Avian influenza

In the district of Ludwigsburg: Obligation to keep animals in stables lifted

Ludwigsburg. The obligation to keep poultry along the Neckar in the Ludwigsburg district will end on Thursday, February 12, 2026. However, all poultry farmers are still called upon to strictly adhere to the mandatory biosecurity measures that have long been in place.

The obligation to keep poultry came into force on December 2, 2025 and expires on February 12, 2026. Since the end of December, no further wild birds infected with the avian influenza virus (bird flu/poultry plague) have been found in the Ludwigsburg district.

From February 13, 2026, poultry farmers will be allowed to let their animals outside again. However, it is still urgently pointed out that the already long-standing mandatory biosecurity measures, which apply all year round in Baden-Württemberg regardless of the number of animals kept, must be strictly adhered to.

Poultry farmers can protect their poultry by taking the following measures:

• Secure stables against unauthorized access
• Store and provide feed and water protected from wild birds
• Avoid contact between domestic poultry and wild birds
• Strictly implement hygiene measures (washing hands, changing shoes, separate stable clothing, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and stables)
• Carry out rodent control
• Monitor the health of the animals daily
• Report suspected cases to the veterinary office immediately

The health of the animals must be monitored daily. Conspicuous cases of illness or death in poultry must be reported to the veterinary office immediately.

Stabling as a measure against avian influenza

The stabling of domestic poultry was issued as a precautionary protective measure after highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) was officially detected in several wild birds found dead along the Neckar in November and December 2025 and an increased infection pressure was assumed. The measure served to protect domestic and farm poultry flocks from infection with avian influenza from wild birds.

Further information on avian influenza in the district of Ludwigsburg as well as references to further information from other authorities can be found at: https://www.landkreis-ludwigsburg.de/gesundheit-veterinaerwesen/veterinaerwesen/gefluegelpest/.

Current situation in Baden-Württemberg

FLI: "Despite a noticeable decline in the number of cases, the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) still considers the risk of infection in wild and domestic birds to be high. Although the epidemic in cranes has largely subsided in Germany, the virus is still circulating in the wild bird population.

Forecasts for the coming weeks remain difficult, as events can be influenced by numerous factors such as weather conditions and possible changes in the strain of the virus." .

In order to be able to assess the current situation, the Veterinary Office is dependent on reports of deaths of wild birds. The exact location where the bird was found must be stated in the report (geo-coordinate, map, directions). Waterfowl, gulls, corvids (e.g. magpies, crows), herons and birds of prey are of particular interest. Greylag geese are particularly affected along the Neckar. Pigeons and songbirds do not have to be reported and can be disposed of in the garbage can as residual waste.
For reasons of hygiene, dead animals should never be touched by hand

Source Fli, as of 14.01.2026

Cases confirmed by the FLI can be viewed with a one-day delay via the link www.tsis.fli.de can be accessed. In the current season, it was mainly cranes that were affected. The greylag goose is the dominant species on the Neckar, but it is not a migratory bird.
The overview map in TSIS only shows active cases, so wild birds do not appear on the map. The veterinary offices in Baden-Württemberg have been instructed to cancel confirmed cases immediately. Therefore, use the "List of individual cases" and filter by federal state or district, as deactivated cases are also listed here. Alternatively, the FLI publishes a weekly overview map of the confirmed cases of the last 28 days on its homepage.

In 2021, a mobile poultry trader sold positive animals to numerous small holdings throughout Germany. This also affected a farm in the district of Ludwigsburg.
2022 was spread via a state association show of pedigree poultry breeders in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
2023 three positive gulls were found at the Aldinger lock.

Since 21.01.2023, every keeper of chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, partridges, pheasants, ratites, quails, ducks and geese must comply with a catalog of measures to prevent the introduction of the virus into their livestock. In addition to securing the entrances to stables against unauthorized entry, the wearing of protective clothing by persons outside the company and compliance with cleaning and disinfection measures, it is essential that livestock owners inform the competent veterinary office immediately if they notice symptoms of illness or unclear deaths in their livestock. These laboratory diagnostic clarification tests are free of charge for farms located in Baden-Württemberg and are to be carried out exclusively in the state testing facilities. The requirement to comply with these biosecurity measures applies indefinitely for the time being.

Homepage Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection

General decree

With the help of these checklists, poultry farmers can check and, if necessary, improve the biosecurity level of their poultry farming on their own, even without an acute epidemic situation.

27.11.2025 Second case of avian influenza detected in wild birds in Ludwigsburg district - veterinary office will order compulsory stabling along the Neckar river

20.11.2025 Avian influenza detected in wild birds in the district of Ludwigsburg

Owners of chickens or turkeys are legally obliged to have all their animals vaccinated against Newcastle disease. Various live and inactivated vaccines are available for this purpose. The live vaccines can be administered via the drinking water, eye drops or as an aerosol spray.
StIKo Vet: Statement on compulsory ND vaccination of poultry in hobby farming

Tel. 07141 144 2031

For emergencies that cannot be postponed at weekends and on public holidays, please note our answering machine (Tel. 07141-144-2031).

Friedrich-Löffler-Institute

Ministry of Rural Areas

Hygiene rules for small poultry farms