Biosecurity Best Practices
We want to remind everyone the importance of biosecurity measures.
What is biosecurity?
A set of procedures to prevent the introduction of disease causing organisms. These measures are meant to keep your flock safe from disease being brought in via visitors, animals, or contaminated equipment. Please implement these procedures on your farm to help insure healthy chicks, and the continues health of your whole flock.
LOS- line of separation: LOS is a perimeter that surrounds your poultry yard. This is the line not to be crossed unless you have gone through decontamination procedures.
Supplies for point of entry decontamination:
Liquid disinfectant mixed with water in container you can step into
Wet foot baths are essential for entry into the chicken yard
boots to only be worn inside the protected area
Hand washing area, (can be in another location but hands must be washed before entry)
Key Takeaways:
LIMIT ENTRY! Try and keep entry to necessary personel only.
Change clothes, use foot baths, and wash hands upon entry into the chicken yard
Limit contact with wild birds, rodents and insects.
Keep feed in airtight bins or metal cans, use hardware cloth on runs to keep out wild birds, and keep water clean of all contaminants.
Create a line of separation (LOS) around your chicken yard and address perimeter issues you may have.
Always disinfect any tools or equipment that has left the chicken yard.
Quarantine all new poultry in a separate area outside of the chicken yard for no less than 30 days. Then do a health evaluation before introducing the bird to your flock.
Biosecurity Prior to public events
Disease prevention and biosecurity start before you even leave home. Before animals leave the home premises, the herd or flock should be examined to ensure only healthy animals enter public grounds outside your home. Maintain a good herd health program, including vaccination and parasite (internal and external) control.
Tools and equipment may harbor disease agents. To minimize potential disease spread from the home premises to the public, before packing for transport, clean and disinfect:
Feed equipment: buckets, feeders, waterers, and hay racks
Cleaning utensils: shovels, pitch forks, and Wheel barrows
Grooming equipment: clippers and brushers
Vehicle and trailer (inside and outside)
In addition:
House different species (e.g. chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese) separate from each other
Avoid visits to other backyard flocks or poultry operations and restrict visitor access to your birds
Wash hands and disinfect shoes after working with livestock.
Biosecurity At Public Events
To protect animals and minimize disease transmission risk while at public events practice the following preacatuions:
Animal Management:
Have support that would allow you to safely manage your live animals. Please do not allow anyone outside of your circle to touch your animals.
Limit animal-animal contact
Limit animal-human-animal contact
Avoid sharing equipment with others unless you thoroughly clean and disinfect between use
Cover feed and equipment to reduce risk of contamination
Bring all health papers including health certificates, vaccination records, and test results
Keep all feed, forage, water and feeding equipment free of manure to avoid contamination
For milking animals it is best to bring a portable milking machine from your farm. Avoid sharing milking units
Wash hands and shoes frequently
Properly dispose of used bedding and uneaten, stale feed
Avoid visiting/touching areas other animals have crossed
Bring a change of clothes as extra precaution
Biosecurity After public events
Animals returning from public events should be isolated from other animals and pets. Monitor animals in isolation daily for signs of illness and contact the herd or flock veterinarian if any unusual symptoms are observed. To minimize the chance of disease spreading to the main herd or flock, modify your chore routine to care for isolated expo animals last. Change your clothes after completing chores for isolated animals. Consult your veterinarian to develop an isolation plan suitable for your premises and herd or flock. In addition, take the following actions::
Properly dispose of all unused feed, forage and bedding at the event site or appropriate off-site location. Do not take any home.
Clean and disinfect all equipment at the event facility.
Change clothing, hats, and shoes used at the fair before doing chores at home.
Isolate show animals from other animals for a minimum of 14 days and ideally 30 days.
Monitor animals in isolation for signs of illness.
