Backyard chicken owners are starting to worry about the quiet return of the avian influenza. Here’s why
The bird flu hasn’t gone away. If you own a flock of backyard chickens, your flock is directly in the line of fire. The United States is in the middle of another avian influenza outbreak. It is nothing like the one in 2025, which wiped out millions of commercial poultry and triggered a national egg shortage, but it is still enough to worry anyone who keeps a flock.
Dervan Bryan, assistant professor of poultry science at Penn State University, told Campus Insights Media there were around 62 active cases across the US as of April 2026. Of those, 39 were commercial and 23 affected backyard flocks.
“The virus is highly contagious and it affects all avian species and it can be very devastating,” Bryan said.
That is why bird flu deserves attention even in a quieter year. It is a highly contagious disease caused by Influenza A viruses that mainly infect wild aquatic birds and domestic poultry.
It shows up in two forms. Low pathogenic avian influenza often causes no illness or only mild signs like fewer eggs or ruffled feathers. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, the type behind the 2025 outbreak, causes severe illness and high death rates.
“We are concerned about the highly pathogenic avian influenza because this one has a very high mortality rate in domestic avian species,” Bryan said.
How bird flu reaches backyard chickens
Ducks, swans, geese, chickens and turkeys are the birds most often affected, though the virus has also turned up in dairy cows, marine animals, wild animals, pets and people.
Backyard chickens usually catch it through direct contact with infected wild birds like migratory ducks and geese, or through a contaminated environment. The virus spreads in wild bird saliva, nasal secretions and feces.
Bird flu symptoms in chickens, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, include sudden death, low energy or appetite, purple discoloration or swelling, reduced egg production, misshapen eggs, nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing and poor coordination.
If you spot any of these signs in your pet chickens, contact your veterinarian or local extension agent. Avian influenza is a reportable disease, so you must also report it to your state or local health department.
Bird flu symptoms in humans and how to stay safe
The risk to people is low but real. The CDC has recorded 71 human cases of A(H5) bird flu in the US since February 2024. Two of them were fatal.
Symptoms of bird flu in humans include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, eye redness or tearing, headache, runny nose, body aches and diarrhea.
People usually catch it through prolonged unprotected contact with infected animals or their fluids. You can also get it from undercooked poultry, beef or eggs, or from unpasteurized milk.
To lower your risk, the CDC recommends full protective gear before entering the coop: goggles, gloves, rubber boots, an N95, coveralls and a head cover. Keep wearing it in contaminated areas until no infected birds or waste remain, then watch yourself for symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure.
There is reason for cautious optimism. Harvard Health notes that some birds appear to be developing immunity, the virus may mutate to spread less easily, and human-to-human transmission has not been detected. Antiviral treatments like oseltamivir already exist, and vaccines could follow if infections rise.
For backyard chicken keepers, the takeaway is straightforward. Watch your flock closely, gear up before you go near sick birds, and report anything unusual to your vet or state animal health office right away.
The video “Spring migration increases bird flu concerns across US,” featuring Dervan Bryan, assistant professor of poultry science at Penn State University, was first published on Campus Insights Media.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
