantastic post that has tips for 5 strategies to keep your flock healthier, including inspecting your flock and ensuring your feathered friends aren’t stressed out, as stress can seriously lower immune systems.
I’m not going to wax poetic over something that I am not quite as knowledgeable about, so if you’re interested, check out the article yourself! Her tips and explanations are fantastic. For all of you who have chickens or are living in one of the 15 states that are experiencing some of the worst of it, I’ll definitely be keeping you all in my thoughts. Homesteading is hard enough without having to stress overmuch about your animals getting sick, and I personally find the bird flu to be a little scary.
Here are some great articles with more information on the bird flu:
- 6 things to know about bird flu – Delaware online
- Bird Flu FAQ – WebMD
- Avian Influenza in Birds – CDC
Wishing all of you bird-lovers the best!!
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