Over 350 chickens euthanized for bird flu

A large flock of chickens were killed by state authorities at a farm in Katama after contracting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), more commonly known as bird flu. This is the largest case on the Island in recent years. 

The spread of the viral infection among the local chicken flock was discovered around the holidays by personnel at Slough Farm. The first chicken death occurred on Dec. 26 and by New Year’s Day, over a hundred had died. 

Julie Scott, the executive director of Slough Farm, said she called state officials as soon as they confirmed bird flu was the cause of the deaths. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) arrived on Tuesday to eradicate the remainder of the flock. 

“Half of them had died by the time MDAR came,” Scott told The Times in an interview. 

The area where the flock had been kept, then quarantined once they tested positive for the avian flu, will be in a fallow period, meaning no poultry products are allowed in, or out, for 120 days. 

Brice Boutot, the Edgartown Health agent, was the point person when bird flu hit the Island last year, and he’s spearheading efforts locally this time as well. Last February, 20 turkeys were found dead from presumed bird flu. A month later, a flock of 50 chickens was killed after testing positive for the avian infection. 

But the elimination of over 350 chickens on Tuesday was the largest known incident of a flock being euthanized because of bird flu on the Vineyard to date. News of bird flu circulated around the Island in 2022 after hundreds of birds washed up on local beaches, but at that time, health officials told The Times they were emaciated and died of starvation, not of the avian flu. 

Officials said this incident was dealt with swiftly and within the scope of state standards. Poultry products, including eggs, were checked by MDAR and no contaminated products left the Slough Farm premises. But Boutot is still recommending that the public take precautions, especially those with a backyard chicken flock of their own. 

“The risk to humans remains low,” Boutot said in an interview with The Times. “By practicing biosecurity measures, like keeping your backyard flock away from open areas where migratory waterfowl can come and infect them, that prevents the backyard flock from getting it. Because once a backyard flock is infected, it has an extremely high mortality rate, and it’s very likely that you’ll lose the whole flock.”

Boutot also recommends people adhere to the state standards of mitigation, which include steering clear of any dead birds one comes across, removal of bird baths or feeders, and keeping pets in sight and away from any avian life. 

Boutot also pointed to a new state recommendation, which is to stay away from “raw diets,” a feeding method that has gained popularity in recent years, for their pets. But besides the food items from Slough Farm that were taken out of circulation, health officials aren’t advising the public to avoid all poultry products as of now. 

“There’s no risk advisory for getting HPAI from eggs or chicken at this time,” Boutot said. 

At Slough Farm, the recent incident has sparked increased risk prevention. Scott said they’ve introduced disinfectant foot baths and tend to their surviving chickens from a separate flock and area of the farm prior to doing other work, minimizing the risk of contamination. 

But she said the farm took a hit with the loss of the flock. They’re now unable to provide poultry products for food equity programs. In the year 2025, Scott said Slough Farm donated more than 3,000 cartons of eggs to Island residents who struggled with food insecurity through the Food Pantry, the free food fridge at the West Tisbury Library, and other donation services. 

Scott said she hopes other farms will step up and fill the gaps in food needs. Slough Farm has a program where they purchase food from farms in order to donate those items to food equity programs. She highlighted that service as a way of bridging relief to the inevitable loss of egg and poultry donations, and said more information on the program can be found on the Slough Farm website. 

“Now is the time, if [farms are] able, to help support other food equity initiatives on the Island,” Scott said.