Has bird flu killed millions of chickens in Colorado? 

Avian flu outbreaks have led to the deaths of more than 11 million commercial chickens in Colorado since 2022. 

Federal officials usually require farmers to “depopulate” an entire flock if a single bird contracts the disease to “stamp out” spread. The virus is highly contagious and can rapidly infect other livestock including cattle, pigs and goats. It’s also a threat to cats and dogs and even humans, though human transmissions are rare.

In January, the disease hit a commercial egg farming facility in Weld County, causing the farm to kill 1.3 million birds. This was the first outbreak at a commercial facility in Colorado since 2024.

A University of Arkansas study estimated that poultry losses due to avian flu in 2024 alone drove up egg prices nationwide by 9%, creating a $1.41 billion economic burden on consumers resulting from higher egg prices and lower consumption.