Protecting Your Backyard Flock: A Comprehensive Guide to Avian Influenza in Australia

As a backyard chicken keeper in Australia, you play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our nation’s poultry population. A significant threat to our chooks is Avian Influenza (AI), also known as bird flu. This guide is continuously updated and provides essential information about AI, its impact on Australian poultry and, most importantly, how you can protect your beloved backyard flock – now updated to include the latest outbreak details.

Understanding Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that affects birds, including our domestic poultry. It's caused by Type A influenza viruses and can be classified into two categories based on their ability to cause disease:

1. Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI)
2. High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI)

LPAI strains typically cause mild symptoms and are commonly found in wild bird populations worldwide, including those in Australia. On the other hand, HPAI strains can lead to severe disease with high mortality rates [2].

Important update, 26 August 2026: H5 bird flu is now in Victoria

The situation has moved significantly since June. H5 bird flu is now present in wild birds in Victoria, and Agriculture Victoria has stated plainly that the virus cannot be controlled in the wild. Detections began in wild seabirds along the south-west coast around Portland and Nelson, and have since been confirmed in East Gippsland, near Hamilton and at further locations across the south of the state, including Victoria's first case in a little penguin.

Nationally, the virus has also been confirmed in Tasmania and, for the first time in an Australian mammal, in a long-nosed fur seal at Beachport in South Australia. Both national and Victorian authorities have shifted from reporting individual detections to reporting confirmed "events", reflecting official advice that H5 is now expected to be an ongoing wildlife disease requiring long-term management rather than a short outbreak that can be eradicated from wild birds. Wildlife authorities have vaccinated more than 5,000 little penguins at Phillip Island and St Kilda, and both the Melbourne Royal Show and the Royal Adelaide Show have cancelled their poultry competitions as a precaution.

For the great majority of backyard keepers, the practical advice has not changed, only its urgency. There have still been no detections of H5 bird flu in poultry anywhere in Australia, commercial or backyard. The risk to human health remains low, and eggs and chicken meat are safe when handled and cooked properly.

Agriculture Victoria advises that the current risk to backyard flocks remains low and that backyard poultry owners are not required to keep their birds indoors. Victoria now has a mandatory poultry housing requirement, introduced on 7 August and extended on 22 August for at least a further 28 days, until 18 September 2026, but it applies only to owners of 50 or more birds in listed local government areas across metropolitan Melbourne and the coastal and southern shires. A typical backyard flock falls well below that threshold.

Reporting is now one of the most useful things an owner can do. Any unexplained illness or death in your own birds must be reported immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, as bird flu is a notifiable disease and reporting is a legal obligation. For wildlife, Agriculture Victoria asks the public to report clusters of five or more sick or dead wild birds of any species anywhere in Victoria, and even a single sick or dead seabird, waterbird, shorebird, bird of prey or marine mammal such as a seal or dolphin. Do not touch or move sick or dead birds, as handling them can spread the virus. Record what you see, note the exact location, take photos, keep pets away, and report it through Agriculture Victoria's online wildlife reporting form or by calling 1800 675 888.

Older updates:

Important update, 20 June 2026: H5 bird flu reaches Australia for the first time

Australia has recorded its first detection of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza. On 20 June 2026, the CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed the virus in a wild brown skua, a migratory seabird found at Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance in Western Australia. A second seabird, a giant petrel from the same region, also tested positive. Both birds had been taken into wildlife care and have since died.

This is the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b strain that has spread across other continents since 2021, killing millions of wild birds and spilling into a range of mammal populations overseas. Its arrival here is a clear milestone, and not the kind anyone was hoping for.

What this does and does not mean for your flock:

• It has not been detected in any poultry, and Australia officially remains free of bird flu in poultry. 
• The detection is in wild seabirds on the WA coast, roughly the width of the country away.
• It is a different strain from the H7 bird flu that affected Victorian poultry farms in 2020, 2024 and 2025. Those H7 outbreaks were all contained and eradicated.
  

That said, Agriculture Victoria has been clear that the risk of H5 reaching Victoria is rising now that it is in Australia. The spread is driven by migratory birds, which is exactly why keeping wild birds away from your flock is the thing to focus on.

 

The 2025 Situation in Australia

Updated: 25 February 2025

Recent developments have seen a new outbreak of H7 AI in northern Victoria. Agriculture Victoria has confirmed that a fourth egg farm site near Euroa has tested positive for the high pathogenic H7N8 strain. This site, which is in close proximity to other affected properties and part of the same farming group, falls within a restricted area where all infected properties are currently under quarantine.

Key points include:

New Outbreak Details:
Diagnostic tests at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong confirmed the presence of the high pathogenic H7N8 strain. Importantly, this is a new outbreak and is not related to the 2024 outbreaks in Victoria, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory which were successfully eradicated.

Control Measures:
A restricted area with a radius of about 5 km has been established around the infected properties. This control area, located in Strathbogie Shire (east of the Goulburn Valley Freeway), includes several townships such as Euroa, Violet Town, Longwood, Ruffy, Avenel, and Strathbogie. All properties within this zone must adhere to strict movement and biosecurity regulations. For producers with 50 or more birds, specific housing requirements now apply to help contain the virus.

Response Actions:
Agriculture Victoria is actively working with property owners. The first two infected properties have already undergone the humane destruction of poultry, and work is underway at the third and now the fourth site. Any suspicion of an emergency animal disease should be reported immediately to the 24-hour EAD Hotline on 1800 675 888 or your local vet.

It is worth noting that the current outbreak involves the H7N8 strain – not the H5N1 strain affecting parts of the world. Although cases of human infection following direct contact with infected animals can occur, the risk to the public remains very low.

Recognising the Signs of Avian Influenza

As a backyard chicken owner, it's crucial to be vigilant and watch for signs of disease in your flock. The last thing you want is for the wrong wild bird to come into contact with your chickens and pass on any diseases, particularly AI. Some common symptoms of AI include:

• Sudden death
• Lethargy or reluctance to walk, eat or drink
• Droopy appearance or ruffled feathers
• Head or limb swelling
• Bruising of the wattle, comb, feet or skin
• Respiratory signs such as panting, nasal discharge or sneezing
• Diarrhoea
• Unusual head or neck posture, incoordination, inability to walk or stand
• Unusual reduction in egg laying [3]

Remember, these signs usually appear in several or all birds in a flock. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's crucial to act quickly and report them.

Protecting Your Backyard Flock

Now that we understand the threat of AI, let's focus on how you can protect your backyard chickens. Here are some essential biosecurity measures you should implement:

1. Prevent Contact with Wild Birds

Wild birds, especially waterfowl, can be carriers of AI viruses. To minimise the risk:

• Prevent your chooks from accessing ponds, creeks, puddles or water receptacles that can potentially be used by wild birds
• Use mesh or netting where practical to separate your poultry and their food and water from wild birds
• Make your chicken coop and run are wild bird and rodent-proof [1]

2. Maintain Good Hygiene Practices

Cleanliness is key in preventing the spread of diseases:

• Practice good hygiene at all times which includes washing your hands after touching eggs or chickens
• Clean and disinfect feed and water containers regularly with Coop Clean.
• Make sure that your chicken coop and run are dry
• Use a deep litter system with wood shavings to break down all manure into bacteria-free compost
• Use hemp in your nesting boxes to better retard the growth of bacteria and absorb moisture
• Clean your shoes/boots or better still, use a dedicated pair of boots for use inside your coop or run

3. Manage Water and Feed Safely

Ensure your birds have access to clean, uncontaminated water and feed:

• Use treated (chlorinated), mains water or filtered water from a roof to remove any contaminants from bird, possum or rodent feces
• Use a good tread-on or step-on feeder such as our ChookTred to prevent wild birds being attracted into your coop or run
• Never throw scraps into your chicken coop or run. Instead, feed them on a hygienic scrap tray Remove any leftover scraps and drop them into your compost bin
• Store litter and chicken feed securely in rodent and wild-bird-proof containers (preferably steel like our feed storage bins), to avoid contamination [1]

4. Quarantine New Hens

When introducing new hens to your flock:

• Quarantine any new hens for at least 30 days if at all possible
• Monitor quarantined hens closely before introducing them to your existing flock
• Always source birds from reputable producers or breeders whose bird health status you can ask questions about and be confident in the answers received [1][3]

5. Limit Visitor Access

Restrict access to your chickens:

• Do not permit visitors unrestricted access to areas where your chickens are kept and particularly if they also own chickens or birds
• If visitors who own birds must enter, ideally, ask them to wash their hands and change footwear

6. Keep Records

• Make notes of dates, suppliers, ages and breeds for any chickens that you bring home. This can be crucial in case of an outbreak [3].
• Use leg rings as a useful way of keeping tabs on chooks that you have concerns about

What to Do If You Suspect Avian Influenza

If you suspect that your birds might have AI, it's crucial to act quickly:

1.  Immediately report any unexplained sick or dead birds to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 [1][3]
2. Do not move any of your chickens or equipment that they use
3. Isolate the affected chooks from the rest of your flock if possible
4. Increase your biosecurity measures to prevent potentially spreading the disease if your hens prove to have AI

Remember, Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease so if you suspect that you have an infection you will need to report it.

Egg Safety and Your Family’s Health

It's natural to be concerned about the safety of eggs during an AI outbreak. However, it's important to note that no food safety issues have been identified. Properly cooked eggs are quite safe to eat [1][4].

While cases among humans in direct contact with animals or birds infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are possible, the current risk to the public remains extremely low [4].

Staying Informed

As the situation with Avian Influenza can change, it's important to stay informed. Regular updates are provided by Agriculture Victoria and other state agriculture departments. You can also find valuable information on websites such as:

• Agriculture Victoria (https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/)
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (https://www.agriculture.gov.au/)

As backyard chicken keepers, we have a responsibility to protect not only our own flocks but also those of our neighbours and beyond. By implementing good biosecurity practices, staying vigilant for signs of disease and acting quickly if we suspect AI, we can play a crucial role in preventing the spread of AI.

Remember, your chickens rely on you for their health and safety. By following these guidelines and staying informed, you're not just protecting your backyard flock – you're contributing to the health of Australia's poultry population and the security of our food supply.

[1] https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/poultry-diseases/avian-influenza-bird-flu/avian-influenza-information-for-backyard-poultry-owners

[2] https://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/avian-influenza-and-its-risk-to-australian-poultry/

[3] https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/avian-influenza/domestic

[4] https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/poultry-diseases/avian-influenza-bird-flu