08/08/2026
A few people have asked me lately what steps I’m taking to prepare for bird flu if it reaches us. 🐔🦠
To be honest, it’s quite overwhelming to think that this nasty virus could potentially wipe out an entire flock that I have worked so hard to build up over the years. I have colours and breeds here that very few other people have, and if I lost them, some could be impossible to replace.
In an ideal world, where money was no option, I’d net my entire property. But realistically, who has the time and money for that? Not to mention what a nightmare it would be during storm season!
So, there are some practical steps we can take now to help prepare and minimise the risk.
🔴 CHANGE YOUR WATER SOURCES
This is the first thing I have already done, and it’s something I encourage everyone to consider — not just for bird flu, but for helping prevent other chicken illnesses too.
Open water sources can attract wild birds, and wild birds can play an important role in spreading avian influenza.
Changing your waterers from open containers to ni**le drinkers, or placing waterers somewhere wild birds can’t access as easily, is a great first step.
The same goes for food. I know it’s impossible to completely keep wild birds away, especially when your chickens free-range, but we can minimise the amount of wild-bird traffic around feeders.
If you’re able to, you could feed your chickens at set times and remove the food afterwards. Wild birds may eventually realise there’s no easy feed available and hopefully move on.
🔴 FREE RANGING
I have always prided myself on having my chickens free-ranging through the orchard, paddocks and gardens.
However, once bird flu is getting close to us, this will be one of the first things I stop.
There has been research into how temperature, sunlight and environmental conditions can affect the survival of avian influenza viruses, so hopefully our warmer Queensland climate may work in our favour. But I’m certainly not relying on that!
It may simply become a seasonal situation where we have to keep our girls confined for periods of higher risk.
🔴 ROOFS & COVER
Solid rooftops could be a huge help because they can reduce the chance of wild bird droppings getting into your chicken pens.
This is probably going to be one of the biggest challenges for many of us.
Tin is expensive, and let’s be honest — tin roofs can turn into ovens for Queensland chickens in summer! 😂
If you have a million chicken pens like me, fully roofing every run may simply not be affordable.
Shade cloth with a high block-out percentage, or temporary tarps during higher-risk periods, may be another option to consider.
🔴 CLOSED FLOCK
Obviously, one of the first things we will be doing is stopping our Rooster Drop Off and keeping a closed flock.
I will only be buying eggs and day-old chicks that have been incubator-hatched and brooder-raised indoors.
If you have guinea fowl or ducks, consider how you can keep them separated from your chickens and other birds.
Waterfowl can be important hosts for avian influenza viruses, and guinea fowl and turkeys are also notorious for wandering, free-ranging and pen-hopping!
We have two guinea fowl living in our Cottage Garden, and those two guys will be going into a separate area as soon as I can catch the little buggers. 😂
Our turkeys tend to stay with our ostriches, so realistically there isn’t much I can do with my larger birds without severely restricting them, which I’m not keen to do unless absolutely necessary.
However, if you’re currently building multiple pens, I would strongly encourage you to think about creating some sort of buffer zone between pens. Good separation and hygiene can help reduce the risk of disease spreading between groups.
🔴 SHOES & HAND HYGIENE
Sanitising your shoes and hands — or having a dedicated pair of shoes for your chicken area — is another really good habit to get into.
You could potentially walk through your local park, your front yard or someone else’s property and then walk straight into your chicken area, so changing footwear can make a lot of sense.
Keep some disinfectant at your entrance and get into the habit of cleaning your footwear regularly.
Hand sanitiser is also an easy one.
The important thing is to use products appropriately and follow the directions on the label — particularly when disinfecting around animals. I have used F10( which is the best) but also Glen 20 and bleach for years.
🔴 MOST IMPORTANTLY — DON’T PANIC
At the moment, please don’t panic.
Let’s take this as it comes, stay informed and prepare sensibly.
We have dealt with avian influenza outbreaks before, and there is still plenty we don’t know about how this situation will develop.
What I do find frustrating is seeing people laughing and making conspiracy-theory comments underneath news posts about bird flu.
As most of you know, I’m not a violent or bitchy person… but if I could reach through the internet and punch some of you in the face, I probably would. 😂
There is absolutely nothing funny about this.
Avian influenza has had devastating impacts on wildlife and people’s livelihoods in other parts of the world, and it has affected endangered species in zoos and wildlife populations.
And it’s not just about our chickens.
We have worked so hard over the years to improve animal welfare, and a major outbreak could potentially have huge consequences for the way poultry is kept.
We could lose years of hard work in our breeding flocks.
We could lose rare colours and breeds that may never be able to be replaced.
And we could potentially see impacts on native wildlife that we have taken for granted our entire lives.
We simply don’t know what is going to happen.
So for now:
🐔 Stay calm.
🧼 Improve your biosecurity.
💧 Change those open waterers.
🌾 Protect your feed.
👟 Think about your footwear.
🏠 Start thinking about how you could confine your birds if necessary.
And if bird flu doesn’t end up becoming an issue for us, well… the worst that happens is you spent $10 on some drinkers from Temu. 😂
I’m not trained professional in bird flu . This is also a first for me but all these things can help illnesses and is the approach I am taking. Stay safe, stay prepared and look after your feathered family. ❤️🐔
📸of the ni**les i use for my Chickens
If you don’t want to buy them online, we also stock them here
