Defra bird flu update 23-12-16

PorkChop

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Its times like this that living in the sticks has its advantages. The only person who comes up our drive is the postie, and he doesn't go as far as where the animals are.

Fingers crossed it doesn't turn into an epidemic :(
 

cremedemonthe

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It's in west wales about half and hour's drive from me, there are a lot of wildfowl coming in the a wildlife reserve there that I believe brought it in with them.
I have mine in a barn where no wild birds can get in and bucket with disinfectant in outside to dip my wellies in on entering.
I hope it doesn't come to having to cull them all as I have youngsters I have hatched out recently and would be a shame to cut their lives so short.
There are still people round here who are letting their birds out and won't be told, I think it's only a matter of time before it spreads.
 

Cecile

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Not sure if this will make people house their birds but they now seem to be changing tactic's

If you keep poultry – whether on a commercial scale or simply a small backyard flock – you are now required by law to keep them “housed” (under cover and kept separate from wild birds). We have banned gatherings of poultry across the UK.

Link - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-winter-2016-to-2017
 

Clodagh

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What I don't understand is if it is so contagious, why are all the ducks on that stretch of water dead or dying? Or are they? Is an awful situation.
 

popsdosh

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What I don't understand is if it is so contagious, why are all the ducks on that stretch of water dead or dying? Or are they? Is an awful situation.

The deaths arent as noticeable in the wild population and to some degree there is a stronger immunity to it. domestic or commercial flocks that are naive to the virus are decimated. Over 80% fatalities in the Lincs outbreak which is extreme to say the least.
 

PorkChop

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JillA

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My poultry breeder contact told me after another 30 day period the government will have to start paying compensation to those units who can no longer claim to be free range. So restrictions should be lifted at the end of that.
Mine hate being confined and not being able to get at what grass there is but they are still laying well for the time of year.
 

MotherOfChickens

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Got to say that my chickens are loving it, so much for free range being the best!

Mine too-I had already considered keeping them in Dec-Feb as am so exposed here and this has just confirmed it, they all look fantastic and laying well. They are not having a stable though! I will build a run for them inside my hay barn I think. My ducks are sulking a bit and the geese have settled somewhat but are the least happy. They are sold anyway, will concentrate on ducks-they are easier to please!
 

popsdosh

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My poultry breeder contact told me after another 30 day period the government will have to start paying compensation to those units who can no longer claim to be free range. So restrictions should be lifted at the end of that.
Mine hate being confined and not being able to get at what grass there is but they are still laying well for the time of year.

The main driver behind the order was because several large free range producers wanted to house their birds and if its by gov order they keep their free range status there wont be any compensation!
 

ycbm

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Am I the only one who is completely shocked at the useless Defra communication with farmers on critical issues like this??

I went to a friend's on Monday and her hens were still running free. I told her what I knew from this forum of the order to keep them in and the possible fine, and it was the first she'd heard of it.

She was pretty grateful, they have a Defra official visit next Tuesday and they would still have been out. So thanks everyone for this thread!
 

Moobli

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Am I the only one who is completely shocked at the useless Defra communication with farmers on critical issues like this??

I went to a friend's on Monday and her hens were still running free. I told her what I knew from this forum of the order to keep them in and the possible fine, and it was the first she'd heard of it.

She was pretty grateful, they have a Defra official visit next Tuesday and they would still have been out. So thanks everyone for this thread!

After the initial flurry of information everything went deathly quiet, and even with the new cases found it seemed to be very played down. The lack of information is astonishing.
 

MotherOfChickens

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Am I the only one who is completely shocked at the useless Defra communication with farmers on critical issues like this??

I went to a friend's on Monday and her hens were still running free. I told her what I knew from this forum of the order to keep them in and the possible fine, and it was the first she'd heard of it.

She was pretty grateful, they have a Defra official visit next Tuesday and they would still have been out. So thanks everyone for this thread!

Defra will only contact those with Defra registered flocks- some Defra register keepers I know have been notified, some haven't but they can't remember what phone numbers they registered either.

They are not fining/throwing people in prison for non-compliance. yet. friend of mine has special neighbours who loather his poultry-he was reported (although his poultry were in) and has been inspected. He was given tips on biosecurity and told to use tarps, not rubble netting-end of.
 

ester

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Today the chooks here were let out of their non compliant run (just stock fence around the edge) for a run around treat. .
I give up!
 

popsdosh

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Am I the only one who is completely shocked at the useless Defra communication with farmers on critical issues like this??

I went to a friend's on Monday and her hens were still running free. I told her what I knew from this forum of the order to keep them in and the possible fine, and it was the first she'd heard of it.

She was pretty grateful, they have a Defra official visit next Tuesday and they would still have been out. So thanks everyone for this thread!

Im not like I said the order was mainly put in place because of free range flocks that wanted to cut the risk by housing and needed the official order to maintain their free range status. Whatever they did defra know its like putting your finger in the damn when its a time for mass migration of widgeon and Teal from europe and beyond however as they say every little helps.
It is no coincidence that all reported cases so far have been in or close to populations of migrating duck. The weather turning colder will not help one bit as we may get another wave of waterfowl from europe as at this time of year they are very mobile depending on european weather
 

ycbm

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I've had what I think are herring gulls flying overhead for several days. Huge sea birds with very pointed curved wings. I can't recall ever seeing them before. They are flying in ones or twos in a trickle. We are fifty miles from any sea. Is this normal, anyone know?
 

Cecile

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Not sure what happened at my place and nothing I can logically do about it. Checked troughs/broke ice all was lovely, walked back the same way and a dead duck landed (Yes it was certainly dead), went to the barn to collect scoop and bag whilst wondering where it should go for inspection, went back to collect dead duck and it was gone, possibly a fox took it but I have no idea only a few feathers left on the ground
 

ycbm

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