Avian Flu Regulations in Connecticut: What Every Poultry Owner Must Know

Connecticut is home to more than five million poultry spread across backyard and commercial flocks, and the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is not hypothetical — it has already arrived. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in a backyard flock located in New London County in January 2025. Since then, additional detections have followed, and HPAI remains present throughout the Eastern United States, including in Connecticut.

Whether you keep six backyard hens or manage a commercial operation, Connecticut’s avian flu regulations apply to you. Understanding the rules — from premises registration and biosecurity to quarantine zones and compensation — is the single most effective step you can take to protect your birds, your livelihood, and your neighbors’ flocks. This guide walks you through every major requirement in plain language so you know exactly where you stand.

HPAI vs. LPAI: Understanding Avian Flu Classifications in Connecticut

Avian influenza, commonly called “bird flu,” is a contagious viral disease that occurs naturally in birds, and the disease varies in severity depending on the strain and species affected. Regulators and veterinarians divide all avian influenza strains into two broad categories based on how dangerous they are to birds: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

LPAI occurs naturally in wild birds and can spread to domestic birds; in most cases it causes no signs of infection or only minor symptoms, and these strains pose little significant threat to human health. LPAI detections still trigger regulatory scrutiny, however, because the presence of low-pathogenicity virus can result in restrictions on exports and serious repercussions on the production economy.

HPAI — also referred to as H5N1 — is highly contagious among domestic poultry and has a mortality rate of nearly 100%, and it can infect chickens, turkeys, quail, geese, ducks, pheasants, and guinea fowl. HPAI is often fatal in chickens and turkeys, and it spreads more rapidly and has a higher death rate than LPAI.

Avian influenza of H5 and H7 subtypes are known as Notifiable Avian Influenza (NAI), and USDA APHIS works to keep NAI from becoming established in U.S. poultry populations. This federal designation means that any confirmed or suspected case in Connecticut triggers an immediate coordinated response involving state and federal agencies.

In Connecticut, three state agencies monitor for HPAI: the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) monitors wild birds and other wild animals; the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) monitors domestic animals, backyard bird flocks, poultry, and livestock; and the Department of Public Health (DPH) monitors humans. You will interact primarily with DoAg and its State Veterinarian’s office if your flock is affected. For more on related avian diseases that can complicate diagnosis, see our guides on avian tuberculosis and avian chlamydiosis.

Premises Registration Requirements for Poultry Owners in Connecticut

Registering your premises is the foundation of Connecticut’s poultry disease surveillance system. Without a registered premises, state officials cannot notify you of nearby outbreaks, include your flock in surveillance programs, or process compensation claims if your birds must be depopulated.

DoAg conducts surveillance testing of domestic birds throughout the state, and both commercial and non-commercial flock owners participate in the surveillance program. Testing for avian influenza virus is available at low or no cost through a partnership with the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) at the University of Connecticut. Participation in this testing program begins with premises registration.

To register, contact the Connecticut Department of Agriculture directly through its Avian Influenza Information page. You will need to provide your name, property address, species of birds kept, and approximate flock size. Both commercial producers and backyard owners — including those keeping birds solely as pets — are encouraged to register.

Connecticut Department of Agriculture officials remind backyard and commercial flock owners to prioritize biosecurity and regulatory compliance when purchasing chicks and hatching eggs, noting that robust prevention measures and adherence to state and federal requirements help safeguard flock health and protect the broader farming industry from HPAI and other infectious diseases.

All live poultry being transported into Connecticut are required to have an official health certificate from the state of exportation and a permit issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture. When importing poultry or hatching eggs, shipments must meet state import requirements, including certification that chicks and hatching eggs originate from a pullorum-free flock as documented through the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).

Biosecurity Requirements for Commercial and Backyard Flocks in Connecticut

Biosecurity is not optional under Connecticut’s regulatory framework — it is the primary line of defense the state expects every flock owner to maintain. “Biosecurity is the best defense for a flock owner to protect their birds from disease,” according to State Veterinarian Dr. Thamus Morgan, DVM, MPH, DACVPM. The DoAg has issued specific biosecurity expectations that apply to both commercial and non-commercial operations.

The core biosecurity requirements Connecticut officials direct flock owners to follow include:

• Do not let poultry have contact with migratory waterfowl or other wild birds.
• Wash hands and boots before and after entering the poultry area.
• Buy birds only from reputable sources to receive healthy birds.
• Restrict traffic onto and off your property.
• Have a written biosecurity plan in place.
• Clean and disinfect equipment, footwear, and vehicles; limit visitors and require biosecurity measures for those who do enter.
• Separate new or returning birds from the main flock and quarantine them for observation.

HPAI is most commonly spread through interaction with other species, like migratory birds. This is why keeping your flock physically separated from wild waterfowl is consistently the top recommendation from Connecticut authorities. The Commissioner of Agriculture has recommended considering keeping birds indoors to help avoid contact with migratory wild birds.

Poultry owners should dedicate one pair of boots for working with chickens that are not worn inside their homes or off property, and they should also change any clothes that have been soiled by manure. These personal hygiene steps matter not only for your birds’ protection but also for your own, given that H5N1 can be transmitted on equipment, people, or other items that move from farm to farm, including between dairy farms and poultry facilities.

Financial assistance is available to farms for planning and implementing enhanced biosecurity measures. Contact the Connecticut Department of Agriculture or the USDA APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge to learn what programs are currently accepting applications.

Reporting Sick or Dead Birds in Connecticut

Prompt reporting is both a legal expectation and a practical necessity. Because HPAI can spread through an entire flock within hours, waiting even a day to report unusual bird deaths can mean the difference between a contained outbreak and a regional crisis. Because you will only be indemnified for live birds and HPAI spreads quickly and can be fatal to flocks, it is critical that you report sick birds immediately and begin the indemnity process quickly if you have an infected flock.

Signs of H5N1 infection include sudden increase in bird deaths, sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, watery or green diarrhea, lack of energy, poor appetite, drop in egg production, swelling around the eyes, neck, and head, and purple discoloration of wattles, combs, and legs. If you observe any of these signs, do not wait for symptoms to worsen before making contact with authorities.

Who to call for domestic birds:

• Flock owners are encouraged to report anything unusual, especially sick or dead birds, to CT DoAg at 860-713-2505 or ctstate.vet@ct.gov, or to the USDA at 866-536-7593.
• Testing for commercial and non-commercial flocks is available at no cost to avian owners through CVMDL — all submissions must go through the State Veterinarian.

Who to call for wild birds:

• Help monitor wild bird populations in Connecticut by reporting sightings of dead wild birds to the Wild Bird Mortality Database. If you see several dead birds (more than five) in one location, or notice that several birds die in the same area over the course of several days, you are encouraged to report it.
• In addition to filling out the online form, call the DEEP Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011 if you observe this type of die-off.

The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory tested birds in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and USDA APHIS when avian influenza was confirmed in a non-commercial backyard flock. Samples are sent to CVMDL for initial testing, and results are then confirmed by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.

Connecticut’s Current HPAI Status and Active Outbreak Zones

Connecticut has experienced active HPAI detections in both wild bird populations and domestic flocks in recent years. Understanding the current landscape helps you calibrate your biosecurity response appropriately.

H5N1 infection was confirmed in a backyard flock in Connecticut during January 2025. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture also confirmed an outbreak within a backyard flock in New Haven County on January 24, 2025. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport reported a case of bird flu following testing of a deceased goose found on its grounds, and in accordance with federal and state guidelines, the zoo restricted public access to birds, enhanced safety measures for staff, and euthanized the remaining birds in the pond community that may have been exposed to the virus.

As of February 2026, the situation in wild bird populations remained active. Due to the presence of HPAI in wild bird populations, mainly affecting waterfowl and raptors, people are advised not to touch or pick up any birds believed to be sick. The Connecticut DEEP is focusing its avian influenza surveillance on waterfowl, in particular puddle ducks and Canada geese, as current knowledge of the H5N1 strain indicates that waterfowl are likely carriers of the virus.

On the livestock side, there have been no confirmed cases of HPAI H5N1 in dairy cattle in Connecticut as of the most recent state reporting. No additional H5N1 virus cases have occurred in people, livestock, or other domestic animals in Connecticut, and surveillance for cases in humans and animals is ongoing throughout the state.

For the most current national picture of HPAI detections in wild birds, the USDA APHIS wild bird detection tracker is updated regularly and includes state-by-state data. You may also find it useful to review how other states handle animal health regulations for broader context on how regulatory frameworks are structured.

Poultry Movement and Quarantine Restrictions in Connecticut

When HPAI is confirmed at a premises, movement restrictions go into effect immediately. These restrictions exist at both the infected site level and within a defined control zone surrounding it, and they apply to live birds, poultry products, equipment, vehicles, and personnel.

Premises infected with HPAI are placed under quarantine, prohibiting the movement of poultry and poultry products on or off of the infected site. This quarantine is issued by state and federal officials and remains in effect until the premises has been depopulated, cleaned, disinfected, and cleared through official virus elimination procedures.

Beyond the infected premises itself, a control zone is established around the outbreak location. The control area is a 10 km zone established around infected flocks. Within this zone, animal health officials work to identify premises with commercial and backyard poultry, and all flocks inside the control area undergo surveillance in accordance with USDA protocols. All poultry producers in the control area also comply with stringent biosecurity and permitting protocols in order to move poultry or poultry products off of their farms.

Even outside of active outbreak zones, Connecticut maintains year-round import controls. All live poultry being transported into Connecticut are required to have an official health certificate from the state of exportation and a permit issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Keep all purchase documentation, NPIP numbers, and health certificates with the shipment and on file, and sellers should provide buyers with proof of NPIP certification and disease status.

Poultry swaps, fairs, and sales events may be subject to inspection and enforcement, and non-compliance can lead to movement restrictions or other actions designed to protect animal health. If you plan to attend or exhibit at a Connecticut poultry event, verify current requirements with the DoAg before the event date.

Flock Depopulation and Compensation Rules in Connecticut

If HPAI is confirmed in your flock, depopulation — the humane destruction of all birds on the infected premises — is the required response under both state and federal protocols. While this is a devastating outcome, the federal indemnity system is designed to compensate you for your losses and encourage rapid, transparent reporting.

H5N1 is highly contagious among domestic poultry, and at this time there is no effective treatment or approved vaccine for the virus in poultry. The infected flock must be depopulated to prevent spread of the disease. USDA covers the cost of depopulating and disposing of HPAI-affected flocks, and in most cases USDA or its contractors carry out these activities and pay the costs directly.

The federal indemnity process works as follows:

1. Report immediately. Because you will only be indemnified for live birds and HPAI spreads quickly, it is critical that you report sick birds immediately and begin the indemnity process quickly if you have an infected flock.
2. Complete an indemnity request. The bird owner will be eligible for indemnification, and prior to euthanasia/depopulation, an Appraisal and Indemnity Request must be completed and signed. The value of the domesticated poultry will be obtained from a USDA Veterinary Services-prepared table based on the fair market value of the birds.
3. Register with SAM. Register your business with the U.S. Government System for Award Management (SAM), then complete and sign the paperwork including your bank information and SAM registration information and return it to your case manager or Field Reimbursement Specialist.
4. Receive payment. You will receive payment from USDA via direct deposit in about two to three weeks. If you appeal the initial indemnity value and your appeal is successful, additional funds would be deposited at a later time.

APHIS offers two methods to reimburse producers for the depopulation and/or disposal of birds affected with HPAI — the D&D Flat Rate method or the Detailed Financial Plan method. Your assigned case manager will help you determine which approach is more advantageous for your situation.

USDA will also compensate you for materials, such as contaminated feed or egg packaging, that must be destroyed because they cannot be safely or adequately cleaned. To receive compensation for these items, your Field Reimbursement Specialist must review and approve the items in writing before you remove or disassemble them.

Before restocking after a depopulation event, a biosecurity audit with a passing result is required prior to placing poultry on the previously infected premises as a condition of eligibility to receive federal indemnity should the poultry placed on the premises become infected with HPAI. The biosecurity audit will be conducted by a trained HPAI BCAP auditor during the post-virus elimination downtime, when there are no poultry on the premises.

Penalties for Non-Compliance in Connecticut

Connecticut’s avian flu regulatory framework carries real enforcement weight. Failing to register your premises, report sick birds, comply with quarantine orders, or meet import documentation requirements can result in consequences that extend well beyond a single flock.

At the state level, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has broad authority under the state’s animal health statutes to issue orders, enforce quarantines, and restrict the movement of animals and animal products. Poultry swaps, fairs, and sales events may be subject to inspection and enforcement, and non-compliance can lead to movement restrictions or other actions designed to protect animal health. These “other actions” can include administrative penalties, seizure of non-compliant animals, and referral for prosecution under Connecticut General Statutes governing animal disease control.

At the federal level, USDA APHIS has independent authority to enforce quarantine orders and movement restrictions under the Animal Health Protection Act. Violations can result in civil penalties. Critically, a biosecurity audit with a passing result is required prior to placing poultry on the previously infected premises as a condition of eligibility to receive federal indemnity should the poultry placed on the premises become infected with HPAI. Skipping required steps in the depopulation and cleanup process can therefore cost you your entire indemnity payment.

Non-compliance also has practical consequences beyond formal penalties:

• Loss of indemnity eligibility. Owners who do not report promptly may lose compensation for birds that die before official depopulation begins, since indemnity only covers live birds at the time of the appraisal.
• Expanded quarantine zones. Delayed reporting allows the virus to spread, which can trigger larger control zones that restrict your neighbors’ operations — creating serious liability and community relations problems.
• Import permit revocation. Repeated violations of import documentation requirements can result in permit denial for future shipments.
• Exclusion from surveillance programs. Owners found to be non-compliant may be removed from the low- or no-cost testing program administered through CVMDL.

The clearest path to avoiding penalties is straightforward: register your premises, practice documented biosecurity, report any unusual illness or death promptly, and comply fully with any quarantine or movement orders issued by state or federal officials. The state actively looks for the disease and educates the public and producers on the most appropriate practices to ensure health and safety, as well as provides compensation to affected producers to encourage disease reporting. The system is designed to reward transparency, not punish it.

If you keep multiple types of livestock or are navigating animal health regulations across different areas of your operation, you may also find our resources on horse boarding regulations in Wyoming and horse boarding regulations in Wisconsin useful for understanding how state-level animal health frameworks are structured more broadly.

Staying current with Connecticut’s avian flu regulations is not a one-time task. The DoAg updates its guidance as outbreak conditions change, and what applies during a high-risk winter migration season may differ from requirements during quieter months. Bookmark the CT DoAg Avian Influenza Information page and check it regularly — your flock’s health, and your financial protection, depend on it.