What the agency's own pages and tables showed when we checked, with the line each comes from.
DDA's newest situational update (March 17, 2026) released the last Kent County control area. APHIS lists 13 Delaware detections, each showing a release date or 'NA'; the latest, Sussex 02 (backyard, March 2, 2026), shows control area released: NA
Mar 2, 2026·Sussex County·Backyard (Non-Poultry)·4 birds·no control area listed
DDA lists no control order for poultry newer than the January 8, 2025 litter order
“Jan. 8, 2025 Delaware Control Order Requiring Specific Handling, Transport, and Storage of Poultry Litter Due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza”
Delaware Department of Agriculture · agriculture.delaware.gov · Delaware Avian Influenza Control Orders
In force today
Worked out from each notice's dates for October 15, 2026. Bird-flu orders come first, then the standing rules.
Standing ruleMoving birds
Birds from an area under quarantine for an infectious disease may not move within or into Delaware without an official movement permit approved in advance by the State Veterinarian
In effect from February 1, 2019 · No end date in the source
Statewide · birds from an area under quarantine for an infectious disease, moving within or into Delaware · Birds: live poultry and other avian species
Applies to movement within Delaware as well as entry
Violating a DDA quarantine order carries a civil penalty of $1,000 to $5,000 per violation (12.2)
“Movement permit required: live poultry and other avian species originating from an area that is under quarantine for an infectious disease may not move within Delaware or enter the State of Delaware without an official movement permit approved in advance by the Delaware State Veterinarian.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 9.5
Standing ruleRegistration
Every Delaware premises where live poultry is kept must be registered with DDA
In effect from February 1, 2019 · No end date in the source
Statewide · every premises in Delaware where live poultry is kept · Birds: poultry (incl. waterfowl, game birds, doves and pigeons)
Form gives name, address, phone and email, type and number of birds, house coordinates (DDA can supply) and purpose (hobby, show, own use, commercial, sale)
Forms in English and Spanish on DDA's poultry page
“In order to be able to quickly notify all poultry producers in the state of a potential or existing disease threat, DDA requires the registration of all premises in Delaware where live poultry is kept.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 4.1
“The Delaware Department of Agriculture requires the registration of all locations where live poultry is kept.”
Poultry auctions and swap meets may sell live poultry only if they meet DDA's conditions (access, buyer/seller records, inspection, cleaning between sales)
In effect from February 1, 2019 · No end date in the source
Statewide · livestock/poultry auctions and poultry swap meets in Delaware · Birds: live poultry
DDA gets full access to premises and may inspect every lot
Records of consignors and buyers (names, addresses, type and number of poultry) kept at least one year
Sick or very poorly kept lots can be condemned, confiscated, destroyed and tested
Facilities cleaned and disinfected after each sale, at least two working days before the next; failure can cancel the next sale
Dealer vehicles, crates and coops must arrive clean; buyers who are poultry dealers need a dealer's licence
Poultry taken out of state for sale and brought back into Delaware is prohibited (5.1.5)
“Livestock/poultry auctions or poultry swap meets taking place within the State of Delaware will be authorized to sell live poultry if they abide by certain requirements imposed by the DDA.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 6.1
“Poultry transported out of the state for the purpose of sale or change of ownership and brought back into Delaware is prohibited and will result in the quarantine and possible destruction of the entire flock and penalties as described in Section 12.0 of this regulation.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 5.1.5
Standing ruleShows and fairs
Delaware show birds returning from out of state must be kept apart from the flock for 30 days and not sold, traded or exchanged for 30 days
In effect from February 1, 2019 · No end date in the source
Statewide · Delaware birds returning from out-of-state shows under the same ownership · Birds: non-commercial poultry (show birds)
Exhibitors must know the poultry health rules of Delaware and of each show they attend
Crates and coops must be cleanable and cleaned and disinfected before returning; tyres, foot mats and pedals cleaned
“Upon returning to Delaware birds shall be kept separate from all other birds in the flock for a period of 30 days. Birds returning from out of state shall not be sold, traded, or exchanged for 30 days.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 7.1.3
How to reportReporting sick birds
DDA asks backyard keepers to report signs of HPAI to the Poultry Health Hotline (302-698-4507, poultry.health@delaware.gov)
Commercial growers notify their company
No end date in the source
Statewide · Birds: domestic poultry (backyard and commercial)
Give contact information, flock size, location and concerns
Do not take dead or sick birds to a lab or move them off-site
Toll-free in Delaware: 800-282-8685
Wild birds: DNREC sick and dead wildlife reporting form, not the poultry hotline
“Delaware backyard flock owners who notice any of the signs of HPAI in their flock should email the Delaware Poultry Health Hotline at poultry.health@delaware.gov or call 302-698-4507 and provide your contact information, size of flock, location, and concerns.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture · agriculture.delaware.gov · FAQ: What should I do if I suspect avian influenza in my poultry?
“Do not take dead or sick birds to a lab to be tested or move them off-site.”
Live poultry (except doves and pigeons) entering Delaware for any purpose need a negative avian influenza PCR test within 21 days unless from an NPIP AI Clean, H5/H7 AI Clean or AI Monitored flock; other non-NPIP birds (birds of prey, psittacines) need the PCR test with no exemption, fairs and swaps included. Pullorum-typhoid: NPIP PT Clean, a 90-day test (birds over 4 months), a DDA-approved program, or a 300-bird flock test. Non-NPIP flocks need a health certificate, NPIP flocks a 9-3. Birds from any quarantined area need an advance movement permit from the State Veterinarian, who may add tests at any time (3 DE Admin. Code 901 §9; 904 §13 also requires pullorum-typhoid-free origin). NWS (July 2, 2026): birds from a state with reported screwworm infestations need a 72-hour OCVI with an NWS-free attestation (no 9-3 in lieu).
What the entry rules say
“Health certification: any avian species or hatching eggs entering Delaware must be accompanied by certification of health as follows:”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 9.3
“All poultry imported into the state shall be from approved pullorum typhoid free flocks.”
Live poultry entering Delaware for any purpose need a negative avian influenza PCR test within 21 days, unless the flock is NPIP AI Clean, H5/H7 AI Clean or AI Monitored
In effect from February 1, 2019 · No end date in the source
Statewide · entry into Delaware for any purpose, including fairs, shows and swap meets · Birds: live poultry except doves and pigeons; birds of prey, psittacines and other non-NPIP avian species
Birds of prey, psittacines and other non-NPIP species: negative AI PCR within 21 days, explicitly including fairs, shows and swap meets (no NPIP exemption)
Pullorum-typhoid (poultry and hatching eggs, not doves or pigeons): NPIP U.S. PT Clean flock; or birds over 4 months tested negative within 90 days with a report; or a DDA-approved PT clean program; or a flock test of at least 300 birds 4 months or older (whole flock if smaller)
Health certificate for non-NPIP flocks; NPIP 9-3 form for NPIP flocks; healthy birds going directly to an NPIP slaughter plant are exempt
The State Veterinarian may impose extra testing at any time
“Live poultry except doves and pigeons must show proof of a negative avian influenza PCR test within 21 days prior to entry to the State of Delaware for any purpose, unless the flock of origin participates in and meets the requirements of the NPIP "U.S. Avian influenza clean", "U.S. H5/H7 Avian influenza clean", or "U.S. Avian influenza monitored" programs.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 9.1.1
“Birds of prey, psittacines and other avian species not included in the NPIP must show proof of a negative avian influenza PCR test within 21 days prior to entry to the State of Delaware for any purpose, including fairs, shows, and swap meets.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 9.1.2
“Additional testing requirements for movement of poultry or other avian species into Delaware may be imposed at any time at the discretion of the State Veterinarian.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian · regulations.delaware.gov · 9.4
Other disease entry orders
Not about bird flu, but they apply to poultry coming in.
May applyBringing birds in
New World screwworm import rule (July 2, 2026 update): birds from a state with reported screwworm infestations need an official CVI issued within 72 hours with an NWS-free attestation
An NPIP 9-3 isn't accepted instead
In effect from July 2, 2026 · Until further notice
Statewide · animals entering Delaware from a state with reported NWS infestations · Birds: all warm-blooded animals, birds included (hatching and table eggs exempt)
OCVI within 72 hours of movement, documenting inspection and freedom from NWS, with the veterinarian's attestation statement
No NPIP 9-3 in lieu of the OCVI
Animals with uninfested wounds: treated with an FDA-listed NWS product at least 5 days before entry, recorded on the OCVI; infested animals barred
Hatching eggs and table eggs exempt
Fourth version (earlier: June 5, June 8); the State Veterinarian 'will amend or lift' as appropriate
“All warm-blooded animals, including dogs, cats, and birds, originating from a state with reported infestations of New World Screwworm must be accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) issued within 72 hours of movement.”
“Delaware backyard flock owners who notice any of the signs of HPAI in their flock should email the Delaware Poultry Health Hotline at poultry.health@delaware.gov or call 302-698-4507 and provide your contact information, size of flock, location, and concerns.”
Delaware Department of Agriculture · agriculture.delaware.gov · FAQ: What should I do if I suspect avian influenza in my poultry?
Recent detections in Delaware
USDA APHIS lists no confirmed bird-flu detections in Delaware flocks in the 30 days to October 14, 2026. Latest detection in the APHIS data: October 9, 2026. The national picture
History
Orders that have ended or been lifted, kept so you can see what changed.
Lifted Mar 17, 2026Control zones and quarantine
2026 Kent County control area (second commercial case of the season) released March 17, 2026; keepers within 10 km may move poultry again
In effect from February 26, 2026 · Lifted March 17, 2026
Inside a control zone · 10 km (6.2-mile) control area around the second 2025-26 Kent County commercial broiler premises · Birds: poultry and poultry products
Start is the presumptive-positive announcement date, February 26, 2026 (DDA names no control-area start date); APHIS dates the confirmation February 27, 2026 (Kent 09)
While active: non-infected premises within the 10 km radius, backyard flocks included, were restricted from moving poultry or poultry products on or off
“This means that poultry producers and backyard flock owners of non-infected premises within the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) radius around the infected flocks are no longer restricted from moving poultry or poultry products off or onto their farms.”
2026 Kent County control area (first commercial case of the season) released February 2, 2026
In effect from January 10, 2026 · Lifted February 2, 2026
Inside a control zone · 10 km (6.2-mile) control area around the first 2025-26 Kent County commercial broiler premises · Birds: poultry and poultry products
Start is the presumptive-positive announcement, January 10, 2026; APHIS dates confirmation January 13, 2026 and control-area release January 30, 2026 (DDA's update is dated Feb. 2, 2026)
While active: non-infected premises within 10 km, backyard flocks included, were restricted from moving poultry or poultry products on or off
“For any poultry farm, poultry litter on the farm must be in a covered manure storage structure or stockpiled and covered to reduce access to wildlife.”
Delaware Secretary of Agriculture (Michael T. Scuse) · agriculture.delaware.gov · requirements, bullet 1
Common questions
Is there a bird flu order in Delaware right now?
We found no bird-flu order covering Delaware or any of its areas today. Its standing rules for bringing birds in and showing them still apply.
Can I take my chickens to a poultry show or swap in Delaware?
We found no bird-flu ban on shows or sales in force on October 15, 2026. Standing rules apply: Poultry auctions and swap meets may sell live poultry only if they meet DDA's conditions; Delaware show birds returning from out of state must be kept apart from the flock for 30 days and not sold, traded or exchanged for 30 days.
What do I need to bring chickens or hatching eggs into Delaware?
Live poultry (except doves and pigeons) entering Delaware for any purpose need a negative avian influenza PCR test within 21 days unless from an NPIP AI Clean, H5/H7 AI Clean or AI Monitored flock; other non-NPIP birds (birds of prey, psittacines) need the PCR test with no exemption, fairs and swaps included. Pullorum-typhoid: NPIP PT Clean, a 90-day test (birds over 4 months), a DDA-approved program, or a 300-bird flock test. Non-NPIP flocks need a health certificate, NPIP flocks a 9-3. Birds from any quarantined area need an advance movement permit from the State Veterinarian, who may add tests at any time (3 DE Admin. Code 901 §9; 904 §13 also requires pullorum-typhoid-free origin). NWS (July 2, 2026): birds from a state with reported screwworm infestations need a 72-hour OCVI with an NWS-free attestation (no 9-3 in lieu).
Who do I call about sick or dead birds in Delaware?
Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), Poultry and Animal Health Section / Office of the State Veterinarian at 302-698-4507 (Delaware Poultry Health Hotline; 800-282-8685 in Delaware). Report sick or dying birds there or to USDA at 1-866-536-7593. This page is not veterinary advice; follow your state veterinarian.
How current is this page?
We read Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), Poultry and Animal Health Section / Office of the State Veterinarian's notices on October 14, 2026. Whether each order is in force is worked out from its dates every time the page is rebuilt, at least once an hour, so an order never shows as in force after it ends.
We read each document ourselves and last checked this page against them on October 14, 2026. Where they disagree, we show you the disagreement instead of picking a winner quietly.
What we couldn't confirm
Sussex 02 (APHIS, WOAH Non-Poultry, March 2, 2026, control area NA) appears in no DDA release or situational update read.
DPH Health Advisory #526 is posted August 7, 2026, but its text describes the Kent backyard flock DDA announced on November 7, 2025. APHIS lists no Delaware detection after March 2, 2026. Whether there was an August 2026 Delaware backyard case is unconfirmed. If there was, its control area and any restrictions are unknown; DDA's AI center lists nothing after March 17, 2026.
No 2026 Delaware fair or show poultry requirement beyond 901 §9 and §7 was found. No DDA exhibition document for 2026 was located, and the Delaware State Fair's own rules are not an official source. A web search (lead-finding only) turned up a 2015 State Fair waterfowl ban, which is not current.
The control-area rows take their start dates from the presumptive-positive announcements. DDA's updates give no control-area start date, and APHIS's release date for Kent 08 (January 30, 2026) differs from DDA's update date (February 2, 2026).
The current 3 DE Admin. Code 901 was read from regulations.delaware.gov's file API (the site's pages are script-rendered). Its latest history note is 22 DE Reg. 667 (02/01/19). A Delaware Register search for 2024-2026 amendments wasn't possible because the Register is script-rendered, so currency rests on the current file's history notes.
The 2025 litter order's end is inferred from its 30-day term and the absence of a listed renewal (endsOnLatest February 7, 2025).
Nature: control areas, the 2025 litter order and the NWS import rule are 'order' rows; 901 sections are standing rules. NWS update versions of June 5 and June 8, 2026 were found by search only and not read.
de-2026-control-area-kent09-1: DDA doesn't publish the farm location; the zone may cross into neighbouring counties or Maryland, which isn't stated
de-2026-nws-entry-1 keeps appliesToday 'unknown': DDA's disease page names Texas as the trigger, but no saved source shows Texas still has reported infestations today.
de-2025-litter-control-order-1: The order says it 'may be renewed'. DDA's Control Orders list shows no renewal, so it is taken as ended about February 7, 2025 (endsOnLatest)
appliesToday: NWS entry orders are marked 'unknown' where they bind only birds from a state, county or zone with a current screwworm infested or surveillance zone, because no current APHIS screwworm zone list was read. Maryland's rule names Texas and New Mexico outright, so it's marked 'yes'.
