County poultry producers initiate biosecurity plan
Poultry farms across the state, including those in Butler County, have implemented biosecurity plans to help prevent the spread of avian flu.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission reports the disease likely is being spread statewide by wild birds, considering the confirmed cases have been found in counties that aren’t adjacent to each other.
The commission and the Department of Agriculture have confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in three commercial chicken farms in Lancaster County in April, an eagle that was found dead in Chester County in March, five ducks found near Kahle Lake at the border of Clarion and Venagano counties in March, and a duck found in Crawford County last month.
Dave Jones, owner of Jones Turkey Farm in Cabot, said he uses precautions to protect his turkeys and chickens and has never had a case of avian influenza in the 30 years he has been in business.
He has now implemented extreme precautions to keep his history of safe poultry intact.
“I’ve never had a case here, but we take precautions every year,” Jones said. “We always took precautions, but this year we’re taking extreme measures like never before.”
He allows himself and only two workers to have access to his birds, and they are following a new routine.
When they arrive in the morning, they dip their shoes in a tray containing a sanitizing liquid, then they remove those shoes and put on boots. Booties are put on over the boots before workers begin to feed the birds.
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