Good idea or just more busybody control freaks?

[Kidds]

How does registering my pet duck protect the national flock?

Defra announces changes to the GB poultry register

All birdkeepers, regardless of the size of their flock, will be required to officially register their birds under new measures announced by Defra.

www.nfuonline.com

 

[Blue.]

It’ll keep some in a job.

 

[Cowabunga]

Doth one bird maketh a flock? In my opinion, one equals ‘a bird’ while two makes ‘a pair’. Three or more may be a flock.
How will they register all the wild ducks in the local river and town harbour? What about the tens of millions of wild birds?
Above all, what difference will this make to anything? Is it possibly a reaction to viruses that might jump species and infect the bird owner with a novel transmissible seriously damaging virus, in which case this should apply to pet budges, parrots or any other pet bird, especially if they have a fresh air aviary?

 

[Kidds]

Do you have an opinion on this being good or bad @Daniel

 

[topground]

What will the administration cost be to the tax payer as I register my 3 chickens?
How is this enforceable?
Omlet have I understand secured £30 million in venture capital to expand their business into the domestic market . That equates to hundreds of thousands of the urban masses having a couple of hens on the lawn. Those folk won’t read the farming press..
Another civil service job creation scheme to achieve what exactly?

 

[Lamb's Orchard]

Yep, I keep a few chickens as egg laying pets. I have done so for the past 14 years but have never registered with Defra as the maximum I have ever had at one time is eight and I saw no benefit whatsoever in registering voluntarily. I currently only have three chooks. I have always abided by the bird flu flockdown rules and observed good biosecurity. I will leave it to the last moment to register just incase they change their minds. I don't know how many backyard flocks there are at the moment. It was a fad about 15 to 20 years ago, then a lot of keepers gave up but it increased massively again during lockdown, but quite possibly a lot of those will have given up again since. 🫤

 

[Hindsight]

How does registering my pet duck protect the national flock?

Defra announces changes to the GB poultry register

All birdkeepers, regardless of the size of their flock, will be required to officially register their birds under new measures announced by Defra.

www.nfuonline.com

During Foot and mouth I along with fellow ADAS colleagues were seconded to Animal Health. I spent time in Stafford, Herefordshire and Newcastle. One of my jobs was wandering around Allotments and gardens looking for odd goats, sheep and pet pigs to inform the Vets. Would imagine this might be same for poultry.

 

[Cowabunga]

What will the administration cost be to the tax payer as I register my 3 chickens?
How is this enforceable?
Omlet have I understand secured £30 million in venture capital to expand their business into the domestic market . That equates to hundreds of thousands of the urban masses having a couple of hens on the lawn. Those folk won’t read the farming press..
Another civil service job creation scheme to achieve what exactly?

Next thing we know there will be spies, informants, spies and enforcers. A whole new industry to police birds in small flocks.

 

[Cowabunga]

During Foot and mouth I along with fellow ADAS colleagues were seconded to Animal Health. I spent time in Stafford, Herefordshire and Newcastle. One of my jobs was wandering around Allotments and gardens looking for odd goats, sheep and pet pigs to inform the Vets.

Ah! Snoopers and Informants are already an established thing. I didn’t know that.

 

[Dry Rot]

But...but...the NFU says.....

 

[HatsOff]

I think the only practical application will be they can send a letter out when there is a bird flu outbreak.

We;ve got a few chickens as pets but agree - wait until the last second in case they relent and make it 12 chicken limit or something.

 

[MOG]

I had a Trading Standards inspection last week where the lady noticed I had 5 pet ducks on a pond in the garden. She made a note of them and said she would add them to my records. So I won't bother saying anything more as as far as I am concerned they are now on the register ;-)

 

[Darius_Jedburgh]

Certainly not saying there isn't an issue which needs addressing but; As ever, God is in the detail...and (lights blue touch paper) as ever God is missing....

Talk to me about the keepers of budgies and other caged exotica with wings....pigeons - both racing and wild- which, along with other species (Corvids/Geese...?) if actively encouraged to come onto your land for the purpose of 'control', how will all of these be treated with regards to this scheme's compliance?....

 

[Kidds]

During Foot and mouth I along with fellow ADAS colleagues were seconded to Animal Health. I spent time in Stafford, Herefordshire and Newcastle. One of my jobs was wandering around Allotments and gardens looking for odd goats, sheep and pet pigs to inform the Vets. Would imagine this might be same for poultry.

So the purpose of registering is so they can come and kill your pets when they deem it appropriate.
I can kind of understand the F&M one but pet ducks when there are hundreds of thousands of wild birds able to go anywhere and everywhere?

 

[Kidds]

Certainly not saying there isn't an issue which needs addressing but; As ever, God is in the detail...and (lights blue touch paper) as ever God is missing....

Talk to me about the keepers of budgies and other caged exotica with wings....pigeons - both racing and wild- which, along with other species (Corvids/Geese...?) if actively encouraged to come onto your land for the purpose of 'control', how will all of these be treated with regards to this scheme's compliance?....

Caged exotica such as budgies are exempt. Pigeons won't be though.

 

[Lamb's Orchard]

Next thing we know there will be spies, informants, spies and enforcers. A whole new industry to police birds in small flocks.

During flockdown leaflets or letters got sent to all households about the dangers of bird flu. We suddenly had an awful lot of neighbours we had never previously spoken to stopping by the gate to ask about our chickens and tell us about bird flu. We knew the rules and regulations and were complying but it was an odd feeling that all of a sudden everyone was policing us.

 

[Lamb's Orchard]

So the purpose of registering is so they can come and kill your pets when they deem it appropriate.
I can kind of understand the F&M one but pet ducks when there are hundreds of thousands of wild birds able to go anywhere and everywhere?

Geronimo the alpaca?

Have to say this is one of the reasons I would rather not register. If my chickens get sick I take them to our local vets who are excellent and I am guided by what they tell me.

 

[JockCroft]

IF??? , I have two Cock Pheasants that feed with the sheep and are it seems permanent residents on our land,
They are quite "Cocky" and strut about within a few feet of me so domesticated?
Do I register them?
Do I have to Tag them?

 

[Paddington]

Many years ago when we kept a few hens, one developed a very swollen crop. OH found and rang a vet on a Friday evening, we could take it in to be checked. I wanted to leave it overnight, but we stuffed the the thing in a box and found the vet who had come out from home. He diagnosed an impacted crop which is what it I thought it was. Could we do anything ? No, it would need to be put down, he could do it, followed by a PM which showed it had an impacted crop. He would also dispose of the carcase for us. I drove home thinking our vets were wonderful, we weren't registered with him, never met him before and as far as I knew he didn't know our address etc.
A month later a bill for £80
Next hen to show ailments had it's neck rung and was laid to rest in the green bin.

 

[Lamb's Orchard]

Our vets are brilliant. Used to be all rounders but now just small animal practice. They continue to treat chickens as garden pets and on the basis that they are taken in. Last one to need treatment had a consultation, antibiotic, vit injection £27. Repeat visit for second antibiotic £7. Lot of money if you compare it to the cost of a chicken, but they are pets.