Practice good biosecurity

Quarantine all new birds for 2-4 weeks in a separate pen at least 12 yards from the existing flock. Limit visitor access to bird areas, disinfect footwear between pens, and avoid sharing equipment with other poultry keepers. Minimize contact between domestic geese and wild waterfowl, which can carry avian influenza and other pathogens.

Why It Works

Most flock-level disease outbreaks originate from introducing infected birds or contaminated equipment. A 2-4 week quarantine period exceeds the incubation time for common waterfowl diseases, allowing symptoms to appear before exposure to the main flock.

Tips

• Use dedicated boots or disposable boot covers for each bird area
• Disinfect waterers, feeders, and tools with a 10% bleach solution weekly
• Keep a closed flock when possible -- limit purchases to reputable breeders who test for diseases