[mentalmilly]

Lets hope they wont extend the date, my girls look so sad sometimes even given things to do to keep them occupied.  Not getting any eggs either.

[desertmum]

i thought it was the 10th so am happy to hear they could be let out on the 6th 

I have setup a system that allows the sun into the field shelter in the morning but the girls can't get out - we do have to stay in the vacinity tho or they do flow off!  We've also started digging up slabs of grass and putting it in with them.

But i shall be so pleased when this is all over and the sheep can have their (thoroughly disinfected) shelter back!

[harmony]

i thought it was the 10th so am happy to hear they could be let out on the 6th 

I have setup a system that allows the sun into the field shelter in the morning but the girls can't get out - we do have to stay in the vacinity tho or they do flow off!  We've also started digging up slabs of grass and putting it in with them.

But i shall be so pleased when this is all over and the sheep can have their (thoroughly disinfected) shelter back!

You may be correct - I had the 6th in my head. I wouldn't hold your breath about the restrictions being lifted though.

[lord flynn]

considering they've stopped all auctions and showing of poultry until the 19th, I can't see them lifting the restrictions until at least then-more cases may well come to light once the holidays are over. I've floored my pens with pallets and rubber matting for the ducks for something a bit longer term.

[Dans]

We've also started digging up slabs of grass and putting it in with them.

You may not want to do that [member=156795]desertmum[/member] if you're taking grass from outside into the birds you may well be serving them up bird flu inadvertently. They are in to stop them interacting with ground where wild birds are. If you take hhe outside ground into them you negate keeping them in.

We're taking advantage of the order and have ordered the worming pellets. I always worry about the free ranging affecting the flubenvet dosage. Nicely cooped up its a good time to worm.

Dans

[Ghdp]

That is a good idea Dans. Might do likewise. Can I raise a feeding question on this thread? My birds are soooo bored, not laying much, and just standing about in the run - and I wondered about introducing new green stuff for them  to eat. 
They are eating our stored marrows very happily but we will run out soon. I do not feed kitchen waste ever and do understand why I cannot cook up food for the birds in a domestic kitchen -but can I cook up vegetables ( i have sprouts in mind as I hate them, the birds dont eat them raw and the local shop is practically giving them away) if cooked outside in a barn on a camping stove, or in sealed bags in a microwave ?

[Penninehillbilly]

Watched a flock of geese fly over today, heading West,  then actually made a 90deg turn to the north, wonder if co-pilot said ooops read the map wrong :-).
Can anyone ID.  Dark wings, fawn breast,  bright white patch under tail, almost like an electric light burning :-). Low sun probably highlighted them. Canada geese? Sounded different somehow.

[Dans]

[member=81338]Ghdp[/member] I think if you're wanting to limit possible contamination from the kitchen you'd have to thorough disinfect the pan or buy a new pan and cook outside. If you don't use any utensils from the kitchen that should be safe.

Dans

[harmony]

They are eating our stored marrows very happily but we will run out soon. I do not feed kitchen waste ever and do understand why I cannot cook up food for the birds in a domestic kitchen -but can I cook up vegetables ( i have sprouts in mind as I hate them, the birds dont eat them raw and the local shop is practically giving them away) if cooked outside in a barn on a camping stove, or in sealed bags in a microwave ?

You are not meant to feed anything that has been in a kitchen so your veg should not have been in the kitchen first. I have never heard of the sealed bags in a microwave before.

[Penninehillbilly]

Our local health man just warned me about cross contamination from meat. Didn't say don't do it.  Always been very careful

[Womble]

I wouldn't hold your breath about the restrictions being lifted though.

Indeed! The way I'm thinking is that if the virus has a 2 week incubation period, the restrictions won't be lifted until there have been no new cases for at least two weeks, and probably quite a bit longer to be on the safe side. I think we're in for the long haul here folks!

WRT feeding vegetables to poultry, IMHO there is a disconnect between what is risky and what is illegal.

These laws were intended to prevent birds from being fed all sorts of kitchen and commercial waste (a la pig swill), which is by its nature high risk.  However, if the veggies haven't been in contact with meat or other 'human' foods, the risk of transmitting disease to your poultry in that way must be absolutely minimal, especially if you're going to boil them. Personally, if I'd feed it to a Vegan friend, I have no problem in giving it to the hens. This includes things like left over plain pasta and rice, as well as carrot peelings, squishy grapes etc.
I'm going to hide now, in anticipation of being flamed or arrested! 

P.S. look how times have changed!  :

[Ghdp]

Thanks all.

[desertmum]

duh!  how stupid am I?  Yes, indeed, giving the chooks grass is sooooo silly!

Back to apples and other veg then.  Out of 12, nine of my chooks are ex-bats, so after a slight dip in production are busy laying again, including our Posh Chicken that had to go to the vets twice.  We are lucky as our sheep shelter has lighting to it, so we leave the light on all day which helps I think and we spend time with them to break the boredom.

Roll on the 19th!

[DavidandCollette]

I'm with you Dans. My girls are halfway through their medicated feed!

[Daisys Mum]

Every cloud and all that...making the most of having empty hen houses to repair roofs and give a good deep clean!