[Eve]

Let's face it, if I can't keep wild birds off MY food, what chance have I got with the poultry!? 

That's a bit defeatist, it's only a robin enjoying what you put out for it. A bit of small mesh will protect feeders, a piece of mdf or plastic on top as a roof, easy peasy. Either that or lock the robin in with the chickens until 5th jan 


But at least now you have a good excuse to have breakfast indoors and relax for a few minutes in the morning whilst enjoying your rice krispies. You got that robin's hopes up now, though 

[Louise Gaunt]

Now there is a confirmed case in UK, does anyone know how long beyond 6th Jan we will have to keep birds protected? Does it depend on x number of days/ weeks after the last reported case?

[pgkevet]

I put my cereal bowl on top of a gatepost this morning whilst I filled up the duck's water bucket. By the time I came back, our resident robin was helping himself to my rice crispies.

Hmmm..first principle of isolation..no eating or drinking near the patients

Now there is a confirmed case in UK, does anyone know how long beyond 6th Jan we will have to keep birds protected? Does it depend on x number of days/ weeks after the last reported case?

Depends on the real reason for instituting it to begin with... if to give producers time to react/institute measures then should make no difference....On the other hand if it's to make some minister feel important...

[ColinS]

Depends on the real reason for instituting it to begin with... if to give producers time to react/institute measures then should make no difference....On the other hand if it's to make some minister feel important...

Given that two of the five previous detected occurrences of HP bird flu in the UK have been almost certainly caused by importation of birds or poultry products (only the dead swan at Cellardyke in 2006 flew here or was washed up here and no published conclusions regarding origin in the other cases) movement of poultry/eggs/products is still pretty much business as usual. If you read the Declaration of a Protection Zone and a Surveillance Zone (Avian Influenza) issued by DEFRA in Lincolnshire in regard of the affected farm:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/578789/ai-pz-lincolnshire-161216.pdf

 you see that in the outer (10km) surveillance zone movements need only be recorded "as soon as reasonably practicable ". From this I infer that outside that zone movements don't even need to be recorded - can that really be true? 

Given that DEFRA was not able to stop importation and exportation even in respect of the affected plant and the EU following the 2007 occurrence  - see:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Bernard_Matthews_H5N1_outbreak#cite_note-8

one has to ask are the current restrictions as much a matter of DEFRA being seen to do something as being instigated in the real belief that they will accomplish anything.

[Womble]

That's a bit defeatist, it's only a robin enjoying what you put out for it.

I know. It made me smile, so I thought I'd share, that's all. We could all use a laugh these days, as I can't see the restrictions being removed any time soon  .

 

A bit of small mesh will protect feeders, a piece of mdf or plastic on top as a roof, easy peasy

How do the chickens get in then? 

[pgkevet]

one has to ask are the current restrictions as much a matter of DEFRA being seen to do something as being instigated in the real belief that they will accomplish anything.

Exactly.

This is an island. Even within the US there are different rules re import into Hawaii for instance with dogs.. to keep that island status disease 'free'..... Another reason for leaving EU and/or demanding the right to inspect, quarantine and limit imports of food/veg/plants much like Aus and NZ do.

[Creagan]

So why can the French ban imports of beef, but we can't ban imports of birds?
Methinks there might be more to this than meets the eye.

[ColinS]

So why can the French ban imports of beef, but we can't ban imports of birds?
Methinks there might be more to this than meets the eye.

The French don't worry about the niceties - their farmers just fill a few miles of motorway with John Deeres and stand around smoking Gauloises with the few cops sent to move them on. And if the minister does not sound like he is backing them up fully they herd some livestock into his office to remind him what farming is about.

We have a lot to learn.

[Polyanya]

Has anyone noticed how much paler the yolks are already? Couldn't believe it and I'm sure the flavour isn't as nice. My birds are now split up into 3 houses, 2 with runs which are just netted and feed and water all inside, but they are so fed up poor things. If its going to continue beyond the 4 week period (and with the recent outbreak theres every possibility that it will) then we will have to start culling our own flock to reduce numbers - I'm heartbroken 

[ColinS]

Are they getting less grass and making up with more grain?

[Dans]

We've put the geese in because it would have been impossible to even keep their water away from other birds, farless the grazing. And we have the space to do so.

Only issue is they aren't eating their food much but don't seem hungry for corn in the evening. I'm wondering if they are a bit depressed? Any ideas of something I can give them? They have a goose food mix and mixed corn in the evening.

Can I put some hay and straw in to give them a bit of shelter from the cold ground and maybe something else to nibble on?

Any boredom busters for chickens and geese?

Dans

[Eve]

A bit of small mesh will protect feeders, a piece of mdf or plastic on top as a roof, easy peasy

How do the chickens get in then? 

Surely there's a little corner somewhere, somewhere out of sight under a pallet or some mdf, a bit of mesh with an entry for the chickens but out of the hungry robin's sight, or in their coop...? There's always a solution. We have food inside a run with rat proof mesh that has a door on a timer, as the large daytime enclosure around it is fox proof not rat / small bird proof. Just don't put a trail of rice krispies out towards the chicken run, 'cause that robin will be checking up on you now!    Plus it might just prefer granola? 

[ColinS]

Can I put some hay and straw in to give them a bit of shelter from the cold ground and maybe something else to nibble on?

Any boredom busters for chickens and geese?

Dans

An old pallet covered over with enough straw to stop their feet going through the gaps seems to be popular. Geese seem to like rearranging straw even if they don't eat it. Just being in with them must be therapeutic for them - all that tugging of hair and pecking at jeans (with or without a bit of flesh involved) must give them some enjoyment even if it doesn't give you any   

[Eve]

Just being in with them must be therapeutic for them - all that tugging of hair and pecking at jeans (with or without a bit of flesh involved) must give them some enjoyment even if it doesn't give you any 

There you go, peeps, sacrifice yourselves for the benefit of your birds!    (Personally, I'll stick to buying cabagges but then again I don't stand a chance of surviving this as I'm wearing leggings and they're far too thin to stop the birds' beaks from nibbling me!  )

It's a shame this is such a lousy situation otherwise we could see who's made the best contraption / boredom buster / wild bird deterrent, I bet there are some resourceful people amongst us.

[Louise Gaunt]

Perhaps it might be an idea for people to post pictures of their poultry shelters, any ideas for relieving boredom etc. We are all concerned about the welfare of our flocks,no matter how large or small, and any suggestions could be shared.