DOVER, DE — The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) has issued an urgent warning to backyard flock owners. This follows reports of sick poultry sold by an individual in Hartly, Delaware, through various online marketplaces and local venues over the past 45 days.
The DDA’s Poultry and Animal Health Section conducted tests on birds from the suspect premises after receiving complaints from several buyers who had purchased ill birds. The tests confirmed multiple highly contagious viral and bacterial diseases, which once present, persist for the life of the birds. The identified diseases include:
- Infectious Coryza (Avibacterium paragallinarum) – bacteria
- Mycoplasma synoviae – bacteria
- Mycoplasma gallisepticum – bacteria
- Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale – bacteria
- Infectious Bronchitis Virus – virus
The affected premise housed a variety of birds, including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, peacocks, and guineas. The DDA urges anyone who has recently acquired these types of birds from the Hartly area to seek further information from the department immediately.
Backyard flock owners should be vigilant and contact their veterinarians if they observe any signs of illness in their birds. Symptoms to watch for include nasal and ocular discharge, facial swelling, swollen wattles and comb, sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, swollen joints, lameness, weight loss, lethargy, decreased egg production, and sudden death.
In the event of sick poultry or increased mortality in a flock, Delaware residents are encouraged to call the Delaware Poultry Health Hotline at 302-698-4507 or email poultry.health@delaware.gov. They should provide their contact information, flock size, location, and specific concerns.
The DDA’s alert aims to prevent the spread of these diseases, which pose significant risks not only to individual flocks but also to public health and the broader agricultural community. Immediate reporting and intervention are essential to controlling the outbreak and protecting both commercial and backyard poultry owners.
This warning emphasizes the importance of purchasing poultry from licensed and reputable dealers to ensure the health and safety of flocks. The DDA remains committed to supporting poultry owners and maintaining the health of Delaware’s avian population.
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