Bird flu threatens free-range turkey and chicken farms in southern Australia

Since June, the H5N1 virus has moved through Australia’s wild bird populations after arriving via sub-Antarctic migratory seabirds, and it has also been detected in mammals such as a long-nosed fur seal, a fox and a dolphin. Near Bordertown in South Australia, Lucy Dodd is preparing 6,000 free-range turkeys for the Christmas market, but the proximity of wild birds makes her operation highly exposed. She also manages 10,000 pasture-raised chickens, which face similar risks because their enclosures are moved daily onto fresh grass.

Adelaide University virologist Farhid Hemmatzadeh warned that high environmental virus loads make containment difficult and could threaten the broader poultry industry. Brad McAuliffe, whose Victorian farms suffered a massive H7 outbreak in 2024, now employs rigorous sanitation, UV-treated eggs and off-site grading to protect his flocks, a regime that cost more than $10 million. Smaller producers lack such resources, and state authorities have only encouraged voluntary indoor housing, leaving many free-range farms uncertain about their future.