We have received many calls regarding the COVID-19 virus and its relationship to poultry and poultry products. McMurray Hatchery is in contact with our state veterinarians and federal and state poultry authorities and continues to monitor the situation. At this time we are still hatching and shipping poultry.

Biosecurity is the most important line of defense that each breeder, hatchery and poultry owner have against diseases. At McMurray Hatchery, we are committed to providing the highest quality and healthiest poultry for our customers. This commitment to excellence is what has kept McMurray Hatchery an industry leader for over a century.

At McMurray Hatchery, we have very stringent biosecurity procedures, vaccination program and testing to ensure you receive healthy chicks. We participate in the USDA National Poultry Health Improvement Plan (NPIP), are certified in Pullorum-Typhod Clean, AI Clean and Salmonella Monitored. As participants in these programs we follow a very strict vaccination, biosecurity, and testing protocol. Learn more about biosecurity at McMurray Hatchery.

Here are some answers some of the most common questions we are receiving as relayed to us by the Iowa Poultry Association:

  • There is no evidence that COVID-19 can affect poultry including eggs, and chicken and turkey meat. These products are safe for human consumption.
  • Human-to-human contact is the main route of COVID-19 transmission.
  • Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large group of viruses which continuously circulate in mammals and birds. The major CoVs in poultry, infectious bronchitis viruses (IBVs) and turkey coronaviruses (TCoVs), belong to the genus gammacoronavirus which is different from beta-CoVs that infect humans including the current COVID-19.
  • There is no evidence of transmission of poultry coronaviruses* to humans or other mammals
  • There is no evidence of human coronavirus transmission to poultry.

As a general precaution, it is important to remember to:

  • Wash your hands — especially before and after handling poultry.
  • Practice good biosecurity at home, and when handling your flock by regularly disinfect tools and other surfaces.
  • Stay home if you are sick, and ensure you are fever-free for 24 hours before returning to work.

Additional Resources:

If you have additional questions please contact your local poultry veterinarian or Iowa State Poultry Veterinarians Dr. Yuko Sato or Dr. Mohamed El-Gazzar.