How to Protect Your Chickens from Bird Flu & Predators
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- In this video I will show you ho to protect your chickens from bird flu and predators. Avian influenza H5N1 is in the news again. Will your flock get avian flu (bird flu)? There are some simple ways to protect them. Also I will show you how to protect your chickens from predators like foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and hawks.
Automatic Chicken Coop Door: amzn.to/3C2sMfv
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Hi I'm Brian with Little Homestead - Big Dreams. If this is your first time here... welcome! I'm glad you're here! If you're a longtime friend, welcome back!!
For most of my life I was a city boy, gardening in the suburbs. I was the first generation in my family to not grow up on a farm and somehow it was still there inside me. So now my wife Emilie, son Noah and I have moved to a small farm (at least it will be) and we're documenting our journey on this channel. Building gardens and chicken coops, buying a dairy cow and who knows what else lies in store. But we can't wait to take you with us!
(Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we'll receive a small commission that helps support our channel, but the price remains the same, or better for you!)
Refreshing narrative. Fear mongering and hype are all too prevalent nowadays. A good dose of calm & common sense is needed!
Yes!
I agree with you! Bella is beautiful! I am 71 and live in an adult community. When Covid hit I asked God to keep it from me, He has! Praise God I’ve never have had Covid. My family has, my neighbors have, people around me have, I haven’t! I keep me safe with God’s help. God bless you, I love your hen house!
You are so right about the fear mongering. The ladles at work asked if I was worried about bird flu in my flock & you said exactly what I told them. Thanks for bringing it up.
So glad you brought up the bird flu hysteria the media likes to encourage. I agree that common sense should prevail. We all have to remember that the mainstream media's job is to make money, so take what they say with a grain of salt...or chicken feed.
💯
Don't waste the chicken feed! lol
I am a grandma. My great grandpa was a poultry Farmer. He was retired by the time I came around. That just meant he only had a hundred or so chickens at any given time. He taught me alot about chickens. My whole family knows about chickens. Here is what we know. If you did happen to have a chicken get chicken flu, do NOT kill your whole flock! Funny how these people screaming survival of the fittest, then won't even give the flock a chance. Let those chickens try and overcome the virus. Those who do, are stronger. And pass that on to their offspring. So that it is not any threat
This was my thought process. Happy to know it's correct.
What a dream property. Adorable cottage. What an intense amount of endless work to do, a labor of love. If you ever want to find out what it feels like to never experience boredom, buy yourself a homestead. I suffer from mental illness (depression, anxiety, grief, guilt) so for me it is helpful seeing others dealing with similar things that we just can't help. Just knowing I'm not alone helps. Thanks so much. Much love your family's way. ~Janine
Thank you. Hang in there. I know how you feel.
Highly agreed with you on our chickens as a fellow homesteader. We need to turn off the media on this.
Glad to hear you address the Bird Flu and how it is so much less likely among homesteaders and back yard chicken owners.
If there's no drama, the media will create drama.
You and Emily are excellent examples of how to be a good pet owner.
You are so right about the media blowing things out of proportion. When we lived in Cali, we always found the STORM WATCH!!! news segments when there was more than 1/2" of rain in the forecast a bit amusing. The reason so many of us want to raise our own food is so that we can follow best practices to get healthy, organic food for our families. You take such good care of all your animals. Keep being reasonable and logical.
So glad you are not captivated by the fearmongering of others on this H5-N1 issue. It is a life axiom that if we are healthy, ingesting good nutrition and low stress we will not pick up nearly as many illnesses. If this is true of us as humans, then it is entirely logical that it is true of our animals as well.
I put garlic cloves in the chicken waterer. This help keep them healthier. Also give them apple cider vinegar water from time to time, which also keeps them healthy. Just a tip. Another one is fermented food as their primary feed is a big help of their health.
Your animals are the luckiest ever, I love to watch you taking such great care of them💜🌸💜
Thank you Dianna
Me too . . . 😍 love the animals!
Thank you for reminding us to use common sense, to do some research, to think through possible problems and solutions to them.
We are COLD, DREWY and SNOW here in St.Louis. I love seeing the sunshine and green in your property! And hearing the animals always makes me smile!😀❤️
Sending you warmth and sunshine! ❤️
Oh I am so glad to see you. I have been so worried about you all with the fire 🔥 praying 🙏 for you all ❤😊
Thank you Melinda. We're good!
@littlehomesteadbigdreams Thank FATHER GOD IN JESUS NAME AMEN AND AMEN 🙏❤️😊
Spot on my friend! So excited to see the mill project. The min they started the fear mongering I laughed, you know how long bird flu has been around, a very long time! I have raised chickens my whole life, I’m 61, I have NEVER had sick birds period! All good info, as a vet tech it is VITALLY important to quarantine any livestock for at least 7-14 days to give any signs of sickness to appear. 7-14 days is a typical time period for disease to incubate. I just love your channel! Blessings to all!❤❤❤
So glad to hear you say what you said about the bird flu. There is a lot of evil crap and lies out there. All the best. Blessings. 🙏🏼💖
Great video Brian! I too am not at all concerned about my flock. Not even a teeny bit! They have a wonderful coop and run and I also let them free range a bit almost every day. They are spoiled rotten! Thanks for your voice of sanity in this crazy world.
I agree with you on bird flu. No worries.
You have the BESTEST channel! Thank you so much for making our days bright !❤️
That means a lot! Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for being levelheaded on the bird flu reporting. Love the channel.
Ya know after covid and how they found out that eggs help protect you from their nonsense I half expected them to find away to squeeze out the egss...you are doing such a great job and we enjoy your channel so much! Such an inspiration with ALL of what you have going on . Please keep it up!
Thanks for the information. Bella is such a good girl.
You're welcome. Yes she is
Really enjoyed this video, it was informative, helpful and positive. It’s so true, if you listen, read or watch media material you would live in a hole in the ground and never come out. They should be held responsible for the panics they cause and the slander they publish. Good to see Bella out of the pen and working on her job duties. Great job Brian.
One thing you didn't mention to step up prevention is personal sanitation. Washing hands between your flocks if you have more than one. Have a special pair of boots for the coop and walk thru a sanitizing boot bath. Have an apron in the coop for when you hold the birds. No I don't do all these, but if there were commercial outbreaks in my area, I would
We have been raising chickens for around 40 years and I agree with what you are saying
You hit it spot on in this video. So refreshing.
Good explanation of how you are protecting the chickens. I wondered too. I live in MN where we have a lot of migratory water fowl, large turkey and chicken farms so we get news on bird flu, but no hysterical headlines here that I’ve read. Information here is more on the practical side, thank goodness. I get eggs from my neighbor’s chickens who have access to roaming and bird flu has not been an issue, largely because of the same things as you mentioned. Great show and explanations. I don’t like the hysteria hype either, such a waste of time. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Very well said, Brian. You're informed and articulate! 😊
THANK YOU for the calm explanation of bird flu. I really appreciate you, and your channel. I started watching your other channel 4+ years ago when I started a garden.
Good to see a video from you! I don't know where exactly in California you are and I was worried you could have been affected by the fires. Stay safe, guys ❤
Thank you for sharing information on the bird flu. You are so right.
I'm not sure why I enjoy watching your feed your livestock, but I never seem to get tired of it. Thank you so much for sharing your videos. I will continue to live vicariously through you (because my wife doesn't want a backyard chicken coup.) :)
Chickens are Awesome! 🥰🐣🐥🐔🐓
Perhaps there's something that your wife DOES want...???
Then she and you could come to an agreement? Like a trade-off. 😁
Good luck 🤞🍀 with that.
Thank you for all your research and sharing it with us.😊
It feels like the THEY want to keep things stirred up. I can’t buy eggs from neighbors now they don’t have enough to go around. I can’t afford to keep my own. So it’s $10 a dozen for me.
Glad to see your chickens are well protected.
Thank you for the input.Helps lot people understand.
Thank you for a grounded, reasonable and thoughtful opinion. You are so right on every point. Thank you!
I've heard from Squirrel Tribe & i think, Poplar Report concurred.. apparently bird flu virus is killed as long as you cook your chicken properly ~ to 185°F..
I buy my eggs from a small local farmer, who is about 10 miles from me.. I don't quibble about the price... & I love that they care for their chickens.. ❤
Thank you for your words of encouragement!
Agree 💯%
Yay! A calm, reasonable response. This came at a perfect time for me. I’m currently considering getting chickens (3) to add to my Shedstead. I just finished building the last of my raised beds and hope to bring them all online for the spring planting. I really hope Emily gets involved, I’m desperate to find ways to preserve my harvest.
Honestly, it has never crossed my mind to worry about my girls getting bird flu🤷🏼♀️I feel like they are well cared for and healthy. I have changed nothing. They are not jammed into a factory flock nasty coop. I believe that is likely the biggest contributer to the spread of disease. I am grateful I have them and it is a joy to take care of them.
Thanks for your videos and all that you do. FYI, you’re channel is my absolute favorite channel that I watch as much as I can (which is always) 😂. I know that putting out videos must be a lot of work, I’ve tried and tried to get my videos up and out but have realized I am just not cut out for the camera. I know I’m a behind the scenes working guy, which our garden is always the big topic for friends and family. They always think it’s a great garden and try and encourage me to put out more. They just don’t know how difficult it is for me. I’m not good at being out there and I’m my own worst critic
Amen! Great explanation on the flu!
Thank you!
Your place is beautiful. My Australian Shepard loves to chase small animals so no guarding but he is an awesome companion for me.
Thanks for abating the bird flu drama and clearing the air (no pun intended, honest!), especially for small non-factory flocks!. You are so right, sunshine is so much more beneficial, in so many ways, than the extremely remote odds of a duck flying over and pooping into your little run :O), Amazing and sad isn't it how much fear mongering goes on in the general and social media especially :O) Thanks for being a NON-fear mongerer 😇👍👍
I like you Brian have been raising chickens most of my life and never experienced the bird flu. My flock has always been isolated from other flocks. I do not visit anyone else's chicken pins. Therefore, my chickens are not exposed to the bird flu. Also, wild birds do not have access to my chicken coop preventing contamination from wildlife.
Great video and I agree that there is too much fear mongering!
Seeing the green pasture when you feed was so pretty. Looks great.
Thanks. I think it is too.
Thanks Brian. You’re right it’s the BIG producers that are most vulnerable moving animals on and off their property. ❄️⛄️💚🙃
Excellent advice and so true.
Good old common sense...the yhing we lack most today...thank you for explaing to those who are freaking out ...the onvious
Thank you for all the information
I love your common sense approach. I have to say also that every time you walk down the banana path I am jealous I can’t grow those tropicals in Tennessee. It looks more grown in every time.
Listening to you & Joel Salatin - no, I wouldn't be worried if I could have chickens. Wish I could!
Can't eait to see the eater mill. That will look so cool.
Don’t eat before you go to bed.
If a raccoon got in your cottage, he could climb up your screen on your door and that latch is nothing for them.They are able to manipulate more complicated latches than that. Maybe change it so that you have a carabiner (?) clip that You have to take on and off which they can't do.
If you had people who wanted to visit your flock then they would have to walk into and out of a diluted bleach bath for their shoes.
We did this probably
Fifteen years ago When we heard that if you even lived near within a few miles of a bird bird farm and they had flu, then authorities, could come and take your pet parrot and kill it- And they did for several people or so it was said at time. Now not sure if it was true or not.
Not a bad idea!
Hi Brian, good info re: chichens, bird flu. I agree with you. Securing their pens is so helpful. We only have 6 chickens. Thank you. as always I love seeing your animals, soooo cute.
Good information on protecting your chickens and bird flu and how to ensure they stay safe. This could drive people to start their own chickens since the price of eggs has risen so high and the unsafe way chickens are raised by these farms not free-ranging them.
Mike (The Fit Farmer channel) shot a video lately where he was interviewing the owner of a very large operation that has two locations. One in California and one in Memphis.
I watched the entire interview so I can learn more about the bird flu, as it pertains to how the disease is spread, how you can detect it, the process of any possible prevention, or how to handle avian influenza, government inspections and how they were able to move forward.
Marc is the owner of Metzer farms, started by his grandfather. They raise different poultry and even work with the conservatory to carry rare breeds from all over.
Duck, Turkey, Guinea. It's quite an amazing breeder and hatchery.
He had to destroy every bird at the California location. Normally, that would be game over for any Farm but luckily there is the second location in Memphis. Located right next to the main FedEx hub. It's wonderful for his customers but it's also great when he will be able to restock his California facility.
Anyway... He talks about how to make sure every species they carry are located at both facilities. It is essentially a safety net. Disaster relief. He talks about how wild birds are the biggest problem. His birds are free ranged in wide Open spaces outside. He is definitely at a higher risk!
They have birds around all the time, so what he does is he checks the migration map. There's a website that actually tracks the migration of wild birds the same way he would with a Doppler radar!! I thought that was pretty awesome!. He says the URL is birdcast.info.
So the one thing I will say is that good locations get it too.
The facilities like Hayes where the birds are outside. Completely exposed to other birds. Precautious hatcheries, like his where he has specific employees working in specific spots and that's where they stay. If they go into a different area they change clothes. He did all he could.
It moved from one Barn to the next to the next. And once your birds lay less eggs you know something's wrong. Then the next day they lay half again. They aren't going to recover. They quit laying in then they die. Especially if they aren't very very young. (He knows farmers that have claimed that there are birds that have lived through it because they were only a couple weeks old.)
He says he doesn't even try to ride it out. He really doesn't have a choice anyway. Not with the regulations. He had to send birds off to testing. Agencies came in and swabbed everything. Even though everything is testing negative he still has to wait weeks before he can start to repopulate from his other location.
There's a reason the government has a policy for destroying all the birds right away, because it's better to eliminate them rather than to have birds falling sick and suffering and dying with the disease. Then it is strongest at that point.
Therefore, As soon as you know, you eliminate.
I just wanted to let you know that all of us have birds that are susceptible if we have birds outside at all. Absolutely the birds that remain indoors on top of each other are at risk of anything and everything. That's a very sad way to live as well as very disgusting.
I want people to know about tracking migration, about making an aviary the way you did, we're having a protected run, and obviously bringing the birds in undercover at night is the best that we can do.
It helps to have a roof but yes you're right. Weigh out the advantages. I would not want birds to get zero sun!!
I'm not sure what the incubation period is but now I know to look for a sudden drop in egg production by half. And now I know to check the website. He also put up a picture of a map that he keeps an eye on. There were green states where it was more common to see the aviary influenza and then there were States right next to those green ones who rarely see a breakout. It's a strange thing keeping poultry but we can just do our best.
Soon, I plan on rotationally grazing Cornish cross with chicken tractors and they will be outside. Luckily I'm only going to have one flock at a time do that and I will have my egg layers separate. Those meat birds will be processed after 16 weeks.
They will only have an electric fence, a farm dog and a guard goose. That's the best I can do, and if it takes out one batch that's all it will affect because I'm Small potatoes.
Anyway great video as always! Thought I'd give you the resources that I just learned about yesterday.
Hopefully 2025 is my year that I find my forever Homestead! With so many things to consider, and all that I've learned in the past 6 years I've just got analysis paralysis. 😂
Wow that was a great informational comment. Thanks for sharing.
Perfect! Thanks Brian❤
I'm not extremely worried about avian flu, but I do have some concerns. That's because of the thousands of wild birds here in the Boise, ID area. Quail, geese, hawks, eagles, and others are prevalent, which is why I have baseball netting over the free range area. Sometimes a baby quail has gotten in, but then I find the opening and block it. I hate the fear mongering but appreciate your calmness about the whole topic.
I agree with you. The media and government cause a lot of unnecessary fear mongering. I wish I could have chickens. I'm in a neighborhood that doesn't allow any farm animals. I know others in the neighborhood have had chickens but when the association finds out, then they are fined and they have to get rid of the chickens. I sure would love to move and have a couple of acres of land.
First the gate you went in and out of is not secure at the bottom. Should it be? You should not be watching main stream news. It’s bad for our mental, physical and spiritual health.
Very good video your comments were spot on right.
Have you ever try the wire you plant in certain areas where you dont want her to leave and put the collar on her that will let her no dont go ? I was just thinking maybe Bella would like to spend more time with you. lol Enjoyed the visit..Take care
If I can recommend, I have gone to a double layer on everything, I have used a 4x4 heavy fence and lined the interior with 1/2" chicken wire that helps keep the "birds" out they eat the feed and also they can spread disease so if you need to isolate them that will help from outside fowl and what they may carry. For the lower 4' I have installed 4x4 cattle panel as there is not a predator they can get through that and can really help deter bears which I have here. Also I have "heard" feed from your local co-op can be a better option as opposed to box store feed as it is usually locally sourced.
We have four ducks that run around the yard all day. In the winter I make them an herbal tea for immunity. I agree the times I have lost ducks was when I was so overwhelmed by work that I couldn't clean their shed properly. They get stressed, egg bound and they don't survive. I don't usually need to buy eggs, but when they take a break from laying I only buy pastured chicken eggs.
Just a heads up wild bird and ducks life can be a carrier, and lactic Cows as well, but cows aren’t affected like chickens and ducks.😊
My husband use to work for a poultry farmer. Yes bird flu was a concern and certain bio security measured were followed. The biggest concern was it being introduced to the property by other poultry farmers or when they loaded out the birds if it happened to be on the tires or in the cages that the farmer was loading out to. The poultry farmer retired and my husband then went to work for a rather large pig producer in the area, they to have concerns about diseases being brought onto the property and their bio security measures were much more strict. They couldn’t move from farm to farm without showering in and out of the pig production area I guess I should say that they couldn’t move from farm to farm for approximately three days and Every time they went into a barn they had to shower and clean their shoes and I mean EVERY time if they left the building for ANY reason they had to shower back in and of course change their clothes, my husband ended up with other peoples clothes all of the time because the farm kept a supply of work clothes on hand and washed peoples clothes regularly and if it fit you wore it. And holy moly IF something happened on a farm it was on total lock down until the problem was resolved . You NEVER know what can infect your animals but as long as your not bringing in new animals on a regular basis your pretty safe from many of those viruses out there. ❄️⛄️💚🙃
That is really interesting.
I'm in WA state where a local big cat sanctuary just lost 20+ cats, including their tiger, to the avian flu. Infected birds flying through/above the cages. I saw a report saying it has been detected in 623 commercial flocks and 753 backyard flocks resulting in 125 million dead/destroyed. Now a bird sanctuary in Hawaii has it. It will continue to be an issue and any flock is at risk. Just got to do the best you can and hope it works out.
I'm in a place now where I don't believe anything the media says. Have you proven this information? You don't think that maybe the media is exaggerating or lying? I finally told my daughter unless she'd like to pay for a trip to the arctic she really can't make arguments about the destruction of polar bears until she saw it personally. No one to trust anymore.
Would love to see an aerial sketch of the property because for the life of me, I really can’t figure out where stuff is on the property, except for the cottage’s relationship to the house. Pretty please?
I agree. I think its from them over crowding and not taking care of the chickens. It also makes you wonder if it's another fear tactic to raise prices yet again. I know lots of people that have backyard chickens and have never heard a single one of them be affected by bird flu
Good common sense video Brian! Hopefully those who have chickens or who are wanting some will pay attention to this. I am glad you don’t agree with the idea of putting a solid roof over their run area, like you said, they need the sunlight!
Thank you for linking your automatic chicken coop door. We have an automatic door, but it rolls into a compartment, and it's terrible! Dirt always gets stuck in it, so it doesn't close
That’s a bummer!
Good video! Do you do anything to the coop or chicken run as a routine cleaning?
You are so right about the media! Bird Flu in humans, gives you a rash and it lasts about 2 wks and goes away. You don't need a vacc for it, that will make you very sick!!! Glad Bella will be caring for you chickens, she's a good guard dog!
I don’t have chickens and never will but enjoyed your video anyway as always.
100% agree with you!
Good on you!!
I have a backyard flock of chickens, turkeys and geese. The geese have survived for 20 years out there, doing their thing, thru subzero weather, free range, year around; they won't even use any shelter. They do have access to a creek. The turkeys have their own shed and fenced in lot. The males are too heavy to get over the fence, the females overnight up in the trees or on the roof. My chickens, 14 hens and a rooster, have a roomy coop, spacious run, that has a tarp over it. I live under a major migratory bird route for geese, ducks, etc, so I keep them under tarp during migratory season. During the rest of the year, I free range them daily, and close up the coop at dusk when they've all come in. I have a major predatory problem at night; raccoons, coyotes, fishers, loose dogs, weasels, black bear, and the occasional egg stealing opossum. The reinforced coop does the job, for the most part. Biggest problem: raccoons. The geese announce the presence of any predator, we take action from their cue.
Absolutely the media loves to spread fear and insecurity is what makes it take off like a tidal wave. I’m so tired of the press that I rarely look at the news. I check the weather to see what I can or can’t do with my yard and gardens. ❤
You're likely correct about the bird flu given how your chickens live. But what happens if they are out in the pasture and some wild feathered friends drop in for a visit? Or is the plan for Bella to shew them away? So far, Gold Shaw Farm here in VT has not had a problem with visiting birds, and all his birds hang out in the pasture all summer. What will the cottage become when the chickens move out, maybe a garden shed? I can't wait to see the water mill - very cool idea.
fantastic.
Spot on brother!🤟
Good advice
Great talk!
Thanks!
It is a reason to raise the price of eggs. We purchase Pasture raised and they were 6.75 a dozen now they are 9.50. I'm looking for a different source. Wishing all a good weekend.
Wise words
I've had free range chickens for the past 10 years. I couldn't agree more. The best deterrence to predators trying to get into the coop is running a second layer of chicken wire around the outside on electric fence posts about 6" off the ground. Make sure you don't leave more than a foot between the outer fence and the coop itself. You don't want to leave enough room for an animal to get between the fence layers. Once they hit the outer electric fence they're done. I have minks, raccoons, opossums, coyote, fox, and bobcats in my area. Not one has gotten inside. It's cheaper and easy then trying to "fortify" your coop. And I can move it fairly easy. Set your fence controller on a timer.
The fear the media gave me is that I need to start raising chickens so I can still have eggs! Lol. My dad paid $7 for a dozen eggs the other day! Wtf? The media is giving a reason for them to skyrocket the price of eggs unnecessarily. Seeing those pictures you showed makes me even more inclined to start raising chickens. That's a sad life.
Yes. Fear sells because people don't research for themselves.
True. Corporate America and the Media are afraid of losing power, convenience and their salaries. We know you work for what you have. Some people are afraid of that work. I remember when there were fear stories on the news about tariffs against Mexico, and how that would affect the price of avocados and tomatoes. First of all, according to the news, there’s a really bad gang/cartel issue with avocados from Mexico. Supposedly that has been resolved. Second, it’s really sad when people don’t know how to grow a tomato. I still live the apartment life but I can’t imagine the United States incapable of growing organic tomatoes. I buy the raw dairy products from Sprouts, but they have been out lately because of that political bird flu and raw milk scare. Right before the media was making a big deal out of it, I stocked up on raw kefir and pasture raised organic eggs from California. Now, I’ll start making my own yogurt and kefir. Good video!
It's about raising prices too
I agree 100%. Fear mongering sells and raises prices. Also creates more money for pharmaceuticals.
I have 8 chickens in my backyard flock. I’m in the Phoenix area. Currently the coop is inside the run, and the run has a roof with hardware cloth halfway up and chicken wire the rest of the way up. We’re moving them soon to a different section of the yard, and we will do hardware cloth all the way to the roof. They do need a covered run here in my opinion because they need shade in our excessively hot summers. I decided to do the hardware cloth because the little sparrow type birds are pushing their way through the chicken wire to get to the food and water. The chickens don’t care, just leave them to it! This way, they won’t have any wild birds getting into their run.
Lol..love your "Doomsday" music
huge operations
My relative is a wildlife veterinarian and he says the concern is the possible "mutation" that makes humans susceptible and able to infect other humans causing an outbreak that could be serious. Avian influenza is spread by wild birds pooping on trees and the ground where other animals which are susceptible get exposed. Bird flu has even been found in porpoises. So if you want to protect your flocks, you need overhead blocking, no rainwater flowing in, and hardware cloth, not chicken wire which will let small birds go through. If one or more of backyard chickens gets infected and the parent's three-year-old hugs and kisses it, all loving on it so cute, and the virus happens to have "mutated" to be able to infect humans, that child gets sick, maybe not seriously, maybe very seriously. That's the concern. And it is ultimately inevitable as viruses go.
❤
BRENDA🇨🇦
Good video