[northfifeduckling]

should we be worried?

[Marches Farmer]

My flock is registered and I haven't heard anything of note.  I have the ability to house them all under cover if necessary.

[Eve]

Not yet, though it seems to be coming closer.


Who here has been through a period of bird flu before and what did you do to protect your birds? What are we legally required to do?

[Marches Farmer]

You're supposed to register if you have 50+ birds.

[northfifeduckling]

You're supposed to register if you have 50+ birds.

[/size]will you be so kind to keep the smaller holders up to date? I'd much appreciate it

[Eve]

Registering a flock of over 50 has to be done anyway regardless of an outbreak.


The defra website is not much use for keepers of small flocks with regards to protecting your birds against bird flu. I can keep my runs covered, I don't take birds to shows, we disinfect between field and home anyway... Anything else I should know?


I can keep mine from contact with the wild birds for a while, but not everyone can. Fingers crossed we don't get an outbreak   


Just read on a US website that the virus remains live in manure for 100 days. Useful to know.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Is there a big outbreak in the UK atm then? Just one question when the chickens are vaccinated from birth is it for bird flu as well?

[in the hills]

I don't believe they're vaccinated for bird flu, WBF.

I've heard nothing of an outbreak.

Can someone fill us in please.

[northfifeduckling]

30.000 birds culled in Germany. Denmark and the Netherlands as the routes to the UK have been crossed. That's all I know! Apparently so far not a strain dangerous to people.

[in the hills]

Oh, thank you northfifeduckling.

Think that I would struggle to keep all of mine in confinement unless absolutely necessary. Bit of a worry.

Let's hope it doesn't make it here 

[chrismahon]

There are several cases across Germany, none of the viruses are harmful to humans (H5N2 and H5N8). From what I read these are all wild birds that have been found dead and been examined for cause. Holland's poultry farmers have been told to keep their birds under cover as a precaution, but at the moment this doesn't apply to non-commercial keepers.


Avian Flu often arises during the migration period as a result of infected poo dropped from the sky into the poultry enclosures. So I suppose that's why birds need to be under cover.

[Marches Farmer]

Just one question when the chickens are vaccinated from birth is it for bird flu as well?

Bird flu is like human flu in that the prevalent strain(s) will vary from year to year.  Not necessarily fatal but I guess if you had a flock of thousands the resulting check to growth or egg laying if it was running through the birds would make it commercially desirable to cull.

[northfifeduckling]

There are several cases across Germany, none of the viruses are harmful to humans (H5N2 and H5N8). From what I read these are all wild birds that have been found dead and been examined for cause. Holland's poultry farmers have been told to keep their birds under cover as a precaution, but at the moment this doesn't apply to non-commercial keepers.


Avian Flu often arises during the migration period as a result of infected poo dropped from the sky into the poultry enclosures. So I suppose that's why birds need to be under cover.

they are still checking if it's a mutation that can affect humans. Some commercial farms have been badly affected in Germany, how on earth did it get in there from wild birds I wonder?

[Eve]

You've only got to have some infected bird pooh on your land and that's it. Gets carried in on boots, cars, coats...


It's in quite a few countries atm, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Denmark... The Netherlands have found some wild birds that died of it this week and Belgium has ordered all commercial flocks to be kept inside. [size=78%] [/size]

[Scarlet.Dragon]

Guessing most of you are experienced keepers so this may not be relevant.  However, there may be some newbies that start reading the thread and for whom this will be useful.

You don't 'have to' register as a poultry keeper if you have less than 50 birds, but it is strongly encouraged (particularly because of the risks of avian flu etc as you'll get notified of anything relevant in the area). 
This is a good starting point: http://ahvla.defra.gov.uk/documents/surveillance/diseases/backyard-poultry-guidance.pdf. 

This is the 'code of practice' that must be followed: http://www.gov.scot/resource/0039/00391827.pdf

Another useful resource: http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/farm/farmanimals/chickens

and a beginners guide: http://keeping-chickens.me.uk.

Hope this helps.