Lucky and Blanca are Bantam chickens that enjoy indoor privileges. Photo by Danny Fulgencio.

Attention bird owners: Avian influenza has been identified in a backyard flock within the boundaries of the City of Dallas, according to a District 9 newsletter.

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This virus can infect domestic poultry, fowl and birds, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese.

It is transmitted from bird to bird through the air or indirectly, through contaminated material. Risk of contracting the virus is increased with the movement of people, birds and equipment, as well as with exposure to migratory waterfowl.

Humans, in general, are not normally infected, but infection can occur with unprotected, direct contact with an infected bird.

Here are some common symptoms of avian flu:

  • Sudden death without clinical signs
  • Lack of energy and appetite
  • Decreased egg production
  • Soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
  • Nasal discharge
  • Coughing and sneezing
  • Incoordination
  • Diarrhea
  • Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks
  • Purple discoloration of the wattles, cobs and legs

To reduce the chances of birds becoming infected, here are a few things to do.

  1. Limit incoming and outgoing traffic on your property.
  2. Make sure equipment, tires and undercarriages of vehicles are disinfected before entering or leaving places where poultry are.
  3. Minimize the number of people coming into the area where poultry stay.
  4. Wear clean clothes and disinfect before and after working with poultry.
  5. Don’t let poultry flocks come into contact with migratory birds.
  6. Keep poultry away from bodies of water that wild birds could have contaminated.
  7. Try not to visit any other poultry farms. But if you have to, make sure to disinfect or change clothes and shoes before returning to your farm.
  8. Don’t bring any birds to your farm unless you know the flock of origin is healthy.

Report suspected and confirmed cases of avian flu to the Texas Animal Health Commission by calling 1-800-550-8242.

Learn more in the graphic below.

Avian flu graphic courtesy of TAHC via City of Dallas.