Annual bird migration on radar of poultry farmers

Migration season represents a cause for concern among poultry farmers, said Dr. Craig Coufal, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service poultry specialist in College Station, Texas. Coufal said the threat of avian influenza is heightened due to annual migrations by wild bird species, particularly waterfowl. “It’s that time of year,” he said. “You’ve got large numbers of ducks and geese that have been commingling and interacting in the North, and there is real concern about those migratory birds coming into contact with domestic birds via vectors such as humans, droppings, an airborne contaminant or direct contact. People need to be vigilant about keeping migratory birds away from their domestic birds.”  Read more