A bird flu outbreak at a California egg farm has killed 1.3 million laying hens, with restoring production expected to take months, according to The Cool Down. I looked at the report, which says the timing is especially rough because the farm supplies eggs just before the holiday baking rush.
The outbreak hit a single farm in California, and state agriculture officials confirmed the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain. The loss of so many hens means a significant drop in egg supply for the state, and the report notes that bringing a farm back to full production after a bird flu quarantine can take two to three months.
For California homeowners, this isn’t just about egg prices. If you have backyard chickens, this outbreak is a reminder that bird flu spreads through wild birds, especially waterfowl. The virus can also infect mammals, including cats and dogs that eat or contact sick birds. If you keep birds in your yard, you need to know the steps to protect them, and if a wild bird gets into your house, you should follow the advice in our guide on emergency wildlife in your home.
What this means for you in California is that you should not touch a dead or sick wild bird. The California Department of Public Health advises you to call your local animal control agency to remove the bird safely. If you have a chicken coop, keep wild birds out by covering the run and cleaning up spilled feed. The virus can survive on shoes and clothes, so change your footwear and wash your hands before tending your flock.
The notice is published by The Cool Down at www.thecooldown.com.
