Avian Flu

First time birds are outside of the season! With avian flu, we waited for a bit to open the outdoor aviary. I got a lot of questions asking when we know it’s safe for our birds to go outside after avian flu. It’s a very personal choice, but here is how I gauged when it was safe.

First, avian flu is spread through nasal secretions, saliva, and feces, meaning the way to get it is coming in contact with the bird directly, droppings, or sharing food and water. My outdoor aviary has no bowls. I bring the birds bowls of water periodically while they’re out there, since I sit out there to watch them. Me being out there also means they do not come in contact with wildlife directly. Finally, I made sure that there are no droppings in or on the aviary, and I disinfect the bars before I put them in with F10 clear solution not the green. I have never seen wildlife near my aviary since it’s on my back patio and not in the grass.

One study that I really found helpful was from the American Chemical Society. It said the virus only lasted a day on surfaces at room temp tire but up to two weeks at 39 degrees Fahrenheit; the virus prefers cooler and low humidity environments. It also found that sunlight can help kill it as well. So, with temperatures being in the mid to high 80’s and high humidity, it really helped educate me that my current environment isn’t able to allow the virus to last very long. The study also noted that soil, grass, and fevers held the virus longer than other surfaces, which makes sense. Since my aviary is on cement, that also helps.

I also have been tracking cases of avian influenza. There never was any cases in my county. There hasn’t been any cases in my state for a bit of time.

Parrots are at a very low risk of infection. As long as you keep up with cleaning the aviary, and for extra precaution not let them on the ground, just like when the virus was at its height, you will be fine!

Find the study here:

American Chemical Society. (2010, October 14). Highly pathogenic bird flu virus can survive months on steel or glass at cooler temperatures. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 17, 2022 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101013124334.htm