H5 bird flu advice for poultry farmers
You have an important role to play in protecting your property and the poultry industry from H5 bird flu (avian influenza).
Implement biosecurity measures
- Have a biosecurity plan in place.
- Ensure your biosecurity entity registration details are up to date (if you have 100 or more birds).
- Reduce biosecurity risks on your property.
Guidelines and advice
- National Farm Biosecurity Manual—Poultry Production
- National Water Biosecurity Manual—Poultry Production
- Chickens—Farm Biosecurity
- Egg Farmer Checklist in the event of a positive result for bird flu (PDF, 250MB)
- Bird flu toolkit for people who work with birds
- Biosecurity advice from the Australian Chicken Meat Federation
- AUSVETPLAN avian influenza response strategy (PDF, 1.5MB)
- National guidelines for workers
Know the signs
Signs of H5 bird flu include:
- sudden death
- lethargy, reluctance to walk
- reduced feed and/or water intake
- difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
- ruffled feathers
- swollen head, comb, wattle
- bruising of comb, wattle, feet or skin
- lack of coordination, unusual head or neck posture, inability to walk or stand
- diarrhoea
- drop in egg production and misshapen eggs.
Report sick or dead animals
H5 bird flu is a nationally notifiable animal disease.
Immediately report multiple sick or dead poultry to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Anyone who suspects an animal might be infected with H5 bird flu has a legal responsibility to report it immediately.
Prevent risk to your flock
You should:
- prevent or minimise contact between kept birds and wild birds, including their feed and water
- maintain good hygiene and biosecurity practices
- keep records of bird movements and sales
- report signs of disease, reduced production or increased deaths in birds.
On-farm biosecurity practices are crucial to protect the health of your flocks.
Voluntary housing requirements
The voluntary housing recommendation for Queensland free-range commercial poultry was in place from 5 July 2026 and ceased on 26 September 2026.
Voluntary housing has not be extended because:
- no H5 bird flu detections have been reported in Queensland since 25 August 2026
- there is no evidence that H5 bird flu has become established in Queensland wild bird populations.
Commercial poultry producers should continue enhanced biosecurity measures, particularly to keep wild birds away from poultry, feed, water and free-range production areas.
Inform your staff
Ensure your staff are briefed about:
Protect human health
Queensland Health advises that the current risk of H5 bird flu to people in Queensland is low. Human infections are rare. Overseas, people have been infected with H5 bird flu after close contact with infected birds, animals or contaminated environments.
People at the highest risk of exposure are those who work with birds and/or in environments with birds and their excrement.
To protect against H5 bird flu, everyone should:
- wash hands before and after handling birds, or any contaminated equipment
- cover any cuts or abrasions with clean, dry bandages
- don’t eat or drink in areas where birds or their droppings are present
- wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating or drinking
- wear clean clothes and footwear when working around birds
- wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
The National guidelines for workers provides further advice to employers and managers of bird and wildlife workers, including contractors or volunteers.
Influenza vaccinations
Ensure your influenza vaccination is up to date.
The annual seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended and is particularly important for people who work with poultry, wild birds or wildlife.
The seasonal vaccine won’t protect against H5 bird flu but will minimise the risk that people become unwell with both seasonal and H5 bird flu viruses at the same time.