Holly Hill Farm is going through an unexpected loss.
The farm announced they were forced to put down all their birds after a flock of chickens and ducks contracted an incurable avian flu disease.
In a statement posted to their website and Facebook, the farm said Island Health and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency were contacted immediately and both mandated them to kill the birds.
“It is fortunate that the rest of our animals are safe. In the past, avian influenza has occasionally infected other species, but these are generally ones that ate infected birds.”
Around 50 livestock contracted the disease from a wild migratory bird that recently visited the barnyard, the farm said.
Avian influenza viruses occur naturally through wild aquatic birds and are prevalent during this time of year.
Although there has only been one reported human case of the avian flu in Canada ever, the farm is recommending anyone who visited the farm recently to monitor themselves for flu-like symptoms for 10 days from their visit.
The farm said they are devastated by the loss, considering the animals to be more than just livestock with each one having their own name.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it takes 14 days after a deep clean to once again field chickens and ducks again.
The farm said however they don’t know if they will replace them, as they don’t know if their hearts can take it.
