As the spring season approaches, poultry growers and backyard keepers are gearing up to protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu. The recent outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian flu has raised concerns among farmers like Loren Brey, a poultry grower in Minnesota, who suffered significant losses due to the virus.

After losing nearly half of his flock to avian flu, Brey decided to take a unique approach to prevent future outbreaks. He installed laser systems atop his barns, emitting green beams of light to deter wild birds that could potentially carry the deadly virus.

With migratory birds on the move, farmers across the country are implementing various innovative tactics to safeguard their poultry. From using drones and air horns to deploying balloons and decoy predators, growers are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to protect their birds.

While the avian flu has only impacted a small percentage of the billions of poultry sold annually in the United States, the threat looms large for both small and large-scale operations. The continuous battle against the virus has led to the adoption of new strategies by farmers, reflecting a mix of vigilance and resignation after years of dealing with disease control measures and vaccination debates.

Industrial farms and egg-producing chicken facilities have been hit the hardest by the recent outbreaks, with a significant number of depopulated birds belonging to a few large-scale operations. For instance, two-thirds of the affected birds come from just 30 farms with over a million egg-laying hens.