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United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Defend the Flock Resource Center

Last Modified: Dec 15, 2018
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The Defend the Flock program provides information and resources from USDA and other experts for keeping poultry healthy. It includes practical tips from growers like you, veterinarians, state agencies, scientists, and industry professionals for practicing biosecurity every day. Biosecurity is a team effort. We have to work together to defend our nation’s flocks.

All of the information you need to practice good biosecurity is provided here. There are checklists, resource guides, videos, and other tools. Post the checklists in your poultry house or coop for daily reminders. Download the guides to share with family or new hires. Share the videos with other owners and growers. Use the Defend the Flock toolkit to distribute information about biosecurity within your organization.

Bookmark this page and check back regularly as new resources will continue to be added.

Cleaning and Disinfection Checklist 

These checklists will help you practice good biosecurity – every day, every time:

Perimeter Buffer Area
English  Spanish  Chinese  Vietnamese  Tagalog

Unusual Mortality
English  Spanish  Chinese  Vietnamese  Tagalog

Using a Line of Separation
English  Spanish  Chinese  Vietnamese  Tagalog

Cleaning and Disinfection Poultry Enclosures
English  Spanish  Chinese  Vietnamese  Tagalog 

Equipment and Vehicles
English  Spanish  Chinese  Vietnamese  Tagalog 

Personnel and Visitors
English  Spanish  Chinese  Vietnamese  Tagalog 

Protect Against Wild Birds, Rodents and Insects
English  Spanish  Chinese  Vietnamese  Tagalog 

Adding or Replacing Poultry
English  Spanish  Chinese  Vietnamese  Tagalog 

Biosecurity Training
English

Coordinating Biosecurity
English

Safe Disposal of Dead Birds
English

Know Your Numbers: Who to Call In Case of Emergency

Use this template to record phone numbers for your local vet, state extension resources, and other important contacts. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is available toll-free at 1-866-536-7593.

Defend the Flock  (English | Spanish) 

Clean and Disinfect Equipment and Vehicles (English | Spanish)

Protective Gear and Personnel (English | Spanish)

Proper Cleaning Procedures Before and After Handling Birds (English | Spanish)

Establish Perimeters and Boundaries (English | Spanish)

Graphics

Line of Separation
English  Spanish

Reporting Unusual Mortality
English  Spanish

Perimeter Buffer Area
English  Spanish

Don't Haul Disease Home
English  Spanish 

Keep It Clean
English  Spanish 

Biosecurity is a Team Effort
English  Spanish 

Wild Fowl Can Carry Disease
English   Spanish 

Keep New Birds Separate from the Rest of the Flock
English  Spanish 

Always Purchase Poultry from NPIP-Participating Breeders, Hatcheries, or Breeders
English  Spanish  

Animated GIF's

Don't Haul Disease Home
English   Spanish

Keep it Clean
English    Spanish

Biosecurity is a Team Effort
English    Spanish

Wild Fowl Can Carry Disease
English    Spanish

Report Sick Birds
English    Spanish

Keep New Birds Separate from the Rest of the Flock
English   Spanish

Keep your flock away from activities that can spread disease
English  Spanish

Respond quickly to signs of disease
English  Spanish

Separate the poultry house from potential disease sources
English  Spanish


Stay up to date on biosecurity and follow the Defend the Flock campaign on Facebook and Twitter

National Poultry Improvement Plan

National Agricultural Library (NAL)
The NAL site provides access to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of information on agriculture.

Smuggling,
Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program (SITC)
SITC conducts antismuggling activities to prevent unlawful entry and distribution of prohibited agricultural commodities and products that may harbor harmful exotic plants and animal pests, diseases, or invasive species.

Additional resources to help you care for your flocks

Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Learn what the CDC is doing to help people protect themselves against AI.

PandemicFlu.gov and AvianFlu.gov
The official government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian flu.

United States Geologic Survey (USGS)
The National Wildlife Health Center at USGS has an avian influenza site with maps, news updates, and fact sheets focusing on wild birds.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is responsible for keeping America's borders safe and secure. CBP works to keep illegal material (including birds and poultry) or individuals from entering the United States, while also facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. See travel tips on bringing items into the United States.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Find your nearest Cooperative Extension Office through this comprehensive and easy to navigate directory developed by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Extension Disaster Education Network
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) links Extension educators from across the U.S. and various disciplines, enabling them to use and share resources to reduce the impact of disasters.

Diagnostic Laboratories
APHIS has developed a list of diagnostic labs that deal with poultry. This list includes contact information for labs in several states.

State Veterinarians
The United States Animal Health Association has compiled a comprehensive list of State Veterinarians organized by state. The list includes contact information.

State Departments of Agriculture
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) maintains an online directory of all State Departments of Agriculture.

Defend the Flock | Biosecurity | Outbreak/Illness | Resource Center 

      

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