October 3, 2022
Dear Customers and Friends of Metzer Farms,
This past weekend was a tough one. Despite our best efforts and strict biosecurity protocols, we received the unfortunate news that a flock at our farm in Gonzales, California tested positive for highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). HPAI is a virus frequently carried by migratory waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds. During migration, these waterfowl spread the disease to new areas, exposing domestic poultry to the virus. Already in 2022, there have been 490 cases, involving over 46 million birds, devastating backyard and commercial flocks nationwide. We are working closely with The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to execute a rapid response.
We want our customers to rest assured that our situation does not put them or their existing flocks at risk. All waterfowl previously hatched and those being hatched in the future are coming from eggs not exposed to HPAI. Shipping of day-old ducklings will continue and all orders will be sourced and shipped from our hatchery in Memphis, Tennessee. Our NPIP certification and our USDA-approved biosecurity measures will remain in place, including the ongoing testing of all flocks.
Some breed offerings will be impacted by this situation. If your order is affected, we will be contacting you via phone or email. A few of the affected breeds will be unavailable for the remainder of the year as we work at rebuilding our flocks for future seasons. We are especially grateful to have additional farm locations and a second hatchery during a time like this. Our Memphis hatchery will be incubating, hatching, and shipping all orders for the immediate future.
Thank you for your support and patience during this challenging time.
For more information on Avian Influenza please visit the following:
- Metzer Farms Biosecurity Guidelines and Avian Flu Information
- Questions for Metzer Farms can be directed to 800-424-7755 or metzinfo@metzerfarms.com
- USDA Website regarding biosecurity for your flock