Monitoring the health of poultry through their water consumption

 

Photo credit:  Poultry World

Headline:  WATT Poultry, 11/5/2025

Elizabeth Doughman reports:  

Changes in water consumption in poultry flocks could serve as an early warning for illness and disease. 

“We need to get in front of the problems more than we have been,” explained David Speller, CEO, Optifarm, at the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit. 

Poultry health is directly correlated to profitability, so it’s important to have early warnings for disease. Sick birds change behavior and respond differently to the world around them, just like we do when we’re sick. Paying attention to these changes may better predict disease and illness in poultry flocks, he added.

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November 2025

Another Michigan turkey flock infected with avian flu.  (11/11)

British Columbia ostrich farm loses appeal, 400 birds infected with avian flu depopulated.  (11/11)

]5 swans die of avian flu in Bristol, England.  (11/11)

Germany reports 66 cases of avian flu since October 1.  (11/10)

Avian flu alert in Missouri.  (11/7)

Two recent cases of avian flu in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (11/7)

Japan reports third confirmed outbreak of avian flu this season.  (11/6)

More turkey flocks infected with avian flu in North Dakota and South Dakota.  (11/5)

That raw cheese you're eating might be infected with bird flu virus.  (11/4)

Avian flu infects turkey flock in Michigan.  (11/4)

Four cases of avian flu hit western Canada.  (11/3)

You're right if you think there's been a lot of birds killed by avian flu during the past 2 months.  (11/1)

October 2025

Avian flu hits duck breeder farm in California. (10/29)

139,000 chickens fall victim to avian flu in Georgia.  (10/28)

Avian flu kills elephant seals on Heard Island south of Australia.  (10/25)

Widespread avian flu infections of wild birds in the United States.  (10/24)

Minnesota boosts its 2025 avian flu tally to 20.  (10/23)

Yet another case of avian flu confirmed in Minnesota, bringing total to 19 so far in 2025.  (10/22)

Indiana reports more cases of avian flu.  (10/21)

Quebec reports 4th case of avian flu in 2025.  (10/17)

Three more Minnesota turkey flocks affected by avian flu, bringing 2025 tally to 18 .  (10/16)

Two cases of avian flu reported in Manitoba on consecutive days.  (10/14)

Multiple reports of avian flu including two flocks in Washington State affecting more than 2,200,000 hens.  (10/13)

Bird flu detected in goose at Gibson Park in Great Falls Montana.  (10/12)

Avian flu threat results in cancellation of WIsconsin poultry show.  (10/11)

Avian flu hits two more turkey flock in Minnesota.  (10/10)

Avian flu hits Michigan turkey flock.  (10/9)

Avian flu hits Iowa turkey flock.  (10/7) 

175,000,000 birds have fallen victim to avian flu in United States since 2022.  (10/6)

Migrating season brings a return of avian flu to Iowa.  (10/3)

Jefferson County Wisconsin reports second case of avian flu in less than a week.  (10/3)

September 2025

That Jefferson County Wisconsin farm lost more than 3 million laying hens.  (9/30)

Avian flu claims an historical first death:  Whooping crane.  (9/29)

Wisconsin reports first 2025 commercial case of avian flu in poultry flock without providing any specifics.  (9/29)

Utah in 4th year of avian flu outbreak. (9/27)

Minnesota reports 55,000 cases of avian flu in 3 turkey flocks.  (9/26)

Expect higher prices for your Thanksgiving turkey this year.  (9/26)

South Dakota continues to be hit hard by avian flu.  (9/21)

Minnesota reports avian flu in flock of tom turkeys.  (9/19)

Nebraska reports its first known case of avian flu in dairy herd.  (9/17)

Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports 4 cases of avian flu in Alberta but otherwise remains mum.  (9/17)

South Dakota reports additional cases of avian flu in turkey flocks.  (9/14)

Must be Kristi Noem's bad karma and her Corey Lewandowski hook-up:  South Dakota is ground zero for avian flu so far this fall.  (9/10)

Avian flu is not going away:  Texas records U.S. case #1079 since January 2024.  (9/9)

April-August 2025

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Public relations news:  Not a good year so far for chickens and eggs.  (6/13)

USDA secretary Brooke Rollins poses with chickens while keeping key department positions unfilled.  (4/11)