Poultry Farmers Face Ongoing Risks from Disease Outbreaks

Joshua Beebe begins his mornings by cleaning the tires of vehicles that come to his poultry farm. “We spray them off and scrub them,” he explains. It’s a precaution, aimed at reducing the risk of pathogens entering his farm, Tardif Poultry Farm, situated in the Connecticut countryside near Hartford.

The anxiety surrounding avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 virus, has been a constant worry for farmers like Beebe since the outbreak began in eastern Canada in 2021. Although the northeastern US isn’t a high-risk area for outbreaks, the threat remains. For Beebe and his team, staying vigilant comes with significant costs, impacting time, finances, and mental well-being.

Beebe has previously faced the traumatic experience of having to depopulate his entire flock of 5,000 birds after state testing revealed salmonella in mid-2024. This bacterium can spread through eggs, and certain strains can be harmful to humans.

During that ordeal, the usual sounds of the farm were replaced with silence. “It was emotionally draining,” he recalls. “For over 10 years, I hadn’t gone a day without seeing birds.” After eight months of quarantine, he gradually began to rebuild his flock.

Now, about 3,000 birds populate the farm, clucking and chirping. Beebe raises chickens, turkeys, pomeranian geese, and various ducks. He particularly likes Toulouse ducks, a French breed, and sells his products directly to consumers.

A fifth-generation local, Beebe acquired Tardif Poultry Farm in 2020 after twelve years of working in the industry. He finds himself not only raising animals but also managing numerous risks to safeguard his operation.

Strict Precautions

At first glance, the farm’s atmosphere appears quite idyllic. A small shop at the entrance sells items from local artisans, all artfully displayed. Customers are welcome to browse, but “no one is allowed in the back where the birds are. Period,” Beebe asserts.

To prevent disease outbreaks, the farm strictly segregates birds by age—from hatchery to adults, managing potential contamination points carefully. “We have different boots for each station,” he explains, adding that sick animals are handled last. His employees follow this protocol closely, ensuring they avoid contact with younger, more vulnerable birds after attending to older ones.

Those who have chickens at home must wear designated footwear for the farm and arrive in clean clothes. New arrivals undergo a 21 to 35-day quarantine. Any bird that dies is disposed of properly, either through burial or composting, while larger incidents may require incineration off-site. “Everything is very organized,” Beebe assures.

Surrounded by Danger

However, risks aren’t just confined to the farm. Most avian flu cases in domestic poultry trace back to interactions with infected wild birds rather than transmission between farms. “The virus is rampant in the wild bird population,” says Richard Webby from the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

These wild birds might not even need to land to spread the virus. “Even a tiny amount of droppings can carry billions of viral particles,” states Ilaria Capua, a noted virologist focused on avian influenza. Even if birds are kept inside, animals like cats or mice might introduce the virus.

To mitigate contact with wild birds, Beebe employs netting and hangs reflective ribbons in trees, complementing the placement of fake owls meant to scare off visitors. The changing climate further complicates biosecurity efforts, as shifts in migratory patterns due to warming conditions can affect how and when wild birds move.

Beebe also battles extreme heat on the farm, which can create biosecurity challenges, especially when mixing different species. Last year, he resorted to temporarily relocating ducks to a chicken coop during an exceptionally hot day. “I’d rather combine them for a day than risk losing them,” he said.

These decisions carry their own risks; different poultry types have varying susceptibilities to disease. “Ducks are generally more prone to infection than chickens,” notes ecologist Diann Prosser.

“Once you have one bird positive, you have to depopulate the entire flock,” stresses poultry and food safety expert Indu Upadhyaya.

Some farms have found even stringent measures insufficient. Since 2022, the avian flu has impacted over 174 million commercial birds in the US, alongside 71 confirmed human cases since February 2024.

For Beebe, the situation is concerning. Although Connecticut’s farms are generally smaller, he closely monitors the situation in nearby states like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, where cases have occurred.

The implications of a confirmed case are severe; Beebe learned this the hard way. “Once a bird tests positive, the entire flock must be depopulated,” says Upadhyaya, affirming USDA regulations.

The Costs of Contagion

Beebe fully understands the burden of having to depopulate an entire farm. During a routine state inspection on June 6, 2024, testing revealed 11 birds had tested positive for salmonella, leading to immediate quarantine protocols. “That means no birds out, no birds in,” he said, explaining how they had to cancel orders, harming relationships with suppliers.

The financial strain was substantial, as it costs about $800 daily to maintain the flock. After a month, follow-up testing indicated several birds were still positive, prompting the choice between depopulation or retesting every single bird—an expense Beebe couldn’t absorb.

Ultimately, the farm had to go through with depopulation, and the typically lucrative Thanksgiving turkey season turned into a disaster. “I didn’t know what was happening to us,” he recalled, detailing the painful process of euthanizing the oldest birds first. It was a haunting experience.

The farm remained under quarantine until February 2025, regaining permission to repopulate only after extensive testing of everything that could have come into contact with the birds. The state took over the costs this time around. The journey back to normalcy has been slow. “I spent years improving the bloodlines of these birds, and now it’s all gone,” Beebe laments.

Tardif Poultry Farm may never pinpoint the source of the salmonella. Was it caused by a visitor? A wild bird? Perhaps an employee’s clothing?

As expenses continue to pile up while he rebuilds his flock, Beebe estimates that costs have reached nearly $50,000. He sought compensation from the USDA but found himself ineligible, as the depopulation was classified as voluntary by officials. “Farmers bear the responsibility for testing for diseases beyond avian flu,” said Bryan Hurlburt, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

While the USDA offers some indemnity programs, these apply mainly to specific disease-control strategies and don’t offset costs related to other pathogens, leaving farmers like Beebe to navigate these challenges alone. For him, the consequences of dealing with salmonella were significant and distressing.