The Conyers Backyard Poultry Club

Folks, it's time for us all to review and improve our biosecurity.

Be careful with your biosecurity, folks. Wild birds are in the middle of fall migration, and that means an increased risk of avian influenza.

It was just found in a backyard flock in Henry County.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/henry-county/highly-pathogenic-avian-flu-detected-henry-county-backyard-chicken-flock/YVW35AA4KZHEHKRSZUEMY7JZ7M/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawMobY5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhriKeMrq0Qr6_oLrQjYp9fE2exFH7E_uwKQAut9fChX3dHwRKeDw6O-DT6l_aem_ZTN0rcPez4Cq81jb9LwJyA

‘Highly pathogenic avian flu’ detected in Henry County backyard chicken flock The backyard bird flock in Henry County had 45 birds of mixed species, state officials said.

The suspension of auctions and swaps has been lifted. https://agr.georgia.gov/pr/georgia-department-agriculture-lifts-suspension-poultry-activities-releases-hpai-control-area?fbclid=IwY2xjawIYmRhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYPSflHC2tUkhWx9kqIpqoUpXnAnPCHU9lNHj2KN8ZRZlorfNT_RcigzNw_aem_6OLmRWc4UC7FoxfBJ1XjLQ

Georgia Department of Agriculture Lifts Suspension of Poultry Activities, Releases HPAI Control Area Georgia Department of AgricultureTyler J Harper, Commissioner19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SWAtlanta, GA 30334 Mon, Feb 10 2025 Georgia Department of Agriculture Lifts Suspension of Poultry Activities, Releases HPAI Control Area Atlanta, GA – Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper...

Folks, this is important.

As of today, all poultry shows, exhibitions, auctions, and sales are suspended in GA. This is due to HPAI being confirmed in commercial poultry, as well as backyard birds.

More info on the suspension can be found in the GDA's post here - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18jB6o29Tu/ and on the GDA site at https://agr.georgia.gov/pr/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-confirmed-commercial-poultry-flock-georgia-all-poultry?fbclid=IwY2xjawH3xDdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUDMWIMD1lUNvlIOMTtO_dxvO5YIBKiGxiBfH2meYWcRp-GqX7ylVGnvWQ_aem_FE1tmymJlkFf4mFi_mb-jw

Please direct any questions to GDA.

In addition, we're hearing that any birds or eggs shipped from GA to FL need to have AI-clean testing within a week of shipping. Anything older than a week means the boxes are being returned - and while eggs can survive the extra time in the postal system, live birds likely can't.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Commercial Poultry Flock in Georgia, All Poultry Activities in Georgia Suspended Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Commercial Poultry Flock in Georgia, All Poultry Activities in Georgia Suspended Atlanta, Ga – Today, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed a pos...

Folks, it's time to review your biosecurity, and make any improvements you can. HPAI is in our area, just a few counties away.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/clayton-county/bird-flock-tests-positive-highly-contagious-deadly-respiratory-disease-clayton-county/3FC2KWMGGRDRHL6UXGJ6WAYWRY/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawHwACVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWWfpuTjpmOjpePxjZnxIL67cVN5vC8RjtrkeZfeZURGTc3v0VJDxtpN1Q_aem_GcufoyVqQ4fOO6XJ3MurIA

Bird flock tests positive for highly contagious, deadly respiratory disease in Clayton County In December, the owners of the birds noticed an increase in deaths, with three birds dying in a short period of time.

Folks, please keep your eyes out for anyone selling a splash Jersey Giant hen in our area.

Someone stole my girl Diva from my coop last night. I went outside to do morning coop chores and found the pen door open, the coop door open, the carabiners I use to secure them missing... The gate in the side yard open, and Diva gone. Someone opened the gate, the pen, and the coop, took Diva, and didn't close anything up behind them when they left.

I've filed a report with the county sheriff's office but I don't know if they can do much.

She's a 2 year old Jersey Giant, splash but with only a few black spots, about 9 lbs. She recently resumed laying after raising some incubator-hatched chicks, and was still momma-ing them even though they're 10 weeks old.

She was wearing an NPIP band on her left leg when she was taken. Please let me know if you hear of anyone selling a bird that might be her - I am devastated, and her adopted chicks are calling for her.

With the recent outbreak at Noah's Ark, this would be a good webinar for us all to watch.

FREE WEBINAR: Sign up now! Register today!

Folks, it's time for us all to review our biosecurity and see where we can improve it. HPAI is in our area.

There's an outbreak at Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary in Locust Grove, Henry County. It looks like it was brought in by vultures, but has spread to other bird species at the Ark. They're working with the state and USDA, and are depopulating the affected and at-risk birds.

Info from the state is here - https://agr.georgia.gov/avian-influenza.aspx

More info is here - https://www.cbs46.com/2022/08/22/bird-flu-reportedly-kills-700-vultures-noahs-ark-henry-county/

Bird flu reportedly kills 700 vultures at Noah’s Ark in Henry County More than 700 wild black vultures were recently found deceased at Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in Locust Grove, according to Sen. Emanuel Jones.

Heads up, folks. HPAI was just detected in a backyard flock in Toombs County. It's time for us all to review and tighten our biosecurity, and keep our flicks safe.

Info is here -

Avian-Influenza - Ga Dept of Agriculture UPDATE - The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) have confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial, backyard flock (non-poultry) located in Toombs County, Georgia. This is the...

Ok, folks, we kind of knew this was coming. WIth multiple cases of H5N1 found in wild waterfowl up and down the East Coast, and confirmed cases in commercial poultry in neighboring states.... There have now been wild ducks found with it in GA.

In hopes of stopping this outbreak before it hits commercial poultry _and_ backyard flocks here in GA, the GA Dept of Agriculture has - as of just now - banned poultry shows and exhibitions, sales at auctions and flea markets, and swaps. This will likely affect chick sales at feed stores as well, but we're waiting for GDA to decide about that.

The full press release is here, please see it for more information - https://agr.georgia.gov/suspension-of-certain-poultry-and-feathered-fowl-activities.aspx

We all need to review and step up our biosecurity game, folks. Make sure your birds have no contact with wild birds, or their droppings - especially waterfowl. If you don't already have dedicated coop footwear and clothing, set some aside now to _only_ wear in your coops. Don't share equipment with other chicken-keepers, and limit others' access to your coops.

Let's all be more careful, for the next few months, and keep all our flocks safe.

Suspension of Certain Poultry and Feathered Fowl Activities - Ga Dept of Agriculture Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been identified in commercial poultry operations and a backyard flock in Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia. There have been NO cases of avian influenza (AI) identified in commercial or domestic poultry in the State of Georgia. Please see Commercial, Backyar...

Well, folks, I was really hoping we wouldn't have this problem this year.... but avian influenza is heading our way. Highly pathogenic H5N1, the strain that caused so much devastation in Europe and Asia last year, has been detected in wild waterfowl in Canada (in December) - and then in both NC and SC in the last week.

Info from the NC Dept of Ag is here - https://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/release/2022/HighPathAvianInfluenzadetectedinwildbirdinHydeCounty.htm

Info about the cases in SC is here - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2022/hpai-sc

Folks, it's not yet been detected in GA, but that's likely just a matter of time. If you don't have a strict biosecurity plan for your flock, it's time to set one up NOW. Keep wild birds out of your coops, especially waterfowl. Have dedicated coop boots and clothes, don't wear them off your property.

I'll update as more info becomes available.