Bird Flu and keeping chickens

[Ben Falk]

Hi,
Anyone know if keeping birds of any type increases ones risk in a pandemic bird flu type of situation?

Best,
Ben

[Scott Sawyer]

Bogus trend of the week: Raising Backyard Chickens.

this article is on Slate:

http://www.slate.com/id/2218390/

"In all of God's sweet aviary there exists no bird more diabolical and ruthless than the egg-laying chicken hen. Despite the darkness of this clucking beast's heart, our nation's press has gone on a rampage insisting that more and more citizens everywhere in the United States are choosing to board and feed these creatures in their urban and suburban backyards so they can harvest the eggs."

[Helena Wu]

I don't know for sure, but would keep my flock healthy the same way you keep yourself healthy with good diet, lacto-fermented foods, garlic, herbs, low stress, etc.
This is recommended for people and you can try it with the chickens:
If you hear there is flu around the area you can try supplementing their diet with Echinacea, Astragalus, Garlic, Elder flower and berry, St. John's Wort (in a study in Vietnam it killed 99& of H5N1 virus), Lemon Balm, Spilanthes, Ginger
If there is flu in your town- Curcumin (in Turmeric), resveratrol (in grapes and the root of the invasive Japanese Knotweed- make medicine from invasives! They are coming around for a reason) green tea, boneset

[Ben Falk]

Great thoughts Helena - thanks... Good stuff to keep in mind. Interesting note on the Vietnam study,

[George Lisi]

Great stuff, Helena.

Here's a couple government websites with some info that may also be useful, though it is of course from a conventional perspective:

http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/flu/birdflu/birdflu.aspx
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/birdbiosecurity/