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, 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. 
• It has not been detected in Victoria. 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.
• There is currently no housing order and no restricted zone affecting backyard keepers in Victoria.

 

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.

Is it safe to eat eggs? Yes. The Australian Centre for Disease Control advises H5 bird flu is a low risk to people and rarely affects humans, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand advises that eggs are not a food safety risk when handled and cooked correctly.

What to do right now. The single most effective step is to keep wild birds away from your flock's feed and water. Practical measures:

• Feed and water under cover, where wild birds cannot reach or foul it (excuse the pun). A good tread-on feeder, like our Chook Tred unit, that only opens for your own birds, paired with sealed feed storage, removes the wild bird buffet almost entirely, our new stainless steel feed storage bins are perfect for this.
• Keep pens, feeders and equipment clean by using a sanitiser designed specifically for this purpose, such as Coop Clean. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling birds.
• Limit visitors to your birds.
• House or separate your birds from wild birds where it is practical to do so.
• Watch closely for anything unusual, particularly sudden unexplained deaths.

 

Reporting. Bird flu is a notifiable disease, which means you are legally required to report it. In Victoria, call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226. Nationally, the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline is 1800 675 888. Agriculture Victoria

Staying current. This situation is moving, and official advice can change quickly. For the latest, check Agriculture Victoria and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry rather than relying on information more than a few days old.

 

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 Vic Emergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 or 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