Kelly Clarkson lives with her husband and three children in Chatham County. They’re not professional farmers, but they enjoy raising turkeys, ducks, chicken and goats in their backyard. Clarkson says she’s heard from other local farmers about the threat of avian influenza.

“We went to the Piedmont Farm Tour and went through the foot baths, so we kind of knew this might be coming,” says Clarkson.

Those foot baths are a biosecurity measure intended to limit the potential spread of the disease. While “biosecurity” isn’t a word likely on the lips of many backyard poultry owners, Mandy Tolson says it should be.

“No matter how it hits North Carolina, if it does hit, it’s going to be really large, because if nothing else, it’s a really huge economic issue for North Carolina,” says Tolson.

Tolson is a veterinarian with the state Department of Agriculture, and part of an emergency response team bracing for a potential outbreak of bird flu.

The virus, which first arrived in the U.S. seven months ago, has already decimated the poultry industry in parts of the mid-west. Birds are big business in North Carolina. It’s the state’s primary agricultural enterprise, employing more than 100,000 workers.

The Tar Heel state ranks second in the nation for turkey production and third for poultry. The virus, if it takes hold, could jeopardize an $18 billion dollar industry.

But small-scale farmers and chicken enthusiasts need to be on alert as well, says Tolson. She says backyard bird owners need to “make sure that they are as safe as possible. Make sure they practice really good biosecurity, which is as simple as making sure things stay clean. If they have separate clothes that they wear while taking care of the birds, make sure that doesn’t go other places. Make sure that their birds decrease contact with other birds.”

That’s because the avian flu can be spread to domestic poultry through contact with wild birds. When flocks head south in the fall, they may stop off at lakes and ponds along the way.

Droppings from infected wildlife could potentially contaminate free-range ducks, chickens or turkeys who share a drink or a dip at those ponds. If the virus is detected in North Carolina, Tolson says officials will act fast.

“We will be working on a really large level to make sure that if a positive flock is identified, that flock is depopulated and isolated very, very quickly,” says Tolson. “Hopefully it will stop there.”

Because the threat of spreading the disease is most serious during the fall migratory season, state officials have banned all autumn bird shows and poultry competitions, including those at the NC State Fair.

Fifteen-year old Molly Clarkson says she was looking forward to raising turkeys to show this year.

“First we were going to get nine turkey chicks and show three of them in the fair. The other six we were going to process and east for Thanksgiving,” says Molly. “But then they cancelled it so we weren’t able to pick up our chicks.”

Molly and her younger siblings Evan and Katie have raised turkeys in the past. This year they were looking to branch out and raise heirloom chickens as well. Kelly says her children were disappointed to learn the shows were cancelled.

“It was kind of a double-whammy,” she recalls.

The Clarksons say they love the challenge of raising and showing birds. There’s a financial incentive to participate as well. Kids get prize money for winning entries, as well as market value for their meat. That can add up, according to Kelly. Her children got $100 last year to put into a college fund, while those with blue- ribbon birds can take home much more.

This year, the Clarksons say they’ll try raising goats instead.

But as the fall approaches, Kelly says they’ll go into the season with a heightened awareness of the threat of avian influenza.

“We hadn’t really realized the impact. We’ve gone to a couple of seminars this year and realized it’s not just people coming to our farm. When we go to the feed store and our shoes have debris on them from being on our farm, now the possibility is that another farmer comes in and transports that back to their farm. It’s not just visiting farms; it could even be in the grocery store that the disease is transmitted. So that was eye opening for us.”

If you raise poultry, state veterinarians recommend eliminating contact with wild birds, avoiding farm visits if possible, and changing clothes and shoes if you must visit somewhere else birds are kept. They also suggest cleaning off your car, as vehicles can transport the disease.

More from the NC Department of Agriculture website on how to protect your flock:

Biosecurity information

Protecting your birds from disease has always been important. However, taking biosecurity to the next level is now more crucial than ever. As we work together to prevent HPAI and add strength to North Carolina ’s poultry industry, there are small steps you can take that will have a big impact.

  1. Eliminate opportunities for your birds to interact with wild birds. We know that wild waterfowl are carriers of disease, including HPAI. The best way to avoid diseases that wildlife carry is to keep domestic animals separated from the wild.
  2. If you have birds at home, do not visit another farm, home or facility that also has birds. If you must visit another premises, be sure to shower and put on clean clothes and shoes beforehand.
  3. Remember that vehicles can be vehicles for disease transmission. Before you drive down the road, consider where you are going. Will you be heading to the fair, another farm or a live bird market? If the answer is yes, be sure your vehicle is clean and free of dirt, manure and other organic material.
  4. Early detection can help prevent the spread of disease. Knowing the signs to look for and monitoring the health of your birds on a regular basis is very important. Signs include nasal discharge, unusually quiet birds, decreased food and water consumption, drop in egg production, and increased/unusual death loss in your flock.
  5. Report sick and dead birds to state health officials immediately. If your birds appear sick or you have experienced increased mortality, contact the Office of the State Veterinarian immediately at 919-733-7601. All persons practicing veterinary medicine in North Carolina shall report the following diseases and conditions to the state veterinarian’s office by telephone within two hours after the disease is reasonably suspected to exist.