The Poultry Keeper

Seaside Landlady · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 40 Location: Scotland

fine thanks fenn! Well, fine-ish.

Off to tentsmuir this afternoon to meet up with some nice peeps so that'll take my mind off it. I had another fight with my giant tarpaulin this morning but its very windy here today so it'll have to wait until hubbie is home later.

I'm worried about going on holiday tomorrow now though Confused

Lisa · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:34 pm Post subject:

BBC reports confirm its H5N1...

and

it was a domestic mute swan

CP · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject:

Oh s**t.

nigel · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:41 pm Post subject:

my thoughts are with our eastern scottish members.

Lisa · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:59 pm Post subject:

Yes - thinking of all you all up there.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7372 Location: isle of lewis

can i be really thick here for a second ,why nothing from defra or seard,why only from the rspb and nfu
i don't understand
suz

jaydee67 · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject:

Defra's site hasn't been updated since yesterday!

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7372 Location: isle of lewis

that's what i mean shouldn't they be confirming it to poutry keepers Rolling Eyes

,i'd have to rely on what on here anyway new computer will not do defra site.
suz

fenwoman · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:29 pm Post subject:

oh milkmaid milkmaid milkmaid.You have a lot to learn glass 'opper. DEFRA is not there to be helpful and offer advice to people, it is there so that the press have a government body to liase with to reassure Josephine Public that they are doing everything they can. In reality, they sit on their thumbs, gaze blankly into the air, and when a crisis occurs, say wonderingly "ooooh, how did that happen" Question

Then galvanise themselves into action, kill every living thing while smiling reasuringly into television cameras and telling the media, that have everything under control. Evil or Very Mad

Sadly for those of us with poultry, DEFRA is more interested in public image than actually helping us to keep our livestock safe.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7372 Location: isle of lewis

i have dealt with defra a lot and maff before and now searda ,the thing is i'm hoping that they had learnt after foot and mouth but ,obviously not ,i relize that they are leaking this slowly so as not to cause public panic
suz

mojo · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:36 pm Post subject:

naughty naughty fenny.......even if i think its true too

Lisa · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject:

Though it really pains me to come to DEFRA's defence (ouch, ouch, ouch) the update yesterday does say it was H5 and that the protection and surveillence zones were in place...

And according to BBC news 24 DEFRA are due to make a statement at 4pm.

(Though I do think it highly suspicious that there was that the powers that be run that "what would happen if we got AI" exercise thingy only a couple of days ago... Evil or Very Mad

)

mojo · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:03 pm Post subject:

DEFRA.Deflecting Everyone From the Right Approach.............why dont they employ staff who actually keep livestock for pleasure so they know the trauma folks go thro when the information is so lax .....what we want is clear information posted daily...and no threat of cull to frighten folks.....till it is needed to be done

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7372 Location: isle of lewis

thank you mojo that's what i was trying to say ,i don't want to watch hours of scaremongering on the telly ,to be able to glean little bits of info
suz

Lisa · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject:

Bits from press conference:

Man on telly (scotland state vet?) said they will visit ALL poultry premises within the smaller control area to take samples. Do they know ALL poultry premises? No, he's admitted it will only the ones with over 50 birds that have registered....

They're proposing a "wild bird risk area" of 2,500 sq km around the area and all poultry within that area must be housed. Gatherings of birds (shows etc) will be banned within this area, and wild bird surveillance will be enhanced.

They said they were notified of the swan after 5pm Weds, collected next day Thursday, sent to lab on Friday. Labs don't work over weekend, so lab tests started on Monday, lab test results received yesterday afternoon. All correct according to standing proceedures... But now we've had a case tests will be done quicker Rolling Eyes