Interest in raising backyard chickens grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues due to the ever-increasing cost of store-bought eggs.

The highly contagious bird flu has hit Montgomery County, Maryland, where officials say a backyard flock of chickens tested positive for the virus, making it the first case of a homeowner’s birds having the virus in Maryland this year and bringing the number of cases in the D.C. region to 11.

Here are ways to help our feathered friends during bird flu season, and help slow spread of salmonella at feeders, bird baths and poultry enclosures.

The discovery of bird flu in the San Mateo backyard flock prompted health officials to remind people to take biosecurity measures.

H5N1, known as bird flu, has been found in San Mateo County this week, according to state and local health officials. San Mateo County officials said Thursday that bird flu was found in a stray cat in Half Moon Bay.