Crescent Duck Farm, the last commercial duck operation on Long Island, has begun rebuilding its flock after a January H5N1 bird flu outbreak forced the culling of 100,000 ducks—part of a massive national outbreak that has affected over 175 million birds.
At a Glance
- Crescent Duck Farm destroyed its entire flock in January to contain the H5N1 strain
- Around 2,700 ducklings from 15,000 virus-free eggs are helping restart operations
- The farm aims to resume full processing by summer 2026 but warns a second outbreak could shut it down permanently
- Owner Doug Corwin is calling for federal mandates on bird flu vaccinations to protect small producers
- The H5N1 outbreak has now spread to cattle, raising concerns about its growing virulence
From Devastation to Revival
In January, Crescent Duck Farm’s entire flock—100,000 ducks—was culled after an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu struck. Owner Doug Corwin, a seventh-generation farmer, said the decision was devastating but necessary. Since then, the farm has undergone deep cleaning and biosecurity upgrades in preparation for rebuilding, according to AP News.
Rebuilding Bloodlines and Business
In May, the farm began hatching a new generation of ducklings—about 900 initially, with another 1,800 arriving in June. The ducklings, all descended from virus-free eggs, will help restore Crescent’s specialized heritage breed. Before the outbreak, the farm processed roughly one million ducks per year, but full production likely won’t resume until 2026. “If we get hit again, we’re out of business,” Corwin warned, as reported by AP News.
Watch a report: Ducks Return to Long Island Farm.
Advocating for Vaccine Mandates
Corwin is now lobbying federal officials for nationwide vaccination programs. So far, he’s received $150,000 in federal compensation against more than $1 million in losses. Industry experts say vaccines could help prevent catastrophic losses for small farms like Crescent, which provide niche products to markets nationwide, according to AP News.
Rising Threat to U.S. Livestock
The H5N1 outbreak has expanded beyond poultry, infecting dairy cattle and wildlife across several states. Though the CDC says the current risk to humans remains low, experts warn that the virus is mutating and could become more dangerous if left unchecked. The Long Island outbreak is one example of why stronger prevention strategies are urgently needed.
As Crescent Duck Farm works to recover, its experience may shape future national policies—and help determine whether small producers can weather the next wave of this evolving pandemic.
