Let’s Talk Avian Influenza

This is a hot topic these days. Avian Influenza…also called Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Bird Flu, H5N1, and possibly other names I’m unaware of.  This pathogen is mostly affecting domesticated poultry (chickens, turkeys, etc).  We are hearing the most about chickens; in particular, egg laying hens.  Which I’m sure you’ve noticed has taken its toll on egg supply and price.

This pathogen is having devastating effects on large commercial poultry producers that are raising a single commodity (eggs).  I’m talking about farms raising thousands of birds, with their only product being eggs.  You will likely not see small farms like ours that raise their hens on pasture being impacted as much or if at all by HPAI.

And that difference comes from how our birds are raised. Our chickens have all the access to sunlight, fresh air, a diverse diet (bugs, forage, grains, fodder, veggies, animal protein, etc.), plenty of space in their coop AND outside giving them a more robust and resilient immune system.  Not to mention the tastiest of eggs. This (along with the variety of goods we produce on our farm allows us to weather the ‘bird flu’ storm with greater ease.  All of our eggs are not in one basket, so to speak.

The same cannot be said for large, sole laying hen producers that could lose their entire flock in a short period of time. Either from the death loss due to the flu or from the government regulations requiring all birds on that farm to be culled and disposed of. Which leads to a delay in egg production because it takes 20ish weeks for a chicken to go from chick to laying eggs. This can have significant affects on the egg supply and therefore price, if we are assuming “old school” supply and demand economics.

Because of these things, I personally am less concerned about HPAI here on our farm at least for now.  Even if it were to affect our hens at some point, we may not even be aware of it because their resilient immune systems could likely fight it off.  We’ll remain aware of HPAI and how it’s impacting poultry, but we will not be operating in fear of it.  Our eggs will continue to provide nature’s multivitamin to us and our customers.

Cheers to healthy hens and delicious eggs,
Stephanie