This does not present a risk. At the present time, the H5N1 strain of bird flu that has spread through poultry farms in southeast Asia and into eastern Europe is not present in the U.S. Even if the H5N1 strain were to appear in the U.S., transmission from birds to people would require close contact with birds, such as handling, butchering or exposure to bird droppings.

Yes. In the United States there is no need at present to remove a flock of poultry because of concerns regarding avian influenza. The U.S. Department of Agriculture monitors potential infection of poultry and poultry products by avian influenza viruses and other infectious disease agents.

In addition to what was said above, do not eat raw or soft-boiled eggs nor utilize them uncooked in food preparations. Cook all poultry thoroughly using a food thermometer to ensure that poultry reaches at least 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Eggs should be cooked solid throughout. Eggs, hands, knives, cutting boards and all counter tops may be washed with soapy water and sanitized with a solution of one-teaspoon chlorine bleach in a quart of water. http://www.fsis.usda.gov.

Poultry producers should strengthen biosecurity practices to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into their flocks. Sound biosecurity practices can be found on the USDA Backyard Biosecurity for the Birds webpage at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity/hpai.html , which include: Protect poultry flocks from coming into contact with wild or migratory birds. Keep poultry away from any source of water that could have been contaminated by wild birds.

The key to safe chickens is a sturdy, impenetrable coop. Raccoons should be more of a concern, they are such clever, determined critters. .Make sure the structure is secure (enclosed top, fencing buried below ground under the sides, secure latches on doors or other entryways), keep all birds locked in at night, letting them out into the run or "tractor" only during the day.

Avoid touching poultry and bird droppings. If you do touch poultry or bird droppings, wash your hands right away with soap and water. If you have chickens or poultry in your back yard and you think they are sick, call the California Department of Food and Agriculture Avian Health Group at 1-800-491-1899.

Poultry and poultry products can be prepared and consumed as usual, with no fear of acquiring infection with the avian flu virus. One should continue to follow good hygienic and cooking practices. The virus is destroyed at a temperature of 70o C for 30 minutes. After handling poultry and eggs, one should wash hands and other exposed parts with soap and water.

There is no evidence that avian influenza can be transmitted through eating poultry or eggs. However, make sure poultry and eggs have been thoroughly cooked.

You can safely eat poultry (chicken, turkey, pheasants, ducks, etc) and poultry products if they are fully cooked. Keep all surfaces, cutting boards and utensils used to prepare raw chicken and eggs separate from other foods.

On the basis of current scientific evidence, the Food Standards Agency advises that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. This is because for people, the risk of catching the disease is from being in close contact with live poultry that have the disease and not through eating cooked poultry, game or eggs.

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When buying and handling live chickens, try not to touch them or their droppings. Do not blow at their bottoms. Egg shells may have been contaminated with bird faeces. Wash the outside of eggs and wipe them dry before putting into the refrigerator for storage. Observe food hygiene when cooking chickens and eggs. Always wash your hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water after handling chickens and eggs.

Of course, the answer depends a lot on the breed of chicken and how well they've been managed. On average, I'd say the life span of a chicken will be 5-6 years, but I've seen them live longer. The smaller breeds will live the longest. The heaviest breeds have a tendency to become too heavy which causes foot and leg problems. However, that does not mean that they will still be laying. Most laying hens will lay good numbers of quality eggs for 2-3 cycles at one cycle per year.

Yes, it is safe to eat properly cooked poultry. Cooking destroys germs, including the bird flu virus. The US bans imports of poultry and poultry products from countries where bird flu has been found.

Yes, eating properly cooked poultry, as well as eggs, is safe. The U.S. government has banned imported poultry from countries affected by bird flu. At the present time, bird flu is not present in the U.S. For protection against many types of food borne diseases, such as Salmonella, all poultry should be cooked to 165? F or hotter. Cooking also destroys flu viruses.

There is no evidence to suggest that you can become infected by eating properly cooked poultry and eggs. Proper handling and cooking of poultry provides protection against this virus, as it does against many viruses and bacteria, including Salmonella and E.coli. Safe food handling and preparation is important at all times.

All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. (Sources: Kitchen Thermometers; Use a Food Thermometer)

People cannot get bird flu from eating properly handled and cooked food. (See tips below for safe food handling)

People in close contact with infected poultry or infected material from poultry are most at risk. This would include poultry farm workers, Veterinarians and others Involved in disease control.

of now, there is no risk of acquiring bird flu from cooked poultry in the United States. The federal government has banned imported poultry from countries affected by bird flu, including H5N1. Of course, it is always essential to properly handle and cook poultry to prevent sickness in general. To avoid contamination, do not handle both raw and cooked foods without washing your hands, separate raw meet from cooked meat and cook poultry to the proper temperature.

Yes, it is safe to consume THOROUGHLY COOKED poultry products. The H5N1 virus is sensitive to heat and gets destroyed by normal cooking temperatures of 70- 100 degree Celsius. If meat from poultry birds and eggs are cooked properly, the virus will be destroyed. Just make sure that no part of the meat remains raw or uncooked.

Because freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only. Refer to the freezer storage chart at the end of Focus on Freezing, which lists optimum freezing times for best quality. If a food is not listed on the chart, you may determine its quality after defrosting. First check the odor. Some foods will develop a rancid or off odor when frozen too long and should be discarded.

When buying live chickens, try not to touch them or their droppings. If you have touched a chicken, wash your hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water.

What Is Community Supported Agriculture? Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership of consumers and farmers. The member shareholders provide a guaranteed market and income, as well as labor to produce and distribute the food for a growing season. The farmers provide weekly shares of fresh, seasonal, certified organically grown vegetables and herbs. Both partners share in the risks and rewards of small-scale farming: weather, insect damage, and bumper crops.