The Poultry Keeper

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Does anyone know the requirements for making a run safe from Avian Flu (ie, just the top or do the sides need to be covered as well)

A direct link to a page about it would be great,

mojo · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:59 am Post subject: hi

hi george...cover the top completely and two feet down from top all round.......bit like a box upside down on the top of the run....................spray with disinfectant to keep roof clean and spray ground where run off occurs..............that was advice on radio here from gov vet.........regards mojo

nigel · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:02 am Post subject:

That's the advice I remember reading somewhere, I just can't find the link now Mad

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

That's basically what I've done, with thin plastic sheeting, though I think it's going to end up ripped to shreds.
So if we have to do something more substantial, I wanted to make sure it complies with any regulations.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

i've used pallets ,wired both sides so that there is a space in between ,but i think now i'm going to cull a some of my flock keeping the speccial ones pure breeds and the few rare breeds that i have ,
my birds welfare is paramount and i will be able to look after fewer better (when they are inside ).i don't think i have a choice moved them indoors and some were very unhappy they've freeranged all the time . Crying or Very sad

.because we are fairly remote ,we are treated as one area ,
suz

merlin · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 114 Location: Hertfordshire

What happens if you do not have use of large barn/ shed ? My Chickens, ducks, and two geese are in three enclosures at the moment, with trees growing out of them so covering is fairly impossible. Seven people & three dogs indoors so no room! Sad

Bendix01 · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:00 am Post subject:

I only have a small run and it already has a roofing felt roof now. I am still letting them run about though. I guess when the no movement ban comes in that would be the time to stop free ranging them.

CP · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:43 am Post subject:

Of course we all want to protect our birds & comply with DEFRA, so to see the official ruling on their website would be helpful.

I can't see anything about no movement from Friday? Or am I not looking in the right place? I did find this, however:-

Q 25. Should free-range poultry be locked up?
A. This will depend on local risk assessments and disease status. At present it is felt that it is not necessary to bring free range poultry inside. Any action would have to be based on our own risk assessment and be proportionate. We are now asking keepers to:

ensure that they feed and water birds indoors wherever possible to avoid
attracting wild birds onto their premises
review their biosecurity
plan ahead for the possibility of other measures being brought in; and
be vigilant
All keepers of poultry should plan ahead and consider how they would manage their flock and any consequent welfare problems if they were required to isolate them from wild birds, for example in the event of a nearby outbreak of AI. Further guidance (33 KB) can be found on our website.

Bendix01 · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

Hmmm unfortunately leaving the food in the run hasnt stopped one particularly cheeky and brasen robin red breats from hopping in and helping himself anyhoo. Much to the indignance of the girls who tend to leggit down the garden posturing and making very robust chicken noises. Great to watch cos the robin could quite obviousley not care a jot!
Laughing

mojo · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:03 pm Post subject: hi

i think the roof covering is only advice not mandatory..common sense and lots of disinfectant till we are told otherwise.......poultry markets look like being banned from next week..........dont cull yet you may regret it it if it calms down........mojio

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

don't need to now ,chap from up the road who wanted some hens is coming to geet the ones i don't have room for now ,he knows what's going on ,and says he's coming tomorrow,he has a large shed and they hens he's getting are my highbreds i was only going to cull to make sure the hens i really wanted to keep would have loads of room and not be stressed.
suz

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

9 birds are going today incuding my lovely maran cockeral ,i'll be sorry to see them going .he can keep them all indoors so i don't have to cull any ,the children are going to sort out what is going i think a couple of their favourites are going ,east ,southhe's got a bargin as they are still laying well ,i've sill got 20 left and still got my appezellers they're not going anywhere debcat .
suz

NannyP · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:44 am Post subject:

Sorry Suz, and I think you're being sensible, and that's all you can do right now. Confused

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

i'm not panicing i've always just like to be ready i think you need to think ahead here as it's not easy to get stuff ,but this chap is really caring about his animals ,my daughter works at his place ,2 horses ,they asked if she wanted to move in with them yesterday but i think she can spend more time with them,company for his wife ,he's got cover runs made already ,but they will freerange over the 5 acres ,they're lucky birds .

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

excellent move for your girl, suz, not saying you didn't love them and look after them, but at least you know they will be well cared for.