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mtv2002 t1_j411xau wrote

Reply to comment by byfpe in Why do poultry producers kill their stock when they get bird flu, rather than keeping survivors to reproduce? by poorbill

Former chicken farmer here. Not only do they destroy my flock but they will euthanize any flock within a certain mile radius. So if my neighbors farm gets it, mine is destroyed. It's very deadly to chickens and contagious, that's why we take bio security so seriously. My farm is off limits to anyone other than myself and a flock advisor and the feed trucks, picking crew etc. We also have bleach pans at every door we have to step onto before entering the houses. Also any "visitors" have to sign in and wear over shoes as to not contaminate the houses. Plus they leave the euthanized flock in the house in a big pile to compost for a while to make sure the Temps get high enough to kill any remaining viruses. Point is that getting bird flu once will pretty much bankrupt a farm because you can't have a new flock for 6 months or so.

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poorbill OP t1_j41arli wrote

When you say they euthanize your flock, who is it? A government agency?

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Indemnity4 t1_j4djwx6 wrote

Mass euthanization is coordinated by a government agency. Lots of people will be involved.

Where mass euthanasia is required, the chosen euthanasia methods must consider the animal welfare implications while meeting biosecurity requirements and minimising the risk of disease transmission.

It requires someone trained to handle the materials and equipment. Another person to confirm each animal has been euthanized. That can be veterinarians, but it can also be slaughterhouse workers or others skilled in the trade.

During a mass outbreak there is often a labour shortage of skilled experts. Third party non-government experts may be called in.

Recommend methods for mass chicken euthanization is filling an entire shed with carbon dioxide gas, then any survivors are hit with a non-penetrative captive bolt gun.

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mistermoondog t1_j41wfbf wrote

Thank-you for your detailed backing information. I had no idea your industry had so many precautions—for the longest time it seems the only “press” your sector got was reduced profits paid by the mega-chicken-processors based in Arkansas. My 1st Pandemic inoculation was 1968/Hong Kong flu. I pictured, in my head, some weird virus spontaneously appearing in some broken-down pre- 20th century poultry farm.

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mtv2002 t1_j41wqts wrote

No problem. I live on the delmarva peninsula and most of the farmers here are family farms. They take their flocks seriously and put a ton of care into them

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