One of the most common diseases found in backyard chickens is bird flu. It can live outside of a bird’s body for up to six months, so proper disease management is vital to keep your flock healthy. The best way to prevent an outbreak is to hatch chicks from disease-free flocks and practice strict sanitation on your farm. This includes providing clean feed and proper disposal of dead birds. When an outbreak occurs, extra precautions must be taken, such as cleaning and disinfecting the farm, as well as range rotation.