An Abbotsford poultry farm has lost its entire flock of about 45,000 hens and chicks to an outbreak of avian influenza that has ravaged 15 B.C. farms in the last three weeks.
Siemens Farms, a third-generation family operation, was one of three Fraser Valley farms that were infected the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain on Nov. 1.
All the birds on the free-range egg farm were ordered killed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
“It’s devastating,” said owner Mark Siemens. “It’s hard on the whole family. You’re with these birds every day and doing your best to take care of them. Seeing them all wiped out in such a short window of time was quite shocking and disheartening.”
Fifteen flocks, mostly in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, have been infected with the virus since mid-October, with the most recent case detected at another Abbotsford farm Thursday. After a confirmed infection, federal officials quarantine the farm and euthanize the birds to precent the spread.
The virus has been infecting farms across Canada since 2022, primarily spread by migratory wild birds during the fall and spring and putting Siemens and other farmers on high alert.
“We’ve managed to weather those storms in previous years, so it was quite upsetting to find out we had gotten hit this year,” he said. “We have so many protocols and safety measures in place to try to prevent this from happening, yet here we are.”
Last Friday, Siemens noticed some birds seemed to be irritated. He also found a couple of dead birds in the barn. He was about to call the veterinarian when he saw a notice that a nearby farm had just tested positive for bird flu.
He reported the incident to the CFIA. Within hours, federal inspectors arrived to test the birds and by the afternoon, Siemens’ worst fears were confirmed.
Learning the birds had to be put down was tough but it was a necessary measure, said Siemens.
“By the evening, most birds in the barn had very low energy. They weren’t eating or drinking much,” he said. “Seeing the level of how unwell they were, it was really hard to watch.”
About 30,000 free-range egg laying hens and 15,000 chicks that would have become egg-laying hens were put down.
In total, more than 11 million birds have been infected across Canada since the current cycle began in 2022, more than six million of them in B.C.
Since 2004, when the province experienced its first significant bird flu outbreak that led to the culling of 16 million birds in the Fraser Valley, chicken farmers have stepped up biosecurity.
Measures such as requiring people to change clothes and footwear, and showering, before entering barns have been in place for years. Since September, birds have been required to shelter indoors to prevent the spread while wild birds head south for the winrer.
In mid-October, B.C.’s poultry industry raised its biosecurity level to red, the highest level, after seeing cases in Washington state. With the heightened alert, farms have been disinfecting vehicles entering farms and restricting access to barns and the birds.
“Our measures are doing a phenomenal job of really preventing spread from one farm to another,” said Siemens. “But during these heavy periods of migration, we’re still seeing it getting into barns.”
The farm has started working through the compensation process with the CFIA, which should help them get by for the year, but Siemens expects it’ll take a year or two before the farm is back on normal footing.
Under Canada’s supply-management system, the price of eggs and poultry won’t be affected by the rash of outbreaks, said Siemens. If B.C.’s supply is threatened, farmers from the interior or Alberta would send their eggs here to make up for any shortages.
He said the best way to support B.C. farmers at this time is to continue to support Canadian-produced food.
“Even though my eggs are no longer on the shelf, my neighbours are here to help and by going out and buying their eggs, you’re indirectly helping me and my family get through this challenging time.”
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