Can eggs carry bird flu?

[Kangaroh]

So my quails recently hatched this week infact and they're been doing great. It's my first time raising quail.

Today i woke up to a voice mail from the APHA (British equivilant of fish and game I believe?) telling me the farm I bought the eggs from had an out break of bird flu. I looked into it more and left them a message since I couldn't get through to them.

The flu was only confirmed this week, infact the day after my quails hatched.

I am panicking, not just because of my birds (10 quails and 2 budgies though they're all in seperate rooms) but because my next door neighbor has thousands of £ worth of parrots in his aviaries.

Is it even possible for chicks to carry/contract bird flu through the egg? Should I be worried? The eggs were bought way before the confirmed outbreak last month. And there's no signs of sickness in the chicks. I have more eggs in the incubator, will they destroy those too if they choose to cull?

I can't get in contact again til monday it seems. But I'm just really worried rn.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

So my quails recently hatched this week infact and they're been doing great. It's my first time raising quail.

Today i woke up to a voice mail from the APHA (British equivilant of fish and game I believe?) telling me the farm I bought the eggs from had an out break of bird flu. I looked into it more and left them a message since I couldn't get through to them.

The flu was only confirmed this week, infact the day after my quails hatched.

I am panicking, not just because of my birds (10 quails and 2 budgies though they're all in seperate rooms) but because my next door neighbor has thousands of £ worth of parrots in his aviaries.

Is it even possible for chicks to carry/contract bird flu through the egg? Should I be worried? The eggs were bought way before the confirmed outbreak last month. And there's no signs of sickness in the chicks. I have more eggs in the incubator, will they destroy those too if they choose to cull?

I can't get in contact again til monday it seems. But I'm just really worried rn.

It appears the answer is NO.

AI isn't vertically transmitted in the egg, and the HPAI virus itself is destroyed by persistent high heat - about a week at near 100 degrees F. As it turns out, most of us incubate at temps around 100F for longer than a week. That takes care of any HPAI that may remain on a dirty shell.

Obviously, if you rely on a broody instead of an incubator, that's a much lesser assurance - because persistent heat is required, not merely hours at a time.

in this way, Murray McMurray Hatchery, who has an AI exposure at one of their larger suppliers, hopes to preserve some rare genetic lines - by holding back and incubating eggs even as the parent flocks are destroyed.

 

[Eggcessive]

Avian influenza is not passed through the eggs. But it could be on the surface of eggs if exposed.

 

[GingerRose]

Avian influenza is not passed through the eggs. But it could be on the surface of eggs if exposed.

This is good information for all of us newer chicken owners. Thank yall

 

[U_Stormcrow]

and because I am NOT an expert (In fact, I often look to Eggcessive for advice on Poultry Illness and Injury, among others).

Sources for my opinion:

HPAI and Heat study

LPAI HPAI Heat Study

Statement by Murray mcMurray

 

[Kangaroh]

It appears the answer is NO.

AI isn't vertically transmitted in the egg, and the HPAI virus itself is destroyed by persistent high heat - about a week at near 100 degrees F. As it turns out, most of us incubate at temps around 100F for longer than a week. That takes care of any HPAI that may remain on a dirty shell.

Obviously, if you rely on a broody instead of an incubator, that's a much lesser assurance - because persistent heat is required, not merely hours at a time.

in this way, Murray McMurray Hatchery, who has an AI exposure at one of their larger suppliers, hopes to preserve some rare genetic lines - by holding back and incubating eggs even as the parent flocks are destroyed.

Thank you this has really reassured me. I had a small panic attack after I got the voice mail because i was scared not just for my birds but the neighbors. And well my whole area. Our county hasn't had any outbreaks and I would have hated to have been the eprson to cause one. Luckily I didn't plan on letting the quails out in the garden until weather warmed up anyway.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

related experience - turkey farm

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thank you this has really reassured me. I had a small panic attack after I got the voice mail because i was scared not just for my birds but the neighbors. And well my whole area. Our county hasn't had any outbreaks and I would have hated to have been the eprson to cause one. Luckily I didn't plan on letting the quails out in the garden until weather warmed up anyway.

WELCOME to BYC.

and though I'm not a "touchy feely" type, let me also assure you that you could NOT be a cause for an HPAI outbreak in your community. At most, you might be a vector for transmission thru NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN if the virus had been conveyed to your property while transporting hatching eggs... Responsible, but not culpable.

Do clean your shoes. A tumble in the dryer likely won't do it, alone. But a thorough cleaning plus the hottest longest tumble your shoes will tolerate should. Floor mats in your vehicle, as well.

While it is PURELY speculation on my part, a number of large poultry facilities in the US have been infected. I'm passing familiar with their biosecurity processes - they are pretty good - and our factory farming methods result in no direct outside exposure. Suspect the virus was brought into at least a couple of the facilities via duck poop (its really sticky stuff - I have ducks and know first hand) stuck to the bottom of employee's shoes, likely from a parking lot or patio space.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Eggs take 3 weeks to hatch.

 

[Eggcessive]

Avian influenza can remain alive in droppings in very low temperatures for months. Normally it lasts on surfaces for about a month, and in lake water can linger for 6 months. Birds with AI can spread the virus for up to 2 weeks. There is a lot of good info online from official sources if you google or do some research.