Poultry Health and Wellness

Poultry health and wellness guidance for flocks of all sizes.

Defend the Flock badge graphic, with the subtitle 'Let's keep our poultry safe together' and thumbnail of UDAF biosecurity flyer.

Biosecurity: Preventing the Spread of Poultry Disease

Learn about poultry biosecurity and how to spot disease symptoms from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Defend the Flock website and view the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food's Biosecurity Checklist for Poultry Owners.

Defend the Flock Website

UDAF Biosecurity PDF Checklist

H5N1 bird flu viruses growing inside cells, seen under a microscope.

Avian Influenza Awareness for Hobby and Backyard Chicken Owners

This advisory gives you the basic information about the virus, as well as seven steps towards what you can do to protect your home flock.

Avian Flu Advisory

Closeup of a red rooster on a dark background.

USU Extension Poultry Health and Wellness Articles

White and brown speckled chicken against blurred green and blue background.

CDC Backyard Poultry

CDC's guide to germs backyard flocks can carry, including bird flu, salmonella, campylobacter, and E. coli. Covers handwashing, safe egg handling, keeping kids under 5 away from chicks, and signs of a sick bird.

Visit CDC Backyard Poultry

Additional Poultry Disease Info for Backyard Raisers

Marek's Disease

Avian Pox

Control of Backyard Chicken Diseases

Disease and Parasite Monitoring and Disinfection in Commercial Poultry Housing

Drag Swab Collection Instructions for Salmonella Testing of Small-Flock Layer Housing (PDF)

Step-by-step instructions for collecting drag swab samples from layer housing to test for salmonella. Dragging sterile swabs through litter and manure areas lets producers check their environment for contamination and confirm that cleaning and biosecurity practices are working.

Intestinal Parasite Monitoring in Poultry and Gamebirds (PDF)

A factsheet describing the method that producers can use to monitor intestinal parasite load in brooders, flight pens, and growout facilities in order to determine if treatment and control measures are working. The procedure is contingent on the availability of a microscope along with adequate training interpreting the results.

Disinfectants Against Avian Influenza Viruses (PDF)

You can help minimize the spread of Avian Influenza. By properly following these tips, such as placing hand-sanitizers at all entrances of buildings, you can help keep yourself and your chicken population healthy.