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Bird flu has arrived in New Zealand, and if you keep backyard chickens, ducks or other poultry, you may be wondering what this actually means for your flock.
In this episode of White Strawberries, we talk about H5N1 bird flu and what backyard poultry keepers need to know. We look at how this strain differs from the bird flu you may have heard about previously, what symptoms to watch for in chickens, ducks and wild birds, and why biosecurity matters even if your birds normally free-range.
We get practical about protecting your flock: keeping wild birds and rodents away from feed, preventing access to potentially contaminated water and droppings, and why simply putting up bird netting may not be enough. We also talk about what to do if you need to temporarily confine free-range chickens, whether chickens can survive H5N1, when veterinary care is important, and what happens if birds have been exposed.
This isn't about panic or pretending we can eliminate every risk. It's about understanding the risks and giving your flock the best chance possible.
🌱 What You'll Discover
- What makes H5N1 different from previous bird flu concerns
- Signs and symptoms of bird flu in chickens, ducks and wild birds
- Practical ways to reduce exposure to wild birds and rodents
- Why contaminated water and droppings can be a concern
- How to protect free-range chickens
- Whether chickens can survive H5N1
- When veterinary care may be needed
- What happens to exposed chickens
- Practical biosecurity steps for backyard poultry keepers
Other Episodes with Sez the Vet on chickens can be found HERE.
Run until the 18th of August 2026
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