May I make a modest proposal? 10 backyard chickens presents a smaller threat of rampaging infection than 1,000,000 chickens housed in a single structure.
These people with only a few birds are less likely to take the time and money to responsibly deal with a potential outbreak in their flocks. Some will, but many won’t, and the ones who don’t then become a vector for spreading the disease even further, including an increase in the possibility of the virus making the jump to humans.
To be clear the solution isn’t to discourage people from keeping chickens in their backyard. The solution is more education on the issues and regulations to require people to keep their flocks responsibly.
But we live in America, where apparently it’s an individuals’ right to put their whole community at risk. So, I don’t know what else to say other than that ignorance kills.
Y’all making comments that backyard chickens can still get bird flu sound exactly like antivaxxers.
“You can still get COVID if you take the jab! IDIOT!”
I thought my chickens would be immune! So glad you’re here to tell us these things!
May I make a modest proposal? 10 backyard chickens presents a smaller threat of rampaging infection than 1,000,000 chickens housed in a single structure.
I have a friend in Arkansas whose community ostracized them for even asking how to protect their chickens from the flu.
Here’s the issue:
These people with only a few birds are less likely to take the time and money to responsibly deal with a potential outbreak in their flocks. Some will, but many won’t, and the ones who don’t then become a vector for spreading the disease even further, including an increase in the possibility of the virus making the jump to humans.
To be clear the solution isn’t to discourage people from keeping chickens in their backyard. The solution is more education on the issues and regulations to require people to keep their flocks responsibly.
But we live in America, where apparently it’s an individuals’ right to put their whole community at risk. So, I don’t know what else to say other than that ignorance kills.