Animal health experts are concerned about the spread of disease from backyard chicken flocks in British Columbia.

The risks associated with keeping poultry was a key topic for discussion at a seminar Wednesday in Abbotsford, hosted by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Ministry officials estimated there are as many as 8,000 chicken flocks around the province, raising fears about another avian flu outbreak like the one that forced the slaughter of more than 17 million birds in B.C. four years ago.

The disease was spread by traffic between large poultry operations so government officials are anxious to keep poultry farmers up to date about what they can do to maintain the health of their flocks.

Sandra Stevens, a CFIA disease-control specialist, says backyard flocks are still a concern because they have more contact with wild waterfowl, the main carriers of avian flu.

"Because they're usually smaller collections, we don't view them as a huge risk to commercial enterprises,'' she said. However, Stevens said the risks associated with the exposure of smaller flocks to wild waterfowl cannot be ignored.

Discussion on the issue is expected to increase as people push municipal leaders to relax bylaws restricting hens in their backyards, experts said.

The CFIA suggests flock owners abide by a simple three-step cleaning and disinfection process that involves the use of protective eyewear and gloves:

1. Remove all organic material from footwear, tools and other equipment with a brush or sponge, using detergent and clean, hot water.

2. Scrub again, using a solution of 50 millilitres of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite, five per cent to six per cent) and four litres of water. Let stand until the surface is dry.

3. Scrub with hot water and common household disinfectant following the label directions.