A deadly virus that is sweeping through feral pigeons has the potential to threaten backyard chickens kept in urban gardens.
The paramyxovirus, currently suffered by the pigeons, has the potential to adapt to other birds, such as chickens.
Australia’s chief veterinary officer Mark Schipp told The Age that you should always keep backyard chickens isolated from other birds.
“I keep backyard chickens myself and I protect them from interacting with wild birds by netting,” said Dr Schipp. This virus is closely related to the Newcastle disease that caused the death of thousands of chickens between 1998 and 2002.
