Grassman
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
I don't think the reality of this outbreak has slightly sunk in with the back garden poultry keepers.
Avian flu Protection Measures in force.
- Thread starter Dealer
- Start date
A lot of people who show at the fed are professional breeders and believe me, this was well talked about but they mostly all 'followed the guidance'. Animal movement between holdings is surely the first thing to shut down? Never mind putting them all in big halls with warm air being blown in.
I can see the cost and it must be a nightmare. Winning a class at the fed means you can clean up next year on fertile eggs, or birds so it's not easy for people who have put in a lot of work. But such is life. It's no good if you get all your birds culled and end up with empty sheds the next year.
I can see the cost and it must be a nightmare. Winning a class at the fed means you can clean up next year on fertile eggs, or birds so it's not easy for people who have put in a lot of work. But such is life. It's no good if you get all your birds culled and end up with empty sheds the next year.
Has it been well publicised though? I don't know whether it has, after first reading about it on here i've mentioned it to a few and they were oblivious, but proceeded to comply with the imperatives from DEFRA.
Grassman
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Most back garden and smallholders round here have taken no protection measures whatsoever as far as I can see!
Even the local parks in Leicester have notices about AI on the trees/gates as we have lots of water, parks & many wild birds such as swans, ducks etc however I doubt anyone has read them or taken much notice. Like in the days of F&M they should be stopping markets,shows etc first & then add in bio-security on a broader scale.
Indeed. The horse has bolted. It's been a nightmare for me as I run my many flocks extensively and has cost me hundreds in tarps and nets but it's a wake up call. If I mix them all up in 1 barn, it'll take 2 months of separation before I can sell pure eggs again and early spring is premium time for me. I realise that I now have to have systems in place to get all my flocks under cover on deep litter within 24 hours for next winter. It sounds like this is getting worse and worse in the EU which is a bit depressing.
Grassman
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Unfortunately I think this issue could drag on for many months so first job in the new year is to build some large pens with netting utilising some polytunnel hoops that were destined for ebay or the scrap heap.
Yep, agree, everything I am doing is assuming we are in this for a while. Longer term we are going to need to think about how we will react when this happens again (and again).
Woolgatherer
Member
- Location
- Angus
As soon as I heard about the restrictions, I got some weld mesh and made a big run for my birds. (20 hens and 3 ducks). They've been in ever since and the run which was originally made to be a temporary measure is going to be reinforced to become a permanent fixture as I can see that this will be a longer term restriction than early January, and likely to be an annual thing. When I was in b & q getting the weld mesh, the cashier asked me if I was making a run for hens, apparently there'd been a lot of people in getting wire netting and fencing supplies for their garden hens. So up here at least, there are some responsible folk! Unfortunately I also know of 2 farmers who haven't bothered confining their turkeys / geese / hens / ducks.
Grassman
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
I bought a couple of silage bale nets. A cheap way to make a large, enclosed area.
Avian influenza update from BEIC
To: Full circulation The Welsh Government has just issued a press notice that H5N8 HPAI has been confirmed in a wild duck (Wigeon) in Carmarthenshire Please see below the press release. Avian Influenza confirmed in wild duck in Carmarthenshire - The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has confirmed a finding of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in a wild duck in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. - This is the same strain of the disease confirmed at a turkey farm in Lincolnshire on Friday (16th December) and has been reported in wild, captive or domestic birds in many European countries, the Middle East and North Africa. - The duck, a wigeon, was found dead and submitted for testing. This morning it has been confirmed it tested positive for the Highly Pathogenic H5N8 strain of the avian influenza virus. - The confirmation of the disease in this wild bird follows the introduction of a Prevention Zone in Wales on the 6th December, which requires all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate, and protect them, from wild birds. - Earlier this week steps were taken to further protect poultry and captive birds by introducing a temporary suspension on gatherings of poultry. The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: - “The finding of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in a wild duck in Llanelli follows reports of the disease in Lincolnshire and across Europe. This finding is not unexpected and follows calls for bird keepers to be more vigilant for signs of the disease. It is likely that more cases will be confirmed. - “There have been no reports of human infection from the H5N8 strain and the risk to human health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has also confirmed it is safe to eat poultry meat, such as turkey, goose and chicken.” The Chief Veterinary Officer, Christianne Glossop, said: - “This finding serves to remind us all of the risk of infection. The Prevention Zone and temporary suspension on gathering of poultry remain in place. It is also important that bird keepers practice the very highest levels of biosecurity. Even when birds are housed, there remains a risk of infection and keepers of poultry and other captive birds should ensure every effort is made to prevent contact with wild birds. The movement of poultry should be minimized, and clothing and equipment should always be disinfected.” - To initially strengthen the understanding of the presence of H5N8 in wild bird populations in a dynamically changing situation, the reporting thresholds for wild bird surveillance has been reduced to a list of the specified species known to be infected in Europe. - Members of the public are encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location, to the APHA helpline on 03459 335577. If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek advice from your veterinary surgeon. If you suspect that your birds are showing signs of the disease you should immediately report it to your local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) office. Poultry keepers, including those with fewer than 50 birds, are encouraged to provide details of their flocks to the Poultry Register. This will ensure they can be contacted immediately in the event of an avian disease outbreak so that they can take action to protect their flock at the earliest opportunity. Notes to editors • - The Prevention Zone remains in place across Wales. Any person with poultry and/or captive birds must take all appropriate and practicable steps to ensure that: • - Poultry and other captive birds are provided with feed and water which is not accessible to wild birds; • - Any person who comes into contact with poultry and other captive birds must take all reasonable precautions to avoid the transfer of contamination between premises, including cleansing and disinfection of equipment, vehicles and footwear; • - Steps are taken to reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry or captive birds are kept to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products; • - Steps are taken to implement effective vermin control programmes, including preventing the entry of wild birds, around buildings where poultry or captive birds are kept; • - Housing and equipment is thoroughly cleansed and disinfected at the end of a production cycle; • - Disinfectant at the right concentration is kept at all points where people should use it, such as farm entrances and before entering poultry housing or enclosures. 2. An outbreak of avian flu was confirmed on a farm in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire on December 16. Further information is available here. 3. The ban on gatherings of chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese applies in England, Scotland and Wales. Further information on what gatherings are affected is available here. 4. Information on the Poultry Register is here. 5. APHA can be contacted on 0300 303 8268. 6. APHA helpline for reporting dead wild birds: 03459 335577. More information available here. 7. For media enquiries contact Welsh Government Press Office on 02920 898099. Outbreak assessment for H5N8 HPAI, including information on the outbreak NE of Louth. Please find attached an updated outbreak assessment for H5N8 HPAI, including information on the outbreak NE of Louth. GB risk levels have increased to “High” for risk of incursion in UK wild birds and to “Low to medium” for incursion into domestic poultry, dependent on biosecurity on farm and risk of contact with infected wild birds This is also available on the Defra website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-diseases-international-monitoring Please remember that the “testing for exclusion” scheme can be used in GB where avian influenza (or Newcastle disease) is not strongly suspected, but where clinical signs cannot exclude a Notifiable Avian Disease. European Food Safety Authority EFSA published an opinion on the outbreaks of H5N8 on 20th December, which is at http://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/4687.pdf
To: Full circulation The Welsh Government has just issued a press notice that H5N8 HPAI has been confirmed in a wild duck (Wigeon) in Carmarthenshire Please see below the press release. Avian Influenza confirmed in wild duck in Carmarthenshire - The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has confirmed a finding of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in a wild duck in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. - This is the same strain of the disease confirmed at a turkey farm in Lincolnshire on Friday (16th December) and has been reported in wild, captive or domestic birds in many European countries, the Middle East and North Africa. - The duck, a wigeon, was found dead and submitted for testing. This morning it has been confirmed it tested positive for the Highly Pathogenic H5N8 strain of the avian influenza virus. - The confirmation of the disease in this wild bird follows the introduction of a Prevention Zone in Wales on the 6th December, which requires all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate, and protect them, from wild birds. - Earlier this week steps were taken to further protect poultry and captive birds by introducing a temporary suspension on gatherings of poultry. The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: - “The finding of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in a wild duck in Llanelli follows reports of the disease in Lincolnshire and across Europe. This finding is not unexpected and follows calls for bird keepers to be more vigilant for signs of the disease. It is likely that more cases will be confirmed. - “There have been no reports of human infection from the H5N8 strain and the risk to human health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has also confirmed it is safe to eat poultry meat, such as turkey, goose and chicken.” The Chief Veterinary Officer, Christianne Glossop, said: - “This finding serves to remind us all of the risk of infection. The Prevention Zone and temporary suspension on gathering of poultry remain in place. It is also important that bird keepers practice the very highest levels of biosecurity. Even when birds are housed, there remains a risk of infection and keepers of poultry and other captive birds should ensure every effort is made to prevent contact with wild birds. The movement of poultry should be minimized, and clothing and equipment should always be disinfected.” - To initially strengthen the understanding of the presence of H5N8 in wild bird populations in a dynamically changing situation, the reporting thresholds for wild bird surveillance has been reduced to a list of the specified species known to be infected in Europe. - Members of the public are encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location, to the APHA helpline on 03459 335577. If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek advice from your veterinary surgeon. If you suspect that your birds are showing signs of the disease you should immediately report it to your local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) office. Poultry keepers, including those with fewer than 50 birds, are encouraged to provide details of their flocks to the Poultry Register. This will ensure they can be contacted immediately in the event of an avian disease outbreak so that they can take action to protect their flock at the earliest opportunity. Notes to editors • - The Prevention Zone remains in place across Wales. Any person with poultry and/or captive birds must take all appropriate and practicable steps to ensure that: • - Poultry and other captive birds are provided with feed and water which is not accessible to wild birds; • - Any person who comes into contact with poultry and other captive birds must take all reasonable precautions to avoid the transfer of contamination between premises, including cleansing and disinfection of equipment, vehicles and footwear; • - Steps are taken to reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry or captive birds are kept to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products; • - Steps are taken to implement effective vermin control programmes, including preventing the entry of wild birds, around buildings where poultry or captive birds are kept; • - Housing and equipment is thoroughly cleansed and disinfected at the end of a production cycle; • - Disinfectant at the right concentration is kept at all points where people should use it, such as farm entrances and before entering poultry housing or enclosures. 2. An outbreak of avian flu was confirmed on a farm in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire on December 16. Further information is available here. 3. The ban on gatherings of chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese applies in England, Scotland and Wales. Further information on what gatherings are affected is available here. 4. Information on the Poultry Register is here. 5. APHA can be contacted on 0300 303 8268. 6. APHA helpline for reporting dead wild birds: 03459 335577. More information available here. 7. For media enquiries contact Welsh Government Press Office on 02920 898099. Outbreak assessment for H5N8 HPAI, including information on the outbreak NE of Louth. Please find attached an updated outbreak assessment for H5N8 HPAI, including information on the outbreak NE of Louth. GB risk levels have increased to “High” for risk of incursion in UK wild birds and to “Low to medium” for incursion into domestic poultry, dependent on biosecurity on farm and risk of contact with infected wild birds This is also available on the Defra website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-diseases-international-monitoring Please remember that the “testing for exclusion” scheme can be used in GB where avian influenza (or Newcastle disease) is not strongly suspected, but where clinical signs cannot exclude a Notifiable Avian Disease. European Food Safety Authority EFSA published an opinion on the outbreaks of H5N8 on 20th December, which is at http://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/4687.pdf
- Location
- Near Beeston Castle
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
there simply shouldnt be very intensive agriculture , we are creating possible human issues because of the pile it high and sell it cheap culture in the shops . If the public paid a realistic sum for all food there would be no excuse for a lot of the ills of the pig and poultry world .
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- Location
- SG9
Am I missing something please advise? but isn't this being spread around Europe by wild birds (not intensive farms) coming over from the "East" where the weather is making it more difficult for them, ie. "Migrating"
The "Helish" concern being seen by "Defra" and/or its "Advisors" (may be the NFU or the British Poultry Council) being the devastation that can be landed on all Poultry holdings be it intensive or as I envisage @Pasty an extensive rare breed poultry "Farmer" if it was to infect. I understand the Louth incident started with increased mortality of birds on Tuesday when vets became involved and then being passed to Defra vets. By Friday mortality had got to the stage that there were only a handful left alive out of a large flock.
"There is not any "MAGIC" potion that can treat these birds and keep them alive they "DIE" very Quickly but the incubation period can be I understand as much as 3 weeks. (Hence why the wild birds can travel so far and spread it).
If the Powers that be "DEFRA" do/do not do anything they will be vilified by one or more sectors of society. I feel they have just implemented some measures to try and help the likes of pasty and myself. Its just a pity there are a few out there with the attitude "Oh" it wont affect me without seeing the bigger picture.
@Daniel @chickens and wheat
The "Helish" concern being seen by "Defra" and/or its "Advisors" (may be the NFU or the British Poultry Council) being the devastation that can be landed on all Poultry holdings be it intensive or as I envisage @Pasty an extensive rare breed poultry "Farmer" if it was to infect. I understand the Louth incident started with increased mortality of birds on Tuesday when vets became involved and then being passed to Defra vets. By Friday mortality had got to the stage that there were only a handful left alive out of a large flock.
"There is not any "MAGIC" potion that can treat these birds and keep them alive they "DIE" very Quickly but the incubation period can be I understand as much as 3 weeks. (Hence why the wild birds can travel so far and spread it).
If the Powers that be "DEFRA" do/do not do anything they will be vilified by one or more sectors of society. I feel they have just implemented some measures to try and help the likes of pasty and myself. Its just a pity there are a few out there with the attitude "Oh" it wont affect me without seeing the bigger picture.
@Daniel @chickens and wheat
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- Location
- South Wales UK
Wild duck in west wales got it on news - will the ministry now be issuing farmers free cartridges to shoot all wild birds ?
Conservation people will love it ?
Conservation people will love it ?
- Location
- South Oxfordshire
I really feel for all you commercial bird guys, I remember going through two periods of foot and mouth while having an outdoor pig unit...absolute nightmare and curtains for our small business. At the time, DEFRA was ill prepared and there was no rationale around biosecurity or rules. It appears once again as a layman that DEFRA havn't got a clue. We have put our few chickens into an old stable, no real issue, but at the moment our 4 geese are still out. There main diet is grass, and I feel that they would suffer if we were to pen them up, so we have reduced the area they can go, and put up bird deterrents. If we were to make a covered pen, I believe this would be a great place for wild birds to roost and poop through. I just don't get it? Can someone please better inform me.
There should be an immediate fund to pay for any protection that is believe to be of benefit to a commercial flock, as this is surely in the national interest. There must be huge surplus funds splashing around in the BPS Rural Payments system to help these guys. For once, lets have a pro-active, informed, practical and supportive DEFRA, not just an institution that is covering its arse.
There should be an immediate fund to pay for any protection that is believe to be of benefit to a commercial flock, as this is surely in the national interest. There must be huge surplus funds splashing around in the BPS Rural Payments system to help these guys. For once, lets have a pro-active, informed, practical and supportive DEFRA, not just an institution that is covering its arse.
Paddington
Member
- Location
- Soggy Shropshire
While we are still in the EU why not invite a load of Maltese guns over for the winter ? They shoot anything that flies and we could have them stationed around the coast blasting anything that dares enter British air space.
Saw a press release from the RSPB following the 2007 outbreak where they were questioning the mode of transmission of Avian Flu, sound familiar ?
Saw a press release from the RSPB following the 2007 outbreak where they were questioning the mode of transmission of Avian Flu, sound familiar ?
Recoil
Member
- Location
- South East Wales
Does anyone care to guess how long we'll have to keep our birds inside for? Mine are currently in the lambing shed which i'll need from March onwards. I'll need to think of an alternative otherwise.
- Location
- SG9
Included is a part of what I have been privileged to view of a request as to where we go from the 6th Jan 17. This is displayed by permission of Gary Ford (NFU chief poultry adviser) I have been asked to send him a link to this site.
7. Prevention Zone – the current suite of measures which includes the Housing Order is due to expire on 6 January. Defra have asked us for our view on this. Can you please let me know your views – should the Prevention Zone be extended beyond 6 January and if yes for how long – another 30 days or 15 days?
Surely it depends upon whether the UK outbreaks are contained, and if continental migration of the infected birds has ceased?