The Defend the Flock Resource Center brings together biosecurity information and free resources from USDA and other experts, including growers, veterinarians, State agencies, scientists, and industry professionals. All the information you need to practice good biosecurity is available here, including checklists, resource guides, videos, and other tools.
Become a Flock Defender Today!
- Post the checklists in your poultry house or coop for daily reminders.
- Download the guides to share with family or new hires.
- Share the videos with other owners and growers.
- Use the Defend the Flock toolkit to distribute information about biosecurity within your organization.
Download the full suite of biosecurity checklists available in each language:
Browse and download all materials by topic, including animated GIFs and videos:
These checklists will help you practice good biosecurity—every day, every time.
Biosecurity Auditing
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Perimeter Buffer Area
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Unusual Mortality
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Using a Line of Separation
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Cleaning and Disinfection Poultry Enclosures
English (911.15 KB) Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Equipment and Vehicles
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Personnel and Visitors
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Protect Against Wild Birds, Rodents and Insects
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Adding or Replacing Poultry
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Biosecurity Training
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Coordinating Biosecurity
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Safe Disposal of Dead Birds
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalog
Managing Poultry Manure and Litter
English Spanish (620.86 KB) Chinese Vietnamese Tagalong
Maintaining a Safe Water
English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Tagalong
Poultry Feed and Replacement
English Spanish (619.4 KB) Chinese Vietnamese Tagalong
Know Your Numbers: Who To Call In Case of Emergency
Use this template to record phone numbers for your local veterinarian, State extension resources, and other important contacts. USDA is available toll-free at 1-866-536-7593.
- Defend the Flock (English | Spanish)
- Clean and Disinfect Equipment and Vehicles (English | Spanish)
- Protective Gear and Personnel (English | Spanish)
- Proper Cleaning Procedures Before and After Handling Birds (English | Spanish)
- Establish Perimeters and Boundaries (English | Spanish)
- Know the Warning Signs of Infectious Bird Diseases
- Don’t Borrow Disease From Your Neighbor
- Report Sick Birds
- Keep Your Distance
- Don’t Haul Disease Home
- Keep It Clean
- Healthy Harry Biosecurity (2014)
- Healthy Harry Live Birds Market (2014)
- Healthy Harry NPIP (2014)
- Healthy Harry/Know Your Birds
- Healthy Harry/Keep It Clean
- Healthy Harry/Healthy Flocks Rock
Graphics
Clean, Safe Water
English Spanish
Follow NPIP Guidance
English Spanish
Secure Feed and Litter
English Spanish
Germs in Manure
English Spanish
Biosecurity Coordination
English Spanish
Biosecurity Training
English Spanish
Mortality Disposal
English Spanish
Line of Separation
English Spanish
Reporting Unusual Mortality
English Spanish
Perimeter Buffer Area
English Spanish
Don't Haul Disease Home
English Spanish
Biosecurity is a Team Effort
English Spanish
Wild Fowl Can Carry Disease
English Spanish
Keep New Birds Separate from the Rest of the Flock
English Spanish
Always Purchase Poultry from NPIP-Participating Breeders, Hatcheries, or Breeders
English Spanish
Animated GIF's
Purchase from NPIP Dealers
English Spanish
Biosecurity Coordination
English Spanish
Biosecurity Habits
English Spanish
Secure Feed and Litter
English Spanish
Germs in Manure and Litter
English Spanish
Mortality Disposal
English Spanish
Don't Haul Disease Home
English Spanish
Keep it Clean
English | Spanish
Biosecurity is a Team Effort
English | Spanish
Wild Fowl Can Carry Disease
English | Spanish
Report Sick Birds
English Spanish
Keep New Birds Separate from the Rest of the Flock
English Spanish
Perimeter Buffer Area
English Spanish
Report Unusual Mortality
English Spanish
Lines of Separation
English Spanish
Stay up to date on biosecurity and follow the Defend the Flock campaign on FacebookandTwitter
Navigating Avian Influenza: Your Questions Answered(February 2023)
Webinar Transcript:
Navigating Avian Influenza: From Prevention to Recovery(September 2022)
Webinar Transcript:
Defend the Flock: Healthy Flocks, Healthy Families(March 2022)
Webinar Transcript:
Defend the Flock: Preventing Avian Influenza Introductions: Focus on the Big Risks(September 2021)
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Defend the Flock: How Avian Influenza Affects Us All(February 2021)
Webinar Transcript:
Defend the Flock, Controlling Salmonella in Commercial Poultry Through Biosecurity(October 2020)
Webinar Transcript:
Defend your Flock from Poultry Disease: Know the Signs and How to Respond (February 2020)
Webinar Transcript:
Steps for success: Your NPIP Biosecurity Audit Webinar(November 2019)
Webinar Transcript:
Biosecurity Basics & Beyond: Tools to Defend Your Flock (April 2019)
Webinar Transcript:
Let's Keep Our Poultry Health Together webinar (November 2018)
Webinar Transcript:
Download graphics and educational information and become a Flock Defender
Additional resources to help you care for your flocks
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Learn what the CDC is doing to help people protect themselves against AI.
PandemicFlu.gov
The official government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian flu.
United States Geologic Survey (USGS)
The National Wildlife Health Center at USGS has an avian influenza site with maps, news updates, and fact sheets focusing on wild birds.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is responsible for keeping America's borders safe and secure. CBP works to keep illegal material (including birds and poultry) or individuals from entering the United States, while also facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. See travel tips on bringing items into the United States.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Find your nearest Cooperative Extension Office through this comprehensive and easy to navigate directory developed by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Extension Disaster Education Network
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) links Extension educators from across the U.S. and various disciplines, enabling them to use and share resources to reduce the impact of disasters.
Diagnostic Laboratories
APHIS has developed a list of diagnostic labs that deal with poultry. This list includes contact information for labs in several states.
State Veterinarians
The United States Animal Health Association has compiled a comprehensive list of State Veterinarians organized by state. The list includes contact information.
State Departments of Agriculture
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) maintains an online directory of all State Departments of Agriculture.