BC's Avian Flu: Chickens to Ostriches to Peacocks

By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | November 20, 2025
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A Three-Year Crisis Claims Millions of Birds

Since April 2022, British Columbia has been experiencing repeated devastating outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, leaving farmers emotionally and financially devastated as millions of birds have been culled to prevent the virus from spreading further.

The toll has been staggering. As of April 2025, approximately 8.7 million birds have died or been culled across British Columbia farms during this outbreak cycle. In 2024 alone, BC accounted for more than 80 percent of all commercial poultry flocks infected with avian flu in Canada, with 70 of the country's 87 affected flocks located in the province. The majority of these infections occurred in the Fraser Valley region, particularly in Abbotsford, where 47 commercial flocks were affected.

The recent cull of over 300 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood on November 6, 2025, drew international attention and sparked debates about government authority and animal welfare. Now, peacocks at Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland face an uncertain future after 15 birds at the sanctuary tested positive for H5N1 and were culled in early November.

Understanding Avian Influenza

Avian influenza is a viral infection that affects food-producing birds, pet birds, and wild birds. There are two main types: low pathogenic avian influenza, which typically causes little illness in infected birds, and highly pathogenic avian influenza, which causes severe illness and death.

The current outbreak involves the H5N1 strain of HPAI, which is part of a global outbreak affecting poultry and wild birds across North America and beyond. The virus is primarily spread by migratory wild birds, particularly waterfowl species, through direct contact, droppings, feathers, and contaminated surfaces.

BC's Poultry Industry Before the Crisis

British Columbia's poultry industry is a significant component of the province's agricultural sector. The province has 308 registered broiler chicken growers and numerous egg producers. Before the current outbreak began, BC's chicken industry contributed approximately $519 million in farm cash receipts annually, supported 14,353 jobs, and contributed $1.1 billion to Canada's GDP.

Canada as a whole had 2,826 regulated chicken producers in 2022, collectively producing 1.34 billion kilograms of chicken. The average Canadian egg farm maintains about 25,000 laying hens, significantly smaller than American operations that often house over one million birds. This smaller scale has helped Canada weather the avian flu crisis better than its southern neighbor.

The Culling Process: From Chickens to Ostriches

The methods used to euthanize infected birds vary significantly based on the species and circumstances. For chickens, standard procedures involve cervical dislocation for smaller flocks or the use of carbon dioxide gas chambers for larger operations. Trained personnel can euthanize birds using lethal injections of veterinary drugs like T-61 or Euthanyl, which cause unconsciousness in seconds.

Ostriches present unique challenges. According to a 2016 Canadian Food Inspection Agency manual, ostriches are extremely dangerous, especially males during mating season. The recommended procedure involves luring birds with food until they can be hooded with something like a cut-off sweatshirt sleeve, which calms them enough to be sedated with ketamine, xylazine, and azaperone before being euthanized. The manual notes that three people are required: one to hold the bird by sitting on its back, one to hold the head, and one to inject the drug.

However, at Universal Ostrich Farms, the CFIA used professional marksmen in a controlled setting to cull approximately 314 birds. The agency stated this was the most appropriate and humane option after consulting with experts, given the outdoor setting and the number of birds involved. The cull was completed on November 6-7, 2025, under veterinary supervision.

Recent Cases: Peacocks in Limbo

The most recent case involves Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland. Between October 25 and 28, several chickens died suddenly. Tests confirmed H5N1 on October 29. The sanctuary has since culled 10 chickens and 5 ducks that cohabitated with the infected birds.

Now the sanctuary has submitted a formal appeal to the CFIA requesting that their peacocks be spared from the euthanasia order. The peacocks have been isolated from the lower areas of the sanctuary and from all waterfowl, have shown no signs of illness, and the sanctuary argues they represent a different species with lower exposure risk than waterfowl. As of mid-November 2025, the CFIA was conducting an interim investigation to review the request, with no timeline for a decision.

The Impact at Grocery Stores

Despite the massive bird culls, Canadian consumers have largely been shielded from the extreme price spikes and shortages seen in the United States. In early 2025, American egg prices soared by 60 percent year-over-year, with some states seeing retail prices exceed $11 per dozen. In contrast, Canadian egg prices increased by approximately 11-12 percent over the same period, with most provinces still able to find eggs for under $5 per dozen.

This relative stability is attributed to Canada's supply management system, which regulates production, imports, and farm prices for eggs and poultry. The system encourages farmers to share biosecurity information and coordinate responses, helping to contain outbreaks more efficiently. Additionally, Canada's smaller, more geographically dispersed farms mean that individual outbreaks affect a smaller percentage of the overall supply.

British Columbia is currently the only province experiencing supply shortages. Canada has culled approximately 14.5 million chickens during this avian flu cycle, with more than 80 percent in BC. However, the supply management system has helped redistribute production from other regions to affected areas, minimizing disruptions.

Industry experts predict that egg prices in Canada will increase by approximately 6 percent in 2025, largely due to avian flu impacts. Chicken prices may see modest increases as well, though both remain far more stable than in the United States.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Mandate

Under the Health of Animals Act, the CFIA is responsible for controlling and eradicating reportable diseases like avian influenza. When HPAI is detected on a farm, the agency follows a "stamping out" policy, which requires the destruction of all birds on infected premises to prevent the virus from spreading to other farms, wild birds, other animals, or potentially humans.

The CFIA's approach is based on international standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health and is designed to protect Canada's domestic poultry industry, which generates $6.8 billion annually, and maintain access to international markets for $1.75 billion in poultry exports. When avian flu is detected, trading partners including Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan impose export restrictions on Canadian poultry.

Compensation is available to farmers who cooperate with cull orders, though the process can take months. Farmers must then clean and disinfect their facilities before restocking, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Looking Ahead

BC Chief Veterinarian Teresa Burns has noted that preliminary research suggests fall migration periods pose greater risks than spring because migratory birds land and spend more time in the Fraser Valley during autumn. The last new infection in BC was reported on January 11, 2025, providing a temporary respite for farmers. However, experts warn that the virus continues to circulate in wild bird populations, making future outbreaks likely.

The federal government announced in February 2025 that it had purchased 500,000 doses of avian flu vaccine as a proactive measure, prioritizing high-risk individuals such as farm workers exposed to infected animals.

As migration season approaches again, BC farmers remain vigilant, implementing strict biosecurity measures including limiting farm access, requiring protective equipment, and isolating their flocks from wild birds as much as possible. Some farmers have relocated their operations outside the Fraser Valley or exited the industry altogether due to the ongoing stress and uncertainty.

The avian flu crisis has raised important questions about disease management, animal welfare, biosecurity practices, and the resilience of food supply systems. While the immediate supply impacts have been manageable for consumers, the emotional and financial toll on farmers continues to mount, with each new outbreak bringing fresh anxiety about what the future holds for BC's poultry industry.

Elke Porter at:
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