[Louise Gaunt]

With regard to the domestic flock in Wales, it would be useful for all poultry keepers to have some idea of how those birds were being housed and if there is a suggested way that infection occurred. Many poultry keepers have responded to the DEFRA directive, but is it actually an effective way to protect our flocks from infection?

[Marches Farmer]

Most of the cases found in wild birds have been waterfowl (apart from the Peregrine Falcon in Scotland).  Does this mean smaller birds aren't as susceptible, or that when they die they're likely to be eaten by a fox, badger or carrion crows, whereas a larger bird is more likely to be spotted and picked up by a human, especially if it's floating on a lake somewhere?  I have a resident flock of sparrows living in the barns - if I find a dead one I won't know why it died so it could be in the resident birds and I wouldn't know about it.  It must be absolute hell for the folks with big commercial flocks that are normally free range.

[harmony]

Most of the cases found in wild birds have been waterfowl (apart from the Peregrine Falcon in Scotland).  Does this mean smaller birds aren't as susceptible, or that when they die they're likely to be eaten by a fox, badger or carrion crows, whereas a larger bird is more likely to be spotted and picked up by a human, especially if it's floating on a lake somewhere?  I have a resident flock of sparrows living in the barns - if I find a dead one I won't know why it died so it could be in the resident birds and I wouldn't know about it.  It must be absolute hell for the folks with big commercial flocks that are normally free range.
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You are quite right Marches Farmer  and I don't know. Maybe the fact wild ducks and geese gather around water in large numbers and contaminate the water with droppings make it easier for them to spread it around, I don't know. Probably all of us are encouraging our garden birds with feed anyway at this time of year.


There has always been this business of "if practicable"  that fowl should be kept inside so I suspect lots of people will just say it wasn't. Now there isn't a choice but one wonders if in reality this will make any difference  as wild birds will still be visiting and we haven't had heavy rains yet but when we do lots of these temporary enclosures will be more vulnerable. Encouraging better bio security might be more useful. How many people have disinfectant set up?

[Hevxxx99]

I have a boot dip outside my chicken shed.

The main spread is through water so obviously waterfowl are most at risk and most likely to be the carriers that spread it elsewhere.

I have 4 semi-feral geese and 5 muscovey ducks who, I'm afraid, have to take their chances. When I feed, it's under cover and stand by to keep wild birds away, but like others here, the water is from a stream and I have no choice in that as there is no other water supply. I simply cannot humanely shut them in because of their location (on top of the moors in a very remote field) and semi-wild state. I will cull rather than shut them in, if I can catch them,  but really hope it won't come to that.

[Celli]

I got a bale of hay today and put it in the coop, hens love it which I'm surprised at, best £4.99 I've spent.
I'm also using horse treat nets, like hay nets but tiny, to hang veg in, they only cost £2.99 each so have a few round the pen so everyone can get some.
The middle section of the pen floor is bare earth so that gives them somewhere to scratch, have cobbled together some outdoor perches using plastic buckets as supports and a hentastic garlic fat peck block.
They seem quite happy.

[Susannah]

We have just had an email from our certification body saying....
'This is to inform you that the mandatory housing of poultry has been extended to the end of February, as below notice received from Defra today.'
Not good.

[Dans]

Well at the very least my geese are happier. I'll try pulling up the weed proof fabric at the top end of tunnel and putting straw there.  It's the only area not covered with straw at the moment.

Dans

I know it's netting they are under rather than tarp/plastic but it's butterfly proof netting and the best we have :-/

[Eve]

Looks rather nice in there, really 

[ColinS]

I know it's netting they are under rather than tarp/plastic but it's butterfly proof netting and the best we have :-/

I guess if you hose any wild bird poo off from inside with a bit of pressure behind it it should do the trick.

[Marches Farmer]

Ihave cobbled together some outdoor perches using plastic buckets as supports

Breeze blocks on their sides, with a half-round paddock rail wedged in the top space at an angle, make sturdy perch supports at the right height.

[Fleecewife]

Four happy geese Dans 


Is it OK to feed geese broad, runner and french bean seeds and sweetcorn which are out of date for planting?  They would soak in their water bucket?   Or would they need to be boiled for 10 mins as for humans?

[Polyanya]

Oh no predictably there has been an extension to the end of February, my poor chookies - so I think I'll be making lots of chicken soup and stock over the weekend 

[Herdygirl]

Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said:


'The Prevention Zone means anyone who keeps poultry such as chickens, ducks and geese, even as pets, must take action to stop them coming into contact with wild birds to protect them from avian flu.

Birds should be moved into a suitable building, or if that isn’t possible owners must take sensible precautions to keep them away from wild birds, like putting up netting to create a temporary enclosure and keeping food and water supplies inside where they cannot be contaminated by wild birds.

Even when birds are kept indoors a risk of infection remains so keepers must also practice good biosecurity, for example by disinfecting footwear and equipment and washing clothing after contact with birds'.

I also have distinfectant at the gate of my farm, no one is allowed in.  I have an inspection due next week (usual 5 year thing) and he won't be allowed in if he hasn't brought his wellies.



 

[DavidandCollette]

What do you use in yout footdip please Herdygirl?

[harmony]

What do you use in yout footdip please Herdygirl?

A lot of disinfectant once it has been used a couple of times and starts becoming dirty doesn't work as well. This one works continues to work even when dirty. Bio Shield from a company called bio link ltd in Yorkshire.