Gwenne Baile believes her backyard chickens are “pets that can give you breakfast.”
She has been promoting the idea for more than 20 years. Baile estimates she has gotten laws changed in 34 towns in the state to allow small flocks of six or seven chickens in backyards, like hers in Haddon Township, Camden County.
But now, with growing cases of bird influenza leading to the culling of entire farms of chickens and soaring prices of eggs across the nation, Baile is circling the wagons.
“I am a little concerned that there is going to be so much misinformation,” Baile told NJ Advance Media. “We went through that before with, ‘everyone is going to get salmonella because you have chickens,’ which is a bunch of garbage.”
Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023, according to the Associated Press. More than 145 million chickens, turkeys and other birds have been slaughtered since the current outbreak began, with the vast majority of them being egg-laying chickens.
There have been no reported cases of H5N1 bird flu in humans, domestic poultry, or cattle in New Jersey, according to the state Department of Agriculture. But it is suspected to have caused the death of multiple wild birds recovered across the state.
“I can just envision any towns trying to change anything now saying, ‘Oh no, we’re all going to have bird flu … Our pets are going to die because you insist on having chickens. It’s the scare tactic thing,’” Baile said.
The virus, which has been detected in all 50 states, is also causing outbreaks in U.S. dairy cows, particularly in western states, according to surveillance data. The CDC has also reported over 60 human cases of bird flu related to individuals who had close contact with infected livestock or poultry since 2024. The last reported human case of bird flu was in 2022.
“With the identification of H5N1 in migratory birds in New Jersey, it is crucial for owners of poultry flocks and those going to live bird markets to take steps to reduce interaction with wild bird populations,” New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Wengryn said. “We continue to test backyard flocks and live bird markets on a constant basis as well as monitor what is happening nationally concerning this virus. Protection of our domestic poultry and livestock industry starts at home.”
Baile, who at one time visited nursing homes and events for autistic children with her “therapy chickens,” is adhering to a detailed protocol now to protect her flock from migratory birds, waterfowl and anyone who may have come in contact with them.
Anyone entering her home must put on shoe covers and wash their hands. She also has her flock in a coop and chicken run with a roof, which is impenetrable to wildlife predators.
Baile thinks a healthy lifestyle can be had with home-laid eggs that she says beats anything bought in stores.
And these days, it’s a sure bet to beat the price.
Staff Writer Jackie Roman and the Associated Press contributed to this report
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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.