The threat of a serious disease outbreak such as avian influenza (AI) or infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) should raise every backyard poultry owner’s awareness of the importance of having and maintaining a strong biosecurity program. Biosecurity means doing all you can to prevent an infectious disease from being carried onto your farm by people, pets, wild animals, equipment, or vehicles. It also means taking steps to reduce the likelihood that disease (should it occur) will leave your property. Backyard biosecurity provides a measure of protection for you, other backyard poultry keepers, and the multi-billion dollar commercial poultry and egg industry in Mississippi. While you cannot control anyone else’s biosecurity practices, you can take steps to ensure that you are not putting your chickens, other backyard flocks, or the commercial industry at risk.
