DEAR JOAN: My neighbor found two dead turkey vultures in her yard. She called the county to pick them up and was told it may possibly be bird flu (test results are not back yet). Is there anything I should be doing to protect my backyard chickens if the results are positive?
— Allison Schwarzbach, Fairfield
DEAR ALLISON: Bird flu – avian influenza A (H5N1) – is a serious illness that spreads quickly in areas where birds congregate. That includes chicken roosts as well as backyard bird baths and feeders.
You should take steps now to protect your chickens. If you wait for the test results, it might be too late. Isolate your chickens from other poultry and from wild birds. Keep them in their enclosure and use bird netting or other material on the top of chicken runs to prevent interlopers from dropping in.
Cleaning the coop and feeding stations more regularly is important, too, as the disease can spread that way. Before entering their enclosure, wash your hands and clean your shoes and wear clean clothes for each visit.
Keep a close eye on your ladies. The first sign you’ve got a problem is, unfortunately, the death of a chicken. Things to watch for include a loss of appetite, an unexplained drop in egg production and a decrease in water consumption. Coughing and greenish excrement are concerns too.
If you suspect one or more of your birds is sick, wear protective gear – gloves and masks – before handling them. Contact your vet immediately. Humans can contract the illness.
Backyard bird watchers should also be vigilant. If you see sick or dead wild birds, call the California Department of Food and Agriculture Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473) to report the finds. And if you have feeders and water sources in your yard, remove them to prevent the spread of the flu.
DEAR JOAN: This last summer I noticed that my hummingbird feeders were being emptied more frequently than normal — every day, at least 4 cups of sugar water.
As fall came, I assumed I had the migrating hummers, but I have 10 hummers visiting. I have a 2-cup feeder with four holes and two 1-cup feeders with three holes that I fill at least twice a day.
Could a neighbor have taken down their feeder and I have their regulars?
— Frances Card, San Jose
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DEAR FRANCES:The birds might have come upon your feeders after their own regular stations were taken down, or the additional birds could simply be taking advantage of your hospitality at a time when flowering plants are in more limited supply.
The migrating birds should be in their winter homes by now, so the birds at your feeders are most likely our year-round residents – mostly Anna’s hummingbirds – who I’m sure are quite grateful you’ve kept your feeders up.
Nature is fickle. Enjoy it while you can.
Dear readers: I have someone who is looking for South Bay thrift stores that support animal groups. Let me know if you have tips for the South Bay or anywhere else in the Bay Area, and I’ll list them here for holiday shopping that gives twice. Thanks.
Animal Life runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.