Avian Flu Hits California Poultry Industry Again
California poultry farms are facing a tough battle against avian influenza once again. Sunrise Farms, a big farm in Petaluma, had to take a hard decision. They had to kill all 550,000 of their egg laying hens to stop the disease from spreading. This decision wasn’t easy. It’s like a punch in the gut for everyone involved, especially in a place known as the “Egg Basket of the World.”
The situation in California is grim. Avian flu hit hard in Sonoma County, where a state of emergency was declared. Many farms had to destroy over a million birds in just two months. The impact is huge, not just for farmers but for workers and customers too.
It’s not just Sonoma County. Merced County in Central California is also suffering. Big egg farms there are dealing with outbreaks too. Experts say migratory birds like ducks and geese spread the virus without getting sick themselves, making it tough to control.
To fight back, California poultry farms are tightening up biosecurity. They’re keeping their birds inside until June, even the ones that are supposed to roam outdoors. It’s a tough call but necessary to protect the birds.
Consumers are feeling the pinch too. Egg prices shot up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the holidays. Supermarkets and restaurants had to look outside the region for eggs to keep up with demand. And it’s not just eggs turkey and chicken prices went up too.
Avian flu isn’t new, but this outbreak is hitting the poultry industry hard. Millions of birds have been slaughtered across the U.S. since 2022 to stop the virus from spreading. It’s a global problem, made worse by changes in the climate affecting bird migration patterns.
In California alone, over 7 million chickens have been affected by the outbreak. There’s worry that backyard chickens could get infected too and spread the disease to commercial farms. Experts advise backyard flock owners to be careful and get their birds tested if they show signs of illness.
For farms like Sunrise Farms, the road ahead is tough. After culling their entire flock, they’ve had to spend the holidays cleaning up and disinfecting. But there’s hope they’re aiming to get back on track soon, even though it’ll take months to rebuild their flocks.
Despite the challenges, there’s a sense of determination in California’s poultry industry. They’re facing tough times, but they’re not giving up. As they work to overcome this setback, they’re showing the resilience that defines them.
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