CLOVER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Poultry farmers across the Carolinas aren’t taking any chances. Many are turning to strict protocols as another wave of bird flu continues to threaten the chicken population across the country.
Since 2022, it is estimated more than 90 million birds have either died from the virus or were killed to prevent further spread in the U.S.
“We try to make them the happiest as possible. We always say a happy chicken is a tasty chicken,” Eden Farms owner Adam Shumate said.
With their happiness in mid, Shumate also wants to keep his chickens alive and healthy. On his farm in Clover, he has implemented protocols to minimize a potential bird flu outbreak.
“We want to be prepared,” he said. “We feel like the things that we can do to prevent it first is the best case because we don’t want to start from scratch with a whole new flock.”
Because bird flu is commonly spread through bird droppings, Shumate is limiting the number of people coming into contact with his flocks. He says this would minimize the chances of someone walking onto the property with bird droppings on the bottoms of their shoes.
On top of monitoring the chickens closely, Shumate and his staff are constantly cleaning their equipment, including what they wear on their feet.
“We have specific shoes that are just for working with the flock and for when we are taking care of them,” Shumate said.
Other farmers, like Holly Burrell, haven’t let a visitor step foot near her hens in Gastonia for more than two years.
No visitors or outside cars are welcomed, and her chickens are separated in what she calls “tent cities.”
“We don’t want to do that because we want them to live their best life,” Burrell said in a 2022 interview with Queen City News.
Recently, health officials have detected bird flu in other animals like seals, squirrels and dolphins.
Earlier this month, bird flu was detected in one of the state’s dairy cow herds. While concerning, state health officials say the overall risk to the general public remains low.
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“I’ve not heard of any cases, zero cases of people being affected by this virus associated with food consumption, milk consumption with egg consumption… any of these products we’re getting from farm animals is not really been associated with any human risk at this point,” said Dr. Michael Martin, director of the Veterinary Division at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
As of March 28, at least 80 birds in North Carolina were detected with the virus. Back in York County, Shumate says it all starts with the individual farms.
“When it comes to wildlife and things that that, there is only so much that you can do is be observant,” Shumate said. “Keep a healthy flock that way they can find off the infections that may come about.”