Tag: bird flu

“Dead Birds Flying” (Another Bird Flu Update)

~ Crystal Sands ~ Leave a comment

I wish I had better news to share about the bird flu right now. In terms of spread to humans, chances are still low, but in the last 24 hours, another human became infected. This time, it was a dairy worker in Nevada. So far, there is no human to human transmission, but about 70 people have become infected from animals. And, according to research presented in a recent article in Scientific American, the virus is just one mutation away from being able to bind more efficiently to human cells.

And while transmission to humans is a concern as the virus continues to mutate, right now, outbreaks in wild and domestic bird populations are decimating populations. Eggs are so expensive people are stealing them by the truckload. I saw today that organic eggs were $11 a dozen at the grocery store. Maine has now also reported its first cases in York County, and the state has issued a high alert for the virus. I’ll speak to what we are doing and what other chicken keepers can do below, but I wanted to step back for a moment and talk about the devastation this virus is having on wildlife.

This weekend, I read an article at NPR about why the bird flu we are experiencing now is so much worse than the bird flu of the past. I have seen many people in farming and chicken forums skeptical about the dangers of the bird flu, citing evidence that bird flu has been around forever and that there have been outbreaks in the past. These things are true, but there has been an adaptation in the bird flu in recent years that has changed things. Things are not as they used to be. Nothing really is, is it?

Scientists in the article explain that, starting in 2020 to 2021, the virus adapted. In the past, sick birds would die quickly from the symptoms, which cut down on the spread of the virus. In recent years, the virus has adapted, and infected birds live longer–just long enough to spread the virus to another population. It’s causing the virus to spread differently than in the past, and there are many, many people who are in denial about this, which never bodes well for the prevention of spread.

The author of the article, Gabrielle Emanuel, citing experts who have studied the flu virus for decades, explains:

“The particular virus that causes bird flu — H5N1 — itself is not new. It’s a disease that originated in east Asia, first detected in China in 1996. The virus has mostly terrorized poultry farms and led to massive culling. It has occasionally spilled over to humans, causing some 400 deaths over the decades, but rarely spreads human-to-human. And while it has jumped over into wild birds periodically — killing many birds in many places — it never took off globally.

Then came 2020 and 2021, when the version that’s driving the current outbreak emerged.

The virus evolved so some wild birds are able to migrate just far enough to reach another bird community or mammal population to pass the virus on before dying.”

A scientist cited in the article explains it’s like “dead birds flying,” and the virus is wreaking havoc on wildlife–birds, marine mammals, and, of course, it’s spreading to both commercial and backyard chicken flocks, dairy farms, and some humans.

I guess the question comes down to this: What can we do?

While scientists keep stressing the importance of government preparedness (I read that the UK has ramped up production of vaccines), it’s not hopeful that our government is doing anything to prepare for this. In the immediate, if you live in a state like we do where there have been cases of bird flu, it’s a good idea to take some precautions.

We do not live near water, so that helps us, but it’s no guarantee, of course. We studied the migration patterns of birds and see that our greatest risk in our part of Maine is from the first of April to the middle of June. If we start to see cases in our area, we will have to lock down the flock. To make it possible to lock down the flock, Ron plans to build two covered high tunnels that he thinks will be able to withstand the wind. I’ll definitely keep you posted on Ron’s plans because he thinks his plans will be affordable and effective, and he’s usually right on such things.

In the immediate, we are keeping food and water away from wildlife. We are only feeding the chickens in the coop, and they are barely leaving the coop right now anyway because of all the snow. Last year, when we realized we had better not get new chicken babies and work on naturally downsizing the flock, who knew it was going to be so important so quickly?

It’s also important to keep people away from the flock, and we are using designated shoes for the coop, but we always do the latter. I have also not been letting the flock have driveway time this winter, which makes everyone sad.

Our ducks have also been locking themselves down for the most part on their own because of all the snow, but we do keep their feed and water outside, so I am making a canvas tent this week to connect to their duck house and put food and water in. My only worry is that those skittish runner ducks won’t stand for it. I’ll keep you posted.

If you have chickens, this site from the University of Minnesota Extension office is very helpful. I have also been following the altCDC on social media. It seems like a good idea.

Please take good care, everyone. There is so much to follow in the news that we can’t keep up with it all. It’s just exhausting. I’ll do my best to keep you updated on bird flu.

photo credit: Edouard Gilles, Unsplash

A Bird Flu Update

~ Crystal Sands ~ 4 Comments

On Friday, I was hanging out with my daughter, and we ran into Target to see if I could find a package of organic bagels. I have found that, more and more, I have a hard time hunting down organic foods at the grocery store. I guess it’s okay because it forces me to make more of my own, but sometimes, I just wish to buy a package of organic bagels. Alas, there were no bagels, but I also noticed something else–there were no eggs. Not a single egg at my local Target.

Our hens have been laying well enough that I have not had to buy eggs since right before Christmas, and the last time I was at Target getting eggs, the cooler was full of all the eggs. It looked a little surreal seeing the empty shelves in the cooler. It triggered some anxiety for sure, but I was very thankful for our chickens. My mind went to how important it is to take care of those birds.

There was a sign in the egg section that said something about the shortage due to bird flu and that they didn’t know when more eggs would be in.

I wish I could update you more than I am able to on the state of things related to the bird flu, but last week, the Trump administration ordered the CDC to stop all public communications. The CDC was set to release a big report on bird flu this coming week. I worry about not having a national organization to connect the dots for us, but I can see that we will have to do our best based on local and state news stories. I think NPR does a pretty good job of providing national coverage.

The trouble with bird flu is layered. First, there is the worry about it jumping to different species. We know it has jumped to a variety of mammals, including cows and is everywhere in our milk supply. While I read that no humans have gotten sick from cow’s milk, the fact that this is jumping to mammals just doesn’t make you feel good about it, to say the least. There have been 67 reported cases of bird flu in humans in the United States and just one death. I read the biggest concern about bird flu getting us sick is that the virus was noted to be mutating within the human hosts, but overall, the risk to most people is low right now. Still, the person who died got it from his backyard flock, so there’s that.

Another worry is what happens to commercial flocks and our food supply chains in the U.S. Bird flu cases are popping up more and more, with some large scale outbreaks in Georgia, Ohio, New York, and more. The New York duck farm that had to euthanize 100,000 ducks this week was such a worry to me because it’s so far north. As far as I know, there have not been any cases in Maine this year, but there was one in Vermont about two weeks ago. It worries me for there not to be a break from the virus in the winter.

I am also worried because our homestead is not as prepared as I would like it to be. We have been downsizing our flock in anticipation of bird flue, but it’s a slow process. We still have 33 birds. Right now, our flock is mostly on a self-imposed lock down in the coop, but our run is not covered. On top of this, our flock has lived their lives in the chicken pasture just living it up as chickens. And this is my third concern about the bird flu: What happens to backyard flocks?

I use Maine poultry Facebook groups to monitor the state of things in our area. Again, no cases yet, but I am saddened to report that there are a significant number of chicken keepers who are laughing about the bird flu and acting like it is made up. These people will certainly not take any precautions. And maybe they are right. Maybe they will get lucky. Maybe we will get lucky.

But, of course, it is a mistake to mistake luck for evidence, and while some people do not know this, I know this. As soon as the snow melts, if there are cases in Maine, we have to build a new run and cover it. This is going to be so expensive because we want a big run for those birds. They are used to so much space. We cannot lock them down without respect to that and their happiness, but we may have to lock them down. Can you imagine how this is going to sit with Ruby? She wanted out in the driveway today, but I didn’t let her. I’m trying to train her for the worst, and she was just heartbroken. My little girl. My heart aches for her. Yeah, our run is going to cost us all the money.

The headlines in the national news say to expect eggs prices to go higher and for shortages to continue. I am sure it won’t take long for any food item that uses eggs, such as mayonnaise, to also jump in price. I can see that the spring is very likely to bring a lot more cases. I am reading and reading right now about things small flock owners can do without panicking, and I will write more about that later this week. In addition to working on a cover for our run, we are having to tell neighbors they cannot visit our chickens for now, and we are being very careful with our shoes. But I can see that we will need to take much more stringent precautions if bird flu heads our direction, and I will share what I learn, of course.

In the meantime, if you do not keep chickens, find a local farmer or homesteader and make a connection right now to buy eggs. If you do keep chickens, keep a close eye on your local news and try to join poultry forums in your area if you are on Facebook. I will also work to keep updates going here.

If you have questions or just have updates to share, please post them in the comments. Numbers on my blog are growing, so I am hoping this can be a good space to communicate about such things. I also have this idea to start a chicken podcast in the coming week or two, but we will see. We’ll see if I can be organized enough to make it happen.

Why Eggs Are So Expensive Right Now–and What You Can Do About It

~ Crystal Sands ~ Leave a comment

Day 240 of 365

Everyone is talking about it. My friends and family send pictures of eggs with expensive price tags. Eggs have been so cheap in recent years that people are shocked by how expensive they are right now. Prices vary by area, but as of December 2022, egg prices had jumped over 49 percent. It looks like the prices may continue to rise in the coming months. On top of the rising prices, I have read reports of egg rationing in some areas of the U.S., much like what has happened in the UK in recent years.

What is going on? Though rising costs of feed and supplies for farming are factors, avian flu or bird flu is mainly to blame.

Avian Flu Hits the United States

Avian flu has historically been relatively rare in the United Sates. There have certainly been outbreaks, but last year was a big one. Last year, anyone with chickens was highly aware of a deadly outbreak of bird flu in the U.S. Even here in Maine, a state that had been fortunate in terms of avian flu outbreaks in the past, there were enough cases of avian flu that chicken farmers throughout the state were encouraged to enclose their flocks, something that is not an easy task for most small farmers. While most of the cases here in Maine were near bodies of water, it was a serious scare for everyone in our state.

But Maine’s cases were few compared to what was happening in other states in 2022. According to recent data from the United States Department of Agriculture, an estimated 57.8 million birds were affected by avian flu last year. I don’t know if everyone else was paying attention to the chicken news, but it was devastating to read about the cases impacting large farms where millions of birds had to be destroyed. Sadly, they were often destroyed in some of the most inhumane ways. It was like a tragedy that just kept building upon the previous tragedy. Now, months later, consumers are feeling the effects of a year of epic loss.

The United Kingdom As Warning

As a chicken farmer, I have been following the outbreak of avian flu in the United Kingdom fairly closely because the stories have been worrisome for years–year after year of outbreak, flocks destroyed, required indoor lockdown for all flocks. These are things we are not used to here in the U.S, but scientists have been warning for years that the U.S. could be in for a taste of what has happened in the U.K. Year after year of outbreaks has led to significant changes in the way poultry are kept in many parts of the U.K., and even that is not enough. 2022 was a record year for avian flu in the U.K. According to reports from late last year, egg rationing was necessary in some grocery stores.

Bird Flu and Climate Change

You may be wondering why we are seeing such record numbers of avian flu cases, and some scientists point to climate change. At the very least, researchers know for sure that climate change impacts avian flu cases amongst wild birds. And this year’s epic outbreak of avian flu was directly related to wild bird contact with commercial and backyard flocks. Experts were not seeing cases spread from flock to flock. It was being spread by wild birds, who are often immune to the symptoms.

Climate change impacts migratory patterns–what birds come into contact with what other birds and when. On top of this, warmer temperatures impact transmission. According to a report from Arizona State University, researchers at several universities in the U.S. warned in 2019 that “a shift in the global climate could lead to a shift in migratory patterns, leading to the reassortment of these viral strains and increasing the chances of a new, threatening strain emerging. Higher temperatures are also typically more conducive to viral transmission and pathogenicity.”

What You Can Do

I have always been a supporter of buying local eggs from your local chicken keepers, and now is a good time to connect to someone locally who sells eggs. Even chicken farmers and homesteaders with small flocks will often have extra eggs to sell during the spring and summer months. Of course, these small chicken farmers are also being impacted by the cost of feed and supples, but if you are looking for delicious eggs at a fair price, now is the time to connect with your local chicken lady.

In addition to saving money, you will be buying fresher eggs that taste better and may even be more nutritious than the eggs you get a the grocery store. You will also be able to experience the beauty and diversity of eggs from a small farm or homestead. You will find eggs in all shapes and sizes and in a variety of beautiful colors from blue to green to chocolate and cream.

And, if you are ambitious and have been thinking about getting chickens anyway, it’s something to consider. Of course, right now, building a coop and buying expensive food may not be the best option if you are looking to save money; however, in the long run, you will be more self sufficient and prepared. And, more and more, cities across the country are allowing backyard flocks.

What the Future Holds

Because there is a connection between climate change and avian flu, as a chicken farmer, I have concerns about the future. The U.S. has been fortunate, but scientists have been warning that we may not always be so fortunate. This last year has been cause for serious concern. In an article from NPR early last year, Jonathan Runstadler, an influenza researcher at Tufts University said, “It’s somewhat surprising how widespread it is already in North America.” He continued. “It’s clearly able to persist and transmit from year to year in parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, and I don’t think we should be surprised if that’s going to be the case here.”

If we do see repeated years of avian flu, it could mean that eggs will be more difficult to get, even from a local chicken farmer, as smaller farmers most likely do not have the facilities to keep chickens in lockdown–or at least not very many chickens. If we had to lock down our chickens, for example, we would have to keep fewer chickens, which means we would have eggs for our family and a couple other families, but we would not be able to sell eggs on the scale that we do now. We would also have some very sad chickens who would lose their freedom to come and go as they please.

For now, however, I try to be hopeful, hopeful that we will not see a repeat of 2022 in 2023. And, for now, it’s going to be a really good year to buy eggs from your local chicken farmer.