Avian Flu is Everywhere
This came from facebook and was credited to Sharon Astyk
Folks, I want to be really clear - BIRD FLU IS NOW EVERYWHERE. I'm not kidding. It is in every single state. It is almost certainly in populations of birds and probably mammals in your state. It may well be in partially frozen wetland soils (flu is very stable in cold temps.)
If you have backyard or farm poultry they must live all the time in a clean, COVERED (not with mesh, because the disease can be transmitted by wild bird droppings) run. I know that sucks. I know it is better for them to free range. But if they get avian flu they will be sick and then dead and that is much worse for them. There is no such thing as a healthy practice that will prevent avian flu - the healthiest birds were wild ones, and they have bird flu.
If you feed birds, you MUST keep the feeders clean EVERY DAY with bleach, and handle them with PPE. I, however, would suggest not feeding birds or putting out birdbaths that encourage multiple species to congregate. There's too much risk of spreading disease.
Bird flu has been found in almost every wild mammal and every domesticated animal (I'm not aware of any in sheep, but I'm sure it will happen), so if you have pets, keep them inside, keep them away from wild birds and wetlands and a on a leash. Do not let them touch dead animals - not just birds, but any creature. Do not let them run where there are geese or other waterfowl.
Avoid zoos, fairs, animal sales, wet markets (yes, we have them here), and live animal exhibitions. Encourage wildlife rehab, and any animal rescues to practice safe care. Remember, one sick animal can kill all the currrently healthy ones. Do no show animals, do not let people visit your farm from other farms, practice good biosecurity.
ANY wild animal, pretty much, may have bird flu. Report any dead wild creature or domestic animal illness to public health.
This is not, unfortunately, a good time to get into backyard chicken keeping. As we got into hatching season, be VERY careful about ordering chicks and getting them through the mail. Also be careful about any birds you bring in from stores - isolate them for a while.
You shoudl be handling all livestock and wild animals with PPE. Period.
You MUST at all times assume that there is bird flu in your neighborhood and in wild animals and birds in your community. Right now it is so widespread that it needs to be an absolute default assumption.