Vancouver Island poultry farmers on high alert over avian flu in B.C.

Egg producers on Vancouver Island are on high alert after 35 flocks of poultry across the country have been confirmed to have contracted avian flu.

For James Lockwood, the owner and operator of Lockwood Farms, watching over his flock is serious business. His 6,000 Cowichan Valley chickens produce nearly two million eggs a year.

“It’s important not to be complacent,” says Lockwood.

With the appearance of avian influenza in other parts of Canada, he is doing everything he can to protect his birds.

“Sanitizing our footwear, then when we enter, we shower,” says Lockwood. “Then we change into barn-specific boots and coveralls.”

On the way out, it’s another shower.

He knows that if the highly pathogenic strain was make its way into his facility, it could mean a death sentence for his flock.

“Which would be really devastating,” he says. “As many people could understand, we have to look out for everybody’s interests.”

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the bird flu strain H5N1 is within our borders.