Avian Flu Regulations in Oregon Every Poultry Owner Needs to Know

Oregon poultry owners are operating in one of the most active avian influenza environments in recent memory. In January 2022, an HPAI virus causing poultry outbreaks worldwide was detected in the US, and this outbreak is ongoing. Since then, Oregon has seen confirmed cases in commercial flocks, backyard birds, pets, and even a pig — making a clear understanding of state and federal regulations not just helpful, but essential for protecting your flock and your livelihood.

Whether you keep a small backyard flock or manage a large commercial operation, Oregon’s avian flu regulations touch every aspect of your poultry ownership — from how you register your premises to what happens if your birds must be depopulated. This guide walks you through each layer of Oregon’s regulatory framework so you know exactly what is required of you and what to expect if the disease reaches your property.

HPAI vs. LPAI: Understanding Avian Flu Classifications in Oregon

Before you can navigate Oregon’s avian flu regulations, you need to understand the two classifications that drive them. Avian influenza viruses are influenza type A and are divided into two groups based on their ability to cause disease in poultry and on certain genetic features of the viruses. High pathogenicity viruses result in high death rates in some poultry species — up to 100% mortality within 48 hours.

Most HPAI is caused by viruses with H5 or H7 surface proteins, such as H5N1 avian influenza. Low pathogenicity viruses also cause outbreaks in poultry but are not generally associated with severe disease, though some LPAI viruses can become highly pathogenic in poultry. This potential for mutation is a major reason Oregon regulators treat even LPAI detections with urgency.

HPAI is a disease that is highly contagious and often deadly in poultry, caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses such as H5N1 and H5N9. HPAI viruses can be transmitted by wild birds to domestic poultry and other bird and animal species, including cats. Understanding this transmission pathway is central to why Oregon’s biosecurity and movement regulations are structured the way they are.

Some avian influenza viruses have been reported to cross the species barrier and cause disease or subclinical infections in humans and other mammals. Oregon’s regulatory framework addresses both the animal health and public health dimensions of this risk, which is why compliance obligations extend well beyond simply keeping birds healthy. You can learn more about related avian diseases — including avian tuberculosis and avian chlamydiosis — that may present alongside or complicate an avian flu response.

Premises Registration Requirements for Poultry Owners in Oregon

One of the most fundamental obligations for Oregon poultry owners is premises registration. Registering your premises with the ODA and the USDA’s National Premises Identification system ensures that state and federal officials can contact you quickly during an outbreak, trace disease movements, and coordinate a response before it spreads to neighboring flocks.

Oregon participates in the USDA APHIS National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), a voluntary State-Federal cooperative program that establishes biosecurity and testing standards. The National Poultry Improvement Plan is a voluntary State-Federal cooperative testing and certification program to enhance biosecurity and improve poultry and poultry products. Commercial operations are strongly encouraged — and in many circumstances required — to participate in NPIP as a condition of interstate commerce and indemnity eligibility.

• Who must register: All commercial poultry operations in Oregon; backyard flock owners are strongly encouraged to register
• How to register: Contact the ODA at 503-986-4711 or submit a premises registration through the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services portal
• What information is required: Property address, GPS coordinates, flock species and size, owner contact information
• Why it matters: Registered premises receive priority notification during outbreak events and quarantine zone establishment

If you are a fair or show exhibitor, note that the Oregon Department of Agriculture rules are a measure to prevent the introduction of HPAI at livestock fairs and shows. Premises registration is typically a prerequisite for any poultry exhibition in Oregon during active outbreak periods.

Biosecurity Requirements for Commercial and Backyard Flocks in Oregon

Biosecurity is Oregon’s first line of defense against avian flu, and the ODA has made clear that both commercial producers and backyard flock owners share responsibility for maintaining it. Effective biosecurity practices are the best way to prevent the spread of disease. Bird and livestock owners can take steps to help stop the spread of the virus, starting with preventing exposure of domestic poultry and livestock to wildlife, especially wild waterfowl.

Oregon State Veterinarian Ryan Scholz has stated that “really, all of the recommendations boil down to the simple fact of keeping domestic poultry away from wild waterfowl.” Indirect contact is just as dangerous as direct contact. Cases have occurred where duck or goose hunters cleaned harvested birds and then rinsed the patio off into their chicken coop, infecting their chickens.

The ODA’s core biosecurity requirements include the following practices for all flock owners:

1. Separate housing: Reinforce areas where backyard birds are kept, making sure they are fully enclosed and away from wild birds and their droppings.
2. Secure feed and water: Keep feed, drinking water, equipment, and other supplies secure, out of reach of wild birds or rodents.
3. Limit commingling: Limit the co-mingling of different species of livestock, especially poultry and pigs.
4. Hand hygiene: Wash your hands before and after handling your flock.
5. Equipment sanitation: Clean vehicles, tools, or equipment; limit unnecessary visitors; and sanitize shoes in clean foot baths.
6. Decontaminate after outdoor activities: After walking in a park or hunting area where wild waterfowl may have left droppings, change your shoes and wear different footwear when working with your chickens.

For commercial operations, structural biosecurity includes measures used to construct and maintain coops, pens, poultry houses, and other facilities, while operational biosecurity includes practices, procedures, and policies that farm owners and workers follow consistently. USDA APHIS will conduct on-farm assessments to identify biosecurity gaps. USDA will share up to 75 percent of the costs to fix the highest-risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments.

To request a free biosecurity assessment from USDA APHIS, email poultry.biosecurity@usda.gov or call 844-820-2234. Oregon’s regulations for shows and fairs also require that employee biosecurity training records be maintained. Upon hire, all personnel who work on the premises must be trained in biosecurity procedures by animal health officials or a trained company representative, and the premises must keep a record of employee training on file for at least 12 months.

Reporting Sick or Dead Birds in Oregon

Timely reporting is one of your most critical legal obligations as a poultry owner in Oregon. Both HPAI and LPAI are reportable diseases under Oregon law, meaning you are required to notify the ODA as soon as you observe signs consistent with avian influenza in your flock.

If present, possible symptoms include difficulty breathing, lack of energy and appetite, decreased egg production, and diarrhea. Spread often occurs from bird-to-bird contact but also can occur from contact with contaminated surfaces or materials, such as egg flats, farming equipment, or people’s clothing and shoes. If you observe a sudden, unexplained increase in mortality or any of these clinical signs, do not wait to see if birds recover on their own.

• Domestic poultry and birds: Death or illness among domestic birds should be immediately reported to the ODA by calling 503-986-4711 (Alt Phone: 1-800-347-7028).
• Wild birds: Contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) for wild birds. Do not collect or handle the birds but report the incident directly to ODFW at 866-968-2600 or Wildlife.Health@odfw.oregon.gov.
• Pets showing symptoms: Contact your veterinarian and notify the ODA, as Oregon has confirmed HPAI in domestic cats.

Wild bird deaths in Oregon are a key early-warning indicator. In Oregon, the wild bird species currently most at risk are waterfowl, shorebirds, and scavengers like eagles, crows, gulls, and vultures. Symptoms in wild birds include lethargy, inability to fly, erratic behavior, loss of coordination, cloudy eyes, swimming in circles, and head shaking. Birds typically die within 72 hours of showing clinical signs.

Once you report, the ODA will dispatch a veterinary team to collect samples. Initial testing will take place at a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) lab. With a positive test result from NAHLN, a suspect case becomes a “presumptive positive” case. A USDA case manager will be assigned to you and will serve as your liaison with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) throughout the entire process.

Oregon’s Current HPAI Status and Active Outbreak Zones

Oregon has been one of the more active states for HPAI detections since the current outbreak cycle began. As of January 2025, this strain of avian flu is widespread and has been detected in nearly every Oregon county. The situation has continued to evolve through 2025 and into 2026.

Key confirmed detections in Oregon include:

• In October 2025, HPAI was confirmed in a backyard flock of ducks and chickens in Wallowa County — the first confirmed case of HPAI in that county.
• USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed the presence of HPAI in a commercial poultry operation with approximately 150,000 birds in Clackamas County.
• The CDC confirmed a case of HPAI in a person linked to an outbreak affecting birds at a commercial poultry operation in Clackamas County in November 2024. The individual experienced only mild illness and has fully recovered.
• On October 30, 2024, the first detection of H5N1 in swine in the United States was confirmed in Oregon.
• There has been 1 reported human case of HPAI H5N1 in Oregon, as reported in Oregon Health Authority surveillance data published April 22, 2026.

Cases of HPAI increase in mid-October, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Wild birds, especially migrating ducks and geese, transmit the disease and may not appear sick. This seasonal pattern means that fall and spring are the highest-risk periods for Oregon flock owners.

A map of active quarantine areas in Oregon is available online at the ODA’s Avian Influenza page. Interested parties may enter their address to determine whether they are included in a quarantine area. You should check this map regularly during peak migration seasons. For national-level tracking, current information about HPAI detections throughout the United States is available on the USDA’s Detections of HPAI webpage.

Poultry Movement and Quarantine Restrictions in Oregon

When HPAI is confirmed in Oregon, the ODA and USDA APHIS immediately establish geographic control zones that restrict the movement of poultry, poultry products, and related equipment. Understanding these zones is critical if you transport birds, sell eggs, or move equipment between properties.

Oregon’s quarantine structure typically mirrors the federal APHIS framework, which establishes three zones around a confirmed infected premises:

1. Infected Premises (IP): The confirmed outbreak site. All movement of birds, eggs, and equipment is prohibited. Depopulation is initiated.
2. Control Area (CA): Typically a 10-kilometer radius around the IP. Movement of live poultry, hatching eggs, and used poultry equipment requires an official permit issued by the ODA.
3. Buffer Zone (BZ): An outer ring beyond the control area. Enhanced surveillance and movement documentation are required.

Coordinated response plans with federal, state, and local agencies work to rapidly confirm HPAI, implement quarantine restrictions, humanely euthanize affected flocks and animals, dispose of affected birds and animals, clean and eliminate the virus from affected premises, conduct surveillance, and monitor individuals exposed to infected animals.

If you are moving poultry into a buffer zone, additional federal requirements apply. If you are moving poultry into a designated buffer zone, you must pass a USDA Buffer Zone Placement Biosecurity Audit to be eligible for federal indemnity for any birds that moved onto the premises. You should follow the normal permitting process for movement of poultry into a buffer zone.

Oregon also maintains strict import restrictions for cattle that intersect with avian flu regulations. No cattle exposed to, infected with, or suspected to be carrying HPAI may be imported into Oregon. For poultry imports from affected states, you must obtain an ODA Import Permit and present a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection completed no more than seven days prior to importation.

For current permit requirements and zone boundaries, contact the ODA Animal Health Hotline at 503-986-4711. If you manage operations in neighboring states, be aware that animal movement regulations vary significantly across state lines, and Oregon’s import requirements are among the more stringent in the region. Poultry owners in the Pacific Northwest may also want to review ODA’s live quarantine zone map before any interstate transport.

Flock Depopulation and Compensation Rules in Oregon

If HPAI is confirmed on your premises, depopulation — the humane destruction of your entire flock — will almost certainly be required. While this is an extremely difficult outcome, Oregon’s regulatory framework is designed to move quickly and to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your losses.

The affected birds are euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease and do not enter the food system. In almost all cases, water-based foam, carbon dioxide, or alternative methods will be the depopulation methods available to rapidly stamp out the HPAI virus in poultry. Depopulation must be done under federal and state supervision and in line with applicable regulations.

After depopulation, disposal is the next mandatory step. Disposal methods include composting, onsite burial, incineration, rendering, and landfilling. The method chosen must follow all state environmental laws.

On the compensation side, USDA APHIS administers the federal indemnity program that covers Oregon producers. APHIS offers two methods to reimburse producers for the depopulation and disposal of birds affected with HPAI — the D&D Flat Rate method or the Detailed Financial Plan method. Here is how the process works:

1. Inventory preparation: USDA and state animal health officials work with you to prepare an inventory as soon as HPAI is identified in your flock. The inventory lists all living animals in the flock and the current number of eggs on hand.
2. Indemnity determination: The appraisal form itemizes the appraised poultry, including the number, types, age, gender, organic status, and lay status of the birds. The value of the birds and eggs is based on current APHIS flat rates compensation for Virus Elimination.
3. SAM registration: 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. Payment: You will receive payment from USDA via direct deposit in about 2–3 weeks.

There is an important biosecurity condition tied to indemnity eligibility. APHIS has established requirements for certain poultry premises to complete a biosecurity audit as a condition for receiving indemnity payments for poultry depopulated because of an outbreak of HPAI. Producers must provide, as a condition for receiving indemnity payments, a statement that at the time of HPAI detection on their premises, they had in place and were following a poultry biosecurity plan consistent with NPIP biosecurity standards.

USDA covers the cost of depopulating and disposing of HPAI-affected flocks. In most cases, USDA or its contractors carry out these activities and pay the costs directly. If you prefer to manage your own depopulation and disposal activities, USDA will reimburse you according to a detailed financial plan at a rate equal to what would otherwise be paid to a contractor for the same work. You can also appeal the initial indemnity value if you believe your birds were appraised below fair market value.

Penalties for Non-Compliance in Oregon

Oregon takes avian flu compliance seriously, and failure to follow reporting requirements, biosecurity mandates, or quarantine restrictions can result in significant legal and financial consequences. Non-compliance does not just put your flock at risk — it can trigger broader outbreak events that harm neighboring producers and the state’s poultry industry as a whole.

Avian influenza detections can negatively impact the poultry trade of the state and the entire country. This is why Oregon law treats non-compliance as a serious matter, not merely a technical violation.

Key areas where penalties apply include:

• Failure to report: Oregon law requires immediate reporting of suspected or confirmed avian influenza in domestic poultry. Failure to report known or suspected cases to the ODA is a violation of Oregon’s animal disease reporting statutes and can result in civil penalties.
• Violating quarantine orders: Moving birds, eggs, or equipment out of a designated control area without an ODA-issued permit is a violation of state quarantine law. Penalties can include fines and loss of indemnity eligibility.
• Indemnity forfeiture: APHIS has established biosecurity audit requirements to reduce the risk that a producer becomes inclined to disregard biosecurity because they believe APHIS will continue to cover costs associated with HPAI damages regardless of their biosecurity status. If you cannot demonstrate that you had a compliant biosecurity plan in place at the time of detection, you may lose your right to federal indemnity payments.
• Import violations: Importing poultry or cattle in violation of Oregon’s HPAI import restrictions — such as bringing in animals without a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or ODA Import Permit — can result in seizure of the animals and civil penalties.

Beyond financial penalties, non-compliant premises may be subject to mandatory corrective action orders from the ODA, increased inspection frequency, and restrictions on restocking. All people in Oregon exposed to infected animals are monitored by public health through 10 days following their last exposure — which means that a failure to report can also trigger public health interventions and increased scrutiny of your operation.

The most effective way to avoid penalties is to build compliance into your daily operations. Keep biosecurity training records current, maintain your premises registration, and know the ODA’s reporting contacts before you ever need them. If you manage other livestock alongside your poultry, also familiarize yourself with how livestock boarding and housing regulations in neighboring states interact with Oregon’s animal health requirements when animals cross state lines. For the most current ODA enforcement guidance and any regulatory updates, visit the ODA Avian Influenza page directly or call 503-986-4711.