The Poultry Keeper

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

This is from a way back (March, by the looks), but it's an interesting read.
From the HenKeepers Association website -

PURE BREEDS WILL BE SAVED
27/03/06
We have had news from Victoria Roberts of the Poultry Club of Great Britain that after negotiations, Defra will probably agree that “all pure breeds of healthy poultry including chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys will not be slaughtered near to an avian influenza infected premises, as long as biosecurity is good and the birds are housed”.

Defra considers that any Standardised breed {ie from the British Poultry Standards Book} is a pure or rare breed. So therefore most of our backyard birds would be derogated. We wait to read the small print, but nonetheless, congratulate the PCGB for their success in persuading Defra that our birds are worth saving.

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Does anyone know if any more came of this? Does that mean that pure breeds wouls be safe, but hybrids wouldn't? What of the poultry keepers who have a few of each, who's to say that one lot are safe and the rest aren't?

And more to the point, how does anyone know how 'pure' a purebreed is? Shocked

I've got a 'Croad Langshan' - bought as such, but has white lobes and therefore doesn't fit with the breed Standard.

Would they send an expert from each breed society to say what was acceptable and what wasn't??? It just seems unworkable to me Confused

Or am I (they) hopelessly out of date and this information has been superseded anyway?

poultry poofs · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:14 pm Post subject:

pure breeds wont be slaughtered.....Oh really!!

If there are pure breed rare breed stock in other areas of the country thats not affected by AI at the time I dont think there will be any exceptions made to the culling mentality.All birds in the affected zone will be culled -period is what I;ve been told.Only in very rare exceptions will this not be the case.

I think it will be up to the individual rare breed owners to ensure the stock are kept safe indoors if necessary. I for one wouldnt believe the platitudes and assurances loosely banded around earlier this year.

I think the operative word in the agreement between PCGB and DEFRA is the word 'probably'

I 'probably wouldnt believe a word they say

scot gillespie · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Trossachs

Yip. Basic premise is that contiguous culling will not be applied to rare breads, if good bio-security is present will be monitored by vets for development of AI.

The story runs something like…

Originally just the RBST list was going to be used by DEFRA. But then due to lobbying from a few other sources they came up with a threshold (which I don’t know off the top of my head) of a certain number of breading pairs under which a breed would be defined as rare. This number however practically encompassed all pure breads in the county, though it did have a caveat that all breads should have been established for 50 years, and that the population in the UK was unique or held the majority of breading stock.

It may have moved on to a more developed list by now, or just adopted all Poultry Soc. Breeds, or indeed may still be the same.

As to what constitutes a breed – remember a standard is an image of perfection, and genetically you can view a chicken as having two genetic components the Phenotype and the Genotype, or what it looks like and what it is. In the grand scheme of things a minor physical element which would get you sneered at at a show would be of little consequence if you are arguing about the validity of a bird, or a line of birds, as an example of the fowl as a good utility example.

There are plenty of the rarer breeds which do not breed true, and still have value in breading programmes. On the whole I wouldn’t worry about the white ear lobes in the pure enough to be a pure-bred context.

One other bit of advice, it may also carry a bit of extra credence to belong to one or more of the breed societies if push comes to shove (so to speak).

poultry poofs · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject:

I heard all their assurances during the Foot and Mouth it still got a lot of farmer mates round me a pile of dead cattle and sheep regardless of the rarity of some of them.

Maybe they are better advised or better equiped to cope this time round who knows.

It doesnt hurt to remain healthily synical and make your own plans to protect the stock.RBST fortunately has a good relationship with DEFRA so maybe there is hope for the rare/pure breeds if the worst happens.
Confused

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

Can anyone explain to a thicky what 'RBST' stands for? Very Happy

I'd thought about having some form of back-up - I've enquired about the Rare Breed Society just tonight. Actually, is that what RBST stands for??? Embarassed

Suppose I'd better stick to 'rare' breeds only from now on, just in case Laughing

Mind you, by the time the next lot of chicks hatch I shall have everything from Pekins to Naked Necks and many breeds inbetween - lord knows what will be classed as rare and what won't Shocked

Mind you, PP's right - I'm working on the principle of not believing anything I hear until it actually happens... Confused

debcat · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:47 pm Post subject:

it's rare breeds survival trust
http://www.rbst.org.uk/

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

Thanks for that Deb Very Happy

Ho hum, none of my girls are on that list Rolling Eyes

I'm surprised to see Buff Orps there - I thought they were really popular?

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:38 pm Post subject:

Got a buff orp cockeral in my garden free to good home!

Elodel62 · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 56 Location: North of France

poultry poofs · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:08 am Post subject:

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

You're absolutely right, PP.

This is when having a small garden comes into its own - I can restrict access, cover the runs and scrub and sanitise hard surfaces if it comes down to it, all without much added hassle.

In fact I'm considering sheeting the tops of the runs anyway to save my birds from the worst of the weather (all but one have feathered feet).

Yup, not much we can do except be very careful Smile

Thanks for the info about the Orp - very interesting! Very Happy

poultry poofs · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:01 pm Post subject:

I sheeted one of our runs long before AI as when it was wet weather the run became horrible.We made a sturdy frame and covered it with sheets of green coraline roofing material.Its transformed it and the birds who live in it love it.Most of our houses have netted and covered runs attached but non of it was ever intended for the AI scare it was just the way we designed it.We have a contingency plan for the big shed of layers so I hope thats it.We have a big problem with wood pidgeon here and they used to come into the birds runs for food and poo everywhere,a risk that needs reducing in my opinion not just from AI but from other things like coccidiosis.
Joining the RBST who look after the interests of all rare livestock animals and poultry is inexpensive,they are very helpful and knowledgable and saves joining a club or society for every breed you have.My option anyway as I hate clubs. Laughing

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

I was recently speaking to a lady who is a very serious breeder ~ brahmas and cochins. She also has what seems to me to be good genetic knowledge.

We were actually discussing 2 pekin boys who have odd colouring. We got round to discussing buff pekins and the like and she said the only way to see if you have a true buff is to look at the whole feather and shaft. It should be buff all the way down through the feather AND the quill.