Flock Status · United States

Bird flu rules for backyard flocks, state by state

When bird flu turns up, states can pause poultry shows, require permits to move birds, or close areas around infected farms. We read each state's own notices, note when every order starts and ends, and work out what applies today.

50 states checked1,343 passages quoted from official sourcesLast checked October 14, 2026

Not veterinary advice: follow your state veterinarian. This is a sourced reading of official notices, dated when we read them.

CTDEMDMANHNJRIVT
Bird-flu restriction in forceMay apply: check with the stateBeing re-checkedStanding rules only

Today across the states

Bird flu in US flocks: the last 30 days

Confirmed detections in commercial and backyard flocks, from USDA APHIS's own data, September 15, 2026 to October 14, 2026.

In California, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Puerto Rico, Washington, Wisconsin. Latest detection in the APHIS data: October 9, 2026. Our count of the rows in APHIS's data file for these 30 days; APHIS's own dashboard tiles may round or date them differently. APHIS detections page

Every state at a glance

Filter by today's status, or open a state for each order's dates, conditions, sources and who to call.

Coming up

Start and end dates in the next 120 days, bird flu first.

  1. Oct 312026Last day in forceNew Hampshire · Bringing birds in · Emergency rule #14570, Agr 2104-Agr 2114 (Importation of Bovines and Domestic Animals), Agr 2114.01
  2. Oct 232026Last day in forceOtherFlorida · Bringing birds in · Commissioner of Agriculture Emergency Order 2026-07 (Hurricane Isaias)
  3. Oct 242026Last day in forceScrewwormRhode Island · Bringing birds in · 250-RICR-40-05-12, Emergency Regulation Temporarily Amending the Rules and Regulations Governing the Importation of Domestic Animals
  4. Dec 42026Last day in forceScrewwormTennessee · Bringing birds in · Interstate Movement Requirements for New World Screwworm Detection (renewed order)
  5. Dec 142026Last day in forceScrewwormNew Hampshire · Bringing birds in · Emergency rule #14620, Agr 4200 New World Screwworm (Agr 4203.01)
  6. Feb 62027Last day in forceScrewwormColorado · Bringing birds in · 8 CCR 1201-19 Part 14, Emergency Rules for the Control of New World Screwworm (adopted October 9, 2026; CDA's rule document linked from ag.colorado.gov/NWS)

Recent changes

The past 60 days, from the notices' own dates.

  1. Oct 32026Took effectWisconsin · Control zones and quarantine · HPAI Surveillance Zone and Control Area Resource; 2026 HPAI-Positive Premises table
  2. Sep 302026Took effectSouth Dakota · Bringing birds in · ARSD 12:68:13, Poultry (South Dakota Administrative Rules)
  3. Sep 282026Took effectIndiana · Control zones and quarantine · Indiana Counties Currently Impacted by Control Area/Surveillance Zone
  4. Sep 282026Took effectMinnesota · Control zones and quarantine · USDA APHIS confirmed HPAI detections export (Minnesota rows)
  5. Oct 92026Took effectScrewwormColorado · Bringing birds in · 8 CCR 1201-19 Part 14, Emergency Rules for the Control of New World Screwworm (adopted October 9, 2026; CDA's rule document linked from ag.colorado.gov/NWS)
  6. Oct 82026Took effectOtherFlorida · Bringing birds in · Commissioner of Agriculture Emergency Order 2026-07 (Hurricane Isaias)
  7. Oct 12026Took effectScrewwormFlorida · Bringing birds in · Emergency Rule 5CER26-15 Interstate Import Requirements for Warm-Blooded Animals Originating from Areas Impacted by New World Screwworm
  8. Oct 12026Took effectScrewwormTexas · Bringing birds in · Executive Director Order: Texas Movement Requirements for Livestock, Exotic Livestock, Fowl, and Exotic Fowl from NWS-Affected States

Moving birds across state lines

The federal floor that applies everywhere, read from 9 CFR part 86 and APHIS. Each state adds its own entry rules on top.

Standing ruleGeneral

Poultry moving to another state must be officially identified (NPIP leg bands or a group/lot number) unless an exemption applies

No end date in the source

Nationwide · interstate movement · Birds: poultry

  • Exempt: hatchery to redistributor or grower, receiver keeps a record of the supplier
  • Exempt: redistributor to grower, receiver keeps a record of the supplier of the chicks
  • Exempt: identified as agreed by the states or tribes involved
  • Accepted ID: sealed and numbered leg bands as referenced in NPIP (9 CFR 145-147)
  • Accepted ID: group/lot identification number (GIN) where one may be used

Rule: 9 CFR 86.4 Official identification (eCFR, up to date as of October 9, 2026) · USDA APHIS, October 9, 2026

What the rule says (4 passages)
  • “Poultry moving interstate must be officially identified prior to interstate movement unless:”

    USDA APHIS · ecfr.gov · § 86.4(b)(5)

  • “The poultry are identified as agreed upon by the States or Tribes involved in the movement.”

    USDA APHIS · ecfr.gov · § 86.4(b)(5)(iii)

  • “Sealed and numbered leg bands in the manner referenced in the National Poultry Improvement Plan regulations (parts 145 through 147 of this chapter); or”

    USDA APHIS · ecfr.gov · § 86.4(a)(3)(i)

  • “Group/lot identification when a group/lot identification number (GIN) may be used.”

    USDA APHIS · ecfr.gov · § 86.4(a)(3)(ii)

Standing ruleGeneral

Poultry moving to another state need a certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) unless an exemption applies, such as NPIP flock paperwork

No end date in the source

Nationwide · interstate movement · Birds: poultry

  • Exempt: from an NPIP-participating flock with the documentation NPIP requires
  • Exempt: moved directly to a recognized slaughter or rendering establishment
  • Exempt: moved for veterinary examination, treatment or diagnosis and returned without change in ownership, or euthanized and disposed of at the veterinary facility
  • Exempt: moved from one state through another and back to the original state
  • Exempt: moved with a VS Form 9-3 or other documentation agreed by the shipping and receiving states or tribes
  • Exempt: moved under permit under 9 CFR part 82
  • The destination state's own entry rules also apply (see each state's page)

Rule: 9 CFR 86.5 Documentation requirements for interstate movement of covered livestock (eCFR, up to date as of October 9, 2026) · USDA APHIS, October 9, 2026

What the rule says (3 passages)
  • “Poultry moved interstate must be accompanied by an ICVI unless:”

    USDA APHIS · ecfr.gov · § 86.5(e)

  • “They are from a flock participating in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and are accompanied by the documentation required under the NPIP regulations (parts 145 through 147 of this chapter) for participation in that program; or”

    USDA APHIS · ecfr.gov · § 86.5(e)(1)

  • “They are moved between shipping and receiving States or Tribes with a VS Form 9-3 or documentation other than an ICVI, as agreed upon by animal health officials in the shipping and receiving States or Tribes; or”

    USDA APHIS · ecfr.gov · § 86.5(e)(5)

Standing ruleTesting

NPIP is open to hobbyist flocks through each state's Official State Agency; a joining flock must at minimum test free of Pullorum and Fowl Typhoid

No end date in the source

Nationwide · joining NPIP (voluntary programme run with Official State Agencies) · Birds: chickens, turkeys, waterfowl, upland game birds, ratites and others NPIP names

  • Contact the Official State Agency (OSA) for your state
  • Minimum entry test: freedom from Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum
  • Exhibition, hobbyist and breeding-for-sale flocks: 9 CFR part 145
  • Price set per state
  • Federal rule: participation is through an agreement with the Official State Agency (9 CFR 145.3(b)); affiliated flockowners participate through a participating hatchery

Guidance: National Poultry Improvement Plan (official NPIP site linked from the APHIS Avian Influenza page); participation rule 9 CFR 145.3 · USDA APHIS NPIP

What the guidance says (6 passages)
  • “The NPIP currently includes commercial poultry and hobbyist poultry facilities.”

    USDA APHIS NPIP · poultryimprovement.org · Who is involved?

  • “To have your birds added to the program, please reach out to the OSA for the state”

    USDA APHIS NPIP · poultryimprovement.org · How do I get my birds added?

  • “Flocks being added to the program, at minimum, have to show freedom from Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum.”

    USDA APHIS NPIP · poultryimprovement.org · What are the requirements?

  • “Any person producing or dealing in products may participate in the Plan when he has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the Official State Agency, that his facilities, personnel, and practices are adequate for carrying out the applicable provisions of the Plan,”

    USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services · ecfr.gov · 9 CFR 145.3(b)

  • “has signed an agreement with the Official State Agency to comply with the general and the applicable specific provisions of the Plan and any regulations of the Official State Agency under § 145.2.”

    USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services · ecfr.gov · 9 CFR 145.3(b), second clause

  • “Affiliated flockowners may participate without signing an agreement with the Official State Agency.”

    USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services · ecfr.gov · 9 CFR 145.3(b), last sentence

How to reportReporting sick birds

APHIS asks owners to report sick or dying birds to the state veterinarian or USDA (1-866-536-7593)

No end date in the source

Nationwide · Birds: all birds

  • State reporting rules also apply (see each state's page)

Guidance: Defend the Flock · USDA APHIS

What the guidance says (1 passage)
  • “Report any sick or dying birds to your State veterinarian or to USDA by calling toll-free 1-866-536-7593”

    USDA APHIS · aphis.usda.gov · Report Sick Birds

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