Bird flu Seneca lake

[Robhuntandfish]

Seneca lake just had confirmed cases of bird flu in snow geese and several dead geese.  Hopefully this doesn't increase any.  Selfishly I just got into waterfowl hunting and love it.  Hoping this doesn't become worse or a concern for hunting ducks and geese.   

https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2025/01/30/avian-flu-confirmed-in-snow-geese-around-seneca-lake/#:~:text=Avian Influenza has been confirmed,wildlife and the local community.

[CharlieNY]

This is something to keep watching as the big snow goose migration to the north will occur in a couple of months and the hunting is popular for the Spring migration. If the bird flu becomes widespread it may require the DEC to close the season. Just picking up an infected bird or contact with  the bird's feathers could result in you getting infected. This is not a risk many hunters will want to take.

[Robhuntandfish]

25 minutes ago, CharlieNY said:

This is something to keep watching as the big snow goose migration to the north will occur in a couple of months and the hunting is popular for the Spring migration. If the bird flu becomes widespread it may require the DEC to close the season. Just picking up an infected bird or contact with  the bird's feathers could result in you getting infected. This is not a risk many hunters will want to take.

It's already making me a bit nervous about the fall season.  

[Splitear]

I’m pretty concerned for our poultry farmers and kids raising birds. Almost every year we’re on the cusp of not allowing birds at the fair (we didn’t several years ago). Add that into wild bird populations, it sucks. 

[Chef]

1 hour ago, Splitear said:

I’m pretty concerned for our poultry farmers and kids raising birds. Almost every year we’re on the cusp of not allowing birds at the fair (we didn’t several years ago). Add that into wild bird populations, it sucks. 

This is also what is causing high egg prices currently.

 

if they detect even 1 case of bird flu in a flock they Gas the entire hen house

[mowin]

I don't have bird feeders any longer due to wild birds potentially carrying BF.  

I'll have a new flock of hens this spring.  Their coop and run will be completely secure from wild birds.  

[The Back 40]

7 minutes ago, Chef said:

This is also what is causing high egg prices currently.

 

if they detect even 1 case of bird flu in a flock they Gas the entire hen house

Clearly you have a little more experience with this than most. With the rising number of people raising chickens at home for eggs, how do they handle that? are they even concerned with small hobby farms?

[Splitear]

9 minutes ago, Chef said:

This is also what is causing high egg prices currently.

 

if they detect even 1 case of bird flu in a flock they Gas the entire hen house

Yes, one of my 4-H families runs the Thomas Poultry Farm. I'm really worried for those guys. They are the biggest poultry farm in our area that I know of. 

[mowin]

4 minutes ago, Splitear said:

Yes, one of my 4-H families runs the Thomas Poultry Farm. I'm really worried for those guys. They are the biggest poultry farm in our area that I know of. 

It's these smaller farms that would have a difficult time recovering from a BF hit. 

[Splitear]

3 minutes ago, mowin said:

It's these smaller farms that would have a difficult time recovering from a BF hit. 

They are small, but provide nearly all of the eggs for the Stewarts stores. For some of these small towns that only have a Stewarts and no grocery store close, that could make it hard on folks, especially if they don't have a good means of transportation to get to a larger store. I'm sure that Stewarts can source from elsewhere if need be, but that raises demand and will impact everyone. 

[BirdBrain]

I don't have chickens but I do feed birds, I make blocks.  I put star anise powder and oregano in the blocks. 

Below is info about star anise.  Oregano has basically the same qualities.  

I use one teaspoon of oregano and one ground whole star anise to a cup of water and mix it with gelatin.  The gelatin is what holds the block of bird food together.  Each seed will have a thin coating of the anise and oregano.

Star Anise Powder 

Star anise (Illicium verum) can't prevent viral infections in birds, but it can help them resist viral infections. 

Star anise is a spice and herb with medicinal properties that will help improve a bird's immune system.  

How star anise helps birds... 

Antioxidants

Star anise is high in antioxidants, which can help improve a bird's immune system.  Anise is high in vitamin C, iron, and calcium, which can help boost a bird's immune system

Anise can be used as a food supplement and attractant.  

Anise is high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and it has antimicrobial properties.

Anise is high in fiber, which can help with digestion.  

Antimicrobial properties: Anise can help prevent infections.  

Anise is high in antioxidants, which can help prevent heart disease.  

Star anise can help settle a bird's stomach and aids digestion.  

Star anise has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.  

Star anise is the source of shikimic acid, which is used to make Tamiflu, a drug that can reduce the severity of avian flu.

Growth performance
Star anise can improve the growth and performance of birds.

Edited January 30 by BirdBrain

[CharlieNY]

Here is some information regarding the bird flu and your dogs. My son and I both have labrador retrievers that we hunt with and it would be devastating to us if we lost one of them.  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14mr4t5FBt/

[mowin]

13 minutes ago, CharlieNY said:

Here is some information regarding the bird flu and your dogs. My son and I both have labrador retrievers that we hunt with and it would be devastating to us if we lost one of them.  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14mr4t5FBt/

Thanks for posting this @CharlieNY.  I seen a dead nuthatch in my front yard a week or so ago.  Thought nothing of it.  Fortunately, my dogs are fenced in the backyard and did not come in contact with the bird. 

[BirdBrain]

1 hour ago, mowin said:

I don't have bird feeders any longer due to wild birds potentially carrying BF.  

I'll have a new flock of hens this spring.  Their coop and run will be completely secure from wild birds.  

 

[Robhuntandfish]

https://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/2025/01/50-snow-geese-found-dead-on-upstate-ny-lake.html?outputType=amp

 

50 snow geese found dead.  Not a good sign ...