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Gilly C
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 2474
Location: South Cumbria
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Kitsune
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 1312
Location: Manchester
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 Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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bird flu has been around for years without it being in the papers or having a control zone every time it's discovered - now that H5N1 is around though any strain of it seems to be newsworthy...
not that I'm cynical... |
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sasha.p
Joined: 04 Sep 2005
Posts: 479
Location: gwent
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Fair play to DEFRA i registered my flock last week as my numbers are over 50 now with all the hatches i have just had, but i would of had no idea there was another outbreak and if they had not of sent a text to my mobile i just would not of known as do not get time to sit and watch the news or listen to the radio just had another one saying it is highly virilant strain it has put a lump in my throat as previous poster said i feel really sorry for those affected i would be gutted if it ever hit in my area although the other poster is correct too it has always been around just not watched and monitered how it is these days |
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Mrs Mcclucky
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 18
Location: Midlands
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
as a new member and brand new to keeping chickens (just picked up my 4 ladies last Sat) this is all new to me.
What are the best ways to protect my birds and family. If this thing raises its ugly head in the press again, what do you say to Friends Neighbours etc if they become concerned about my few Hens. Has anyone else any information to help combat fear and questions people may have.
If we have an outbreak in the area, what steps are taken for Backyard farmers like myself if anything or do we just carry on with advise on covering the run etc. Dont want to give anyone any extra concern and want to protect my fantastic new ladies. |
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Mrs Mcclucky
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 18
Location: Midlands
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| i love chickens there fantasic to watch |
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Magpie
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 550
Location: Norfolk
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Mrs Mcclucky wrote: | Hi
as a new member and brand new to keeping chickens (just picked up my 4 ladies last Sat) this is all new to me.
What are the best ways to protect my birds and family. If this thing raises its ugly head in the press again, what do you say to Friends Neighbours etc if they become concerned about my few Hens. Has anyone else any information to help combat fear and questions people may have.
If we have an outbreak in the area, what steps are taken for Backyard farmers like myself if anything or do we just carry on with advise on covering the run etc. Dont want to give anyone any extra concern and want to protect my fantastic new ladies. |
Best thing you can do IMHO is to make sure that you have enough biosecure housing for all your birds, even if you let them free-range normally. I was in the surveillance zone for the last Suffolk outbreak and I didn't have to do anything to the chooks to comply with the housing/isolation rule as my housing is all compliant, my neighbour though was rushing around with tarpaulins, rope, posts, netting etc and the poor birds spent a couple of months under a flappy opaque green tarp 
Other than that don't worry unduly - AI is a bird disease and to catch it you really have to be in close proximity to live birds with the disease, ie. living in the same room! Technically you could even eat a bird that has AI quite safely as long as it is cooked properly, just like e-coli, salmonella etc the cooking kills the bug. Check out the leaflets and info pages on the DEFRA website if you want to know more.
Tim |
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Gilly C
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 2474
Location: South Cumbria
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I would just have to move the hen and chicks if neccessary to the greenhouse to give the guineas a run at the moment they have a hut with an auto door closer on but the door to the run is there already, all are roofed and small mesh same for the aviary and I have Virkon but then we are 100m from salt marsh and therefore hundreds of birds if not thousands |
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my thoughts & prayers are with anyone in the area