Avian Flu Regulations in Texas: What Every Poultry Owner Needs to Know

Texas sits at the intersection of two major migratory flyways, making its poultry industry one of the most exposed in the country when highly pathogenic avian influenza begins moving south each fall and winter. Whether you raise chickens in a backyard coop or manage a large commercial operation, the state’s avian flu regulations apply to you — and the consequences of non-compliance can be severe.

This guide walks you through every layer of Texas’s avian flu regulatory framework: how the two classifications of the virus differ, what registration and biosecurity rules you must follow, how to report sick birds, where active outbreaks are occurring, and what happens to your flock — and your finances — if HPAI reaches your premises.

HPAI vs. LPAI: Understanding Avian Flu Classifications in Texas

Not all avian influenza strains behave the same way, and Texas regulations treat them very differently depending on which classification a strain falls into. There are many strains of the AI virus, and based on the severity of illness they cause, these strains are put into two classifications: low pathogenic (LPAI) and highly pathogenic (HPAI).

LPAI strains typically cause few or no signs of illness and occur naturally in wild birds around the world. However, some LPAI strains can become highly pathogenic in poultry. This mutation risk is one reason Texas regulators treat even low-path detections seriously.

HPAI strains are deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of days. The strain driving the current national outbreak is H5N1, Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b — a strain confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in affected dairy cattle as very similar to the one introduced by wild birds.

Because LPAI does not typically kill poultry the way HPAI does, there may be control options beyond depopulation — for example, quarantine or controlled marketing may also be appropriate. If your farm is ever affected by LPAI, federal and state officials will work with you to determine what options are available.

Migratory waterfowl are a natural reservoir for avian influenza disease. The relationship between migratory waterfowl movements and HPAI outbreaks in U.S. poultry is “strong, and consistent” since emerging in North America — national data on commercial poultry cases of H5N1 show temporal and spatial links to waterfowl migration, whereby HPAI poultry infections align with fall and spring migrations.

Premises Registration Requirements for Poultry Owners in Texas

Texas uses two overlapping systems to track poultry premises: the state’s own Fowl Registration Program and the federally coordinated National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). Understanding which one applies to you is the first step in staying compliant.

The TAHC registers domestic and exotic fowl sellers, distributors, or transporters who do not participate in disease surveillance programs — such as the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) — recognized by the TAHC. Registrations are good for one year from the date of issuance. You must renew annually to remain in good standing.

If you sell domestic or exotic fowl from your residence only, you are not considered a distributor or transporter under this program and you do not need to register as part of the fowl registration program. However, this exemption is narrow — the moment you transport or distribute birds off your property for sale, registration is required.

Following the confirmation of Exotic Newcastle Disease in 2003 and the enactment of Texas Agriculture Code §161.0411, the TAHC developed a registration program for fowl sellers, distributors, and transporters. The program has remained in force and was expanded in scope following subsequent HPAI detections.

• Submit the TAHC Fowl Registration application (Form 04-07) to TAHC, P.O. Box 12966, Austin, TX 78711-2966
• Renew your registration every 12 months from the issuance date
• NPIP-certified operations are exempt from the state fowl registration requirement but must maintain active NPIP status
• Exotic fowl (ostriches, emus, rheas, and similar species) follow separate Exotic Livestock movement requirements

The Texas Poultry Improvement Association is the official state agency administering NPIP in Texas. NPIP was initially created to eliminate pullorum disease from commercial poultry flocks, but the program has since expanded to monitor the testing of multiple poultry diseases, including avian influenza. If you want your flock NPIP-certified, contact the Texas Poultry Improvement Association at PT-Program@tvmdl.tamu.edu.

Biosecurity Requirements for Commercial and Backyard Flocks in Texas

Biosecurity is the first and most important line of defense against avian flu in Texas. Whether you have a small backyard flock or a whole poultry operation, biosecurity practices are important in protecting the health and marketability of your birds. The movement of poultry, equipment, and people carries an increased risk of introducing disease into a flock, but by adding simple practices to your flock management routine, you can mitigate the risk of diseases that could negatively affect your flock.

TAHC biosecurity guidance focuses on four core principles: separating your birds from wild birds, controlling human and vehicle access, maintaining clean equipment, and monitoring flock health daily.

Keeping Wild Birds Out

Eliminate opportunities for your birds to interact with wild birds. Wild waterfowl are known carriers of disease, and the best way to avoid diseases that wildlife carry is to keep domestic animals separated from the wild. The congregation of waterfowl and other migratory birds around food, water sources, and backyard flocks increases the potential spread of the disease.

In areas with active HPAI detections, TPWD discourages the public from feeding wildlife, which includes the use of bird feeders. If feeders are left up, they should be cleaned at least every two weeks with a solution of one part household bleach to nine parts water, and water in birdbaths should be changed every few days with wet feed and seed regularly removed.

Visitor and Vehicle Controls

If you have birds at home, do not visit another farm, home, or facility that also has birds. If you must visit another premises, be sure to shower and put on clean clothes and shoes beforehand. Remember that vehicles can be vehicles for disease transmission.

Biosecurity practices include monitoring flocks for signs of illness, wearing protective clothing and shoe covers, limiting the number of on-farm visitors, keeping feed, water, vehicles, and equipment clean, and avoiding contact with wild birds or other poultry.

Biosecurity Plans and Federal Indemnity

For larger commercial operations, having a formal biosecurity plan is not just good practice — it is a condition for receiving federal compensation if HPAI strikes. APHIS requires producers to 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.

The final rule required facilities subject to these provisions to have their biosecurity plans audited at least once every two years, with additional audits as needed during the biennial period to satisfy their Official State Agency.

Producers with a Secure Food Supply (SFS) Plan will be better positioned to move animals under a movement permit and maintain business continuity within their industries because of enhanced biosecurity practices. To find out more about the Texas Secure Food Supply Program and how to get involved, contact the TAHC SFS Plan Coordinator.

You can also learn about related avian health conditions — such as avian tuberculosis and avian chlamydiosis — that can complicate flock management alongside HPAI biosecurity planning.

Reporting Sick or Dead Birds in Texas

Timely reporting is one of the most critical obligations you have as a poultry owner in Texas. Early detection limits outbreak size, protects neighboring flocks, and preserves your eligibility for compensation. Delayed reporting can result in penalties and loss of indemnity.

Report sick and dead birds immediately. If your birds appear sick or you have experienced increased mortality, immediately call your private veterinarian or your TAHC region office. The TAHC’s 24-hour hotline is 1-800-550-8242.

Clinical signs to watch for include neurological disease such as incoordination or stumbling, lethargy, trembling, seizures, lack of fear of people, coughing and sneezing, and sudden death — though birds infected with HPAI may not always have outward signs of infection.

• Sudden, unexplained death — especially multiple birds in a short period
• Respiratory distress — coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge
• Neurological symptoms — trembling, loss of coordination, seizures
• Swollen or discolored head parts — blue or purple combs and wattles
• Drop in egg production — sudden or severe decline
• Loss of appetite or lethargy — birds not eating or moving normally

Once you report, TAHC will coordinate with USDA APHIS for confirmatory testing. TAHC has noted that “considerable mortality” is a key trigger for sample submission to a Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for confirmation. Those interested in avian testing should call one of TVMDL’s poultry laboratories in Gonzales or Center, or one of the agency’s full-service laboratories in College Station or Canyon.

The virus may spread in a variety of ways, including through contact with infected wild and domestic birds as well as by contaminated equipment, clothing, and shoes of caretakers. This is why the reporting obligation extends beyond your own flock — if you observe large-scale sickness or mortality in wild birds nearby, that is also a reportable event to TAHC or your local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife biologist.

Texas’s Current HPAI Status and Active Outbreak Zones

Texas has seen a sustained wave of HPAI activity since late 2025, with detections in both wild birds and domestic flocks across multiple regions of the state. Understanding where the virus is circulating helps you assess your risk level and tighten biosecurity before a detection reaches your county.

On December 12, 2025, HPAI was detected in a Shelby County commercial flock — the first confirmed commercial flock in Texas in 2025. Earlier in the year, four backyard flocks and one animal rescue and rehabilitation facility had positive detections.

As of February 17, 2026, TPWD reported that HPAI continued to circulate among wild birds in Amarillo and Lubbock. Testing also detected HPAI in mammal species including foxes, raccoons, striped skunks, and domestic cats collected in Deaf Smith, Hansford, Lubbock, Ochiltree, Parmer, and Randall Counties, with recent wild bird detections also in Amarillo, El Paso, Galveston, Harris, Lubbock, Potter, Travis, and Wharton counties.

As of early February 2026, the Texas Animal Health Commission had confirmed six positive avian influenza cases in counties around the state since November 12, 2025. Most of those positive infections were in wild birds or backyard flocks. Experts expect sporadic cases to continue through spring and recommend vigilance among backyard and commercial producers.

Outbreaks in the U.S. typically subside or completely cease in summer months due to the heat. However, since 2022, outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 in the U.S. diminish during the summer only to see a resurgence during fall, winter, and spring. Texas poultry owners should treat every migration season as a high-risk period and adjust biosecurity accordingly. For the most current county-level outbreak data, check the USDA APHIS HPAI detections page regularly.

Poultry Movement and Quarantine Restrictions in Texas

Movement restrictions are one of the most operationally disruptive aspects of an HPAI outbreak for Texas poultry owners. Knowing the rules before a detection occurs helps you plan for business continuity and avoid unintentional violations.

In the event of a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak involving highly contagious viruses, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, state and federal officials may limit livestock movement to control disease spread. These restrictions can apply at the premises level, the county level, or across entire control zones established around confirmed cases.

Interstate Movement into Texas

Live poultry entering Texas from an avian influenza affected state must have a negative test within 72 hours of entry and receive specific TAHC permission granting this movement. Prior to movement, all individuals moving poultry into Texas must call the TAHC at 512-719-0777 for Texas entry requirements, including certificate of veterinary inspection, entry permit, and testing documentation.

Live poultry, unprocessed poultry, hatching eggs, unprocessed eggs, egg flats, poultry coops, cages, crates, other birds, and used poultry equipment affected with, or recently exposed to, infectious, contagious, or communicable disease, or originating in state or federal quarantined areas shall not enter Texas without express written consent from the commission.

NPIP Certification and Movement Documentation

For avian influenza, live domestic poultry moving into Texas must meet requirements in addition to general movement rules. The poultry must originate from a flock that is certified as avian influenza (AI) clean in accordance with the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and a NPIP 9-3 form.

Official movement requirements are governed by the Texas Administrative Code, Title 4, Part 2. For the most current and legally authoritative version, visit the Texas Register’s Administrative Code portal or call the TAHC Permits Help Desk at 512-719-0777.

Quarantine Zones Around Confirmed Cases

When HPAI is confirmed, TAHC and USDA APHIS establish control zones around the affected premises. State officials quarantine the affected premises and, as part of existing avian influenza response, work to conduct surveillance in areas around the affected flock. Operations within these zones face movement permits, enhanced testing requirements, and strict documentation obligations.

Producers with a Secure Food Supply (SFS) Plan will be better positioned to move animals under a movement permit and maintain business continuity within their industries because of enhanced biosecurity practices. Enrolling in the SFS program before an outbreak is one of the most effective steps you can take to preserve your ability to operate during a regional response.

Flock Depopulation and Compensation Rules in Texas

If HPAI is confirmed on your premises, depopulation is not optional. Understanding what happens during the process — and what financial assistance is available — helps you prepare mentally and financially before a crisis occurs.

There is no treatment for HPAI. The only way to stop the disease is to depopulate all affected and exposed poultry. TAHC and USDA APHIS coordinate the response jointly, with federal officials typically leading the depopulation effort on commercial premises.

The Depopulation Process

Once HPAI is confirmed, a response team will be dispatched to your premises. With HPAI detections, APHIS coordinates the emergency response, working closely with federal, state, tribal, and industry partners. You will be required to cooperate fully with the response team, restrict all movement on and off your premises, and follow all cleaning and disinfection protocols after depopulation is complete.

Premises found to have housed, incubated, brooded, or ranged an infected flock shall be cleaned and disinfected under the supervision of the commission within 15 days following depopulation, unless an extension of time is granted. Infected premises shall not be restocked with poultry or eggs for hatching purposes until the cleaning and disinfecting requirement is certified complete by the commission.

Federal Indemnity Payments

USDA is investing $1 billion in a comprehensive strategy to curb HPAI, protect the U.S. poultry industry, and lower egg prices, including several producer support programs. Federal indemnity is available to eligible poultry owners whose birds are depopulated as a result of an HPAI confirmation.

To qualify for indemnity, you must meet specific conditions. Owners and contractors must provide a statement that at the time of HPAI detection, they had in place and were following a poultry biosecurity plan. Facilities subject to the provisions of the rule are required to have their biosecurity plans audited at least once every two years.

Smaller operations may be exempt from the biosecurity audit requirement. Premises not currently required to develop and follow a poultry biosecurity plan are also exempt from being required to pass a biosecurity audit. More than 97 percent of turkeys and 99 percent of broilers are raised on farms that are above these size thresholds.

For the most current indemnity rates and program eligibility, visit the USDA APHIS HPAI Poultry Resources page or contact your nearest TAHC regional office.

Penalties for Non-Compliance in Texas

Texas takes avian flu regulation enforcement seriously. Failing to register, report, follow movement restrictions, or cooperate with a depopulation order exposes you to a range of legal and financial consequences — and can disqualify you from receiving compensation for your losses.

Regulatory Authority

The TAHC derives its enforcement authority from the Texas Agriculture Code and the Texas Administrative Code, Title 4, Part 2. The commission has broad powers to issue quarantine orders, restrict movement, mandate testing, and compel cooperation with disease response operations. Violations of TAHC orders are treated as violations of state law.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

• Loss of indemnity eligibility: If you fail to maintain a required biosecurity plan or do not cooperate with a response team, USDA APHIS can deny your indemnity claim — meaning you receive no compensation for depopulated birds.
• Civil penalties: Violations of TAHC movement restrictions and quarantine orders can result in civil fines under the Texas Agriculture Code. Penalties can accumulate on a per-day, per-violation basis.
• Criminal liability: Knowingly moving birds out of a quarantine zone or falsifying health certificates can rise to the level of criminal charges under Texas law.
• Loss of NPIP certification: Non-compliant operations risk suspension or revocation of their NPIP status, which in turn bars them from interstate movement and many commercial markets.
• Increased surveillance requirements: Premises with a history of non-compliance may be subject to more frequent inspections and mandatory testing at the owner’s expense.

Reporting Violations and Seeking Guidance

If you are unsure whether an action you are planning complies with current TAHC regulations — especially during an active outbreak — call the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242 before proceeding. The commission’s staff can clarify movement permit requirements, testing obligations, and quarantine boundaries in real time.

You can also review the official regulatory text at any time through the Texas Administrative Code. For federal-level guidance on indemnity, biosecurity audits, and HPAI response procedures, the USDA APHIS Avian Influenza hub is the authoritative source.

Staying proactive — registering your premises, maintaining a biosecurity plan, and reporting promptly — is the most effective way to protect your flock, your finances, and your standing with state and federal regulators. If you manage other types of livestock or are navigating animal health regulations in other states, resources like horse boarding regulations in Wyoming and horse boarding regulations in Wisconsin cover parallel compliance frameworks that may be useful context.