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The Poultry Keeper
The Independent Forum for Poultry Keepers
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stephen
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 5069
Location: Billinge, Skεne, Sweden.
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 Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:53 am Post subject: |
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The full text
| Quote: | SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Biosecurity and
preventing disease
Peace of mind, a healthier flock and
a more viable business
2
Why should I read this?
This leaflet explains what you can do to prevent your birds from
becoming sick with diseases like avian influenza and Newcastle
Disease. In particular, you should:
Review and assess the risk of disease to your birds with your vet.
Plan how you will manage any free range birds if there is a need to
isolate them from wild birds.
Feed and water birds indoors where possible to reduce mixing
between your birds and wild birds.
Practice good biosecurity.
Be vigilant and monitor your birds frequently.
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Biosecurity is important
Biosecurity means taking steps to ensure good hygiene practices are in
place so that the risk of a disease occurring or spreading is minimised.
Good biosecurity should be practised at all times, not just during a
disease outbreak. Taking the right measures can help protect your
birds, your business, the industry and the community.
What are the benefits?
Good biosecurity:
helps keep out exotic poultry diseases such as avian influenza and
Newcastle Disease;
reduces the risk of zoonotic diseases such as salmonella becoming
established;
limits the occurrence and spread of diseases and helps to protect
your neighbours, public health and the countryside;
improves overall flock health; and
cuts costs of disease treatment; and reduces losses, which could
improve farm profitability.
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How does disease spread?
Disease is spread through:
movement of poultry, people, vehicles and equipment between and
within farms;
the introduction of birds of low or unknown health status;
contact with neighbours flocks;
using shared farm equipment and vehicles, which have not been
effectively cleansed and disinfected;
contact with vermin and wild birds;
birds drinking from contaminated water sources;
birds eating contaminated feed; and
unsatisfactory cleansing and disinfection of vehicles, sheds, feeding
troughs and other equipment.
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Actions now and planning ahead
Even if you already practice good biosecurity, you are encouraged to
take the following steps:
You should feed and water free range birds indoors where possible
to reduce mixing between your birds and wild birds.
If you farm free range birds you should plan how you will manage
them if there is a need to isolate them from wild birds.
Look at the guidance on local risk assessment, available on the
Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk, or by calling the Helpline on
08459 33 55 77, or from your local Animal Health Divisional Office.
The risk assessment will help you draw up a plan with your vet for
the practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of disease
occurring or spreading.
The plan should include an isolation period for all new stock,
and regular sampling procedures for certain diseases, including
avian influenza.
Make sure all your records are accurate and up-to-date to ensure
that your produce is fully traceable.
If you have staff, give them the information and training they need
to maintain strict standards of hygiene and biosecurity at all times.
If they are allowed to keep their own birds at home, they will need
to be extra vigilant for signs of disease and even more careful about
biosecurity both at home and on your farm.
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How to stop disease keep your farm clean
Dont bring infection onto your farm, or spread it around
your farm, on your clothes, footwear or hands. Clean overalls
and footwear must be worn when entering poultry farms. Protective
clothing and footwear should be removed and either cleansed and
disinfected, laundered or disposed of after use.
Strictly limit and control access to poultry flocks. If possible
the site should be fenced with a controlled entry point.
Visitors and their vehicles should be limited and as far as possible
kept away from poultry buildings and pastures.
Have pressure washers, brushes, hoses, water and an
approved disinfectant available. Make sure they are used by
visitors to clean vehicles, equipment and boots both before entry
and on leaving.
Clean and disinfect all vehicles after each journey. If possible,
do not use the same vehicles for transporting birds, feed, manure or
other wastes.
Regularly clean and disinfect all crates, containers and other
equipment before and after use. Do not move any equipment
into different poultry buildings without cleaning and disinfecting it
first. This also applies to injecting and dosing equipment.
Keep farm access routes, parking areas, yards, areas around
buildings and storage areas clean and tidy and well
maintained. This helps avoid wild birds and animals being attracted
onto the site and entering buildings and stores.
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Wild birds can carry poultry diseases. Minimise contact between
poultry and wild birds. Prevent accumulation of standing water
and remove spilled feed that could attract wild birds. Maintain
buildings to ensure that wild birds do not nest or roost in them.
Keep wild birds, dogs, cats, rodents or other livestock out of
poultry buildings and feed stores.
Have an active rodent and pest control system in place. Be
vigilant for evidence of vermin. Monitor vermin activity by baiting
and trapping.
Supply only clean fresh drinking water to birds. Water lines
and drinkers must be flushed through and cleaned regularly. In the
case of free-range birds restrict access to possible sources of
standing water used by wild birds.
Feed bins, hoppers and feeding equipment must be cleaned
and maintained regularly. Feed silos and containers must be
sealed to prevent animals and wild birds contaminating feed.
Feed should only be obtained from a mill or supplier that
operates in accordance with relevant Defra and Agricultural
Industries Confederation Codes of Practice, who will make
available results of salmonella tests on request.
Damaged eggs, dead birds, litter and manure may carry
disease. Dispose of them promptly and properly.
At depopulation at the end of a cycle, thoroughly clean the
building and all equipment, including ducting, drains and
fans. Remove all surplus feed, dead birds and litter. Disinfect the
premises and all equipment and carry out rodent and other pest
control. Cleaning equipment and protective clothing should also
be cleansed and disinfected.
8
`Buying new stock
Always make sure you know the health status of any birds you are
buying or moving.
Incoming stock should be isolated from the rest of the flock discuss
this with your vet and agree a testing and monitoring programme.
Only place new stock in facilities which you know have been
cleansed and disinfected.
Keep isolation buildings as near as possible to the farm entrance,
and separate from other poultry buildings.
Use separate equipment when handling isolated stock. If you have
enough staff on your farm, allocate some of them to deal only with
isolated stock. If not, make sure you handle isolated stock last.
Always wash and change into clean overalls and boots before going
back to your main flock buildings.
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Be vigilant!
Look out for signs of disease in your flock.
Increased mortality, falling egg production and respiratory distress may
be early signs of a disease problem.
If you suspect disease, ask your vet for advice as soon as possible. Do
not wait for more evidence some diseases can spread very quickly!
avian influenza and Newcastle Disease are notifiable diseases. You
must tell the Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) at the local Animal
Health Divisional Office immediately if you suspect these diseases.
You can find more information about diseases such as avian influenza
and Newcastle Disease, including signs to watch out for, on the
Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk or by calling the Helpline
on 08459 33 55 77.
10
Taking care of your birds
The welfare of your birds is always an important concern, and
particularly so in the case of a disease outbreak. Movement
restrictions can have a negative impact on poultry, with confinement
potentially leading to health and behavioral problems. Having a
contingency plan in place will make sure the welfare of your flock
remains a priority at a critical time.
For guidance and information on poultry welfare, call the Helpline
on 08459 33 55 77.
11
Protect your flock! Protect your industry!
Always practice good biosecurity, ask your vet for advice
if you suspect disease and report any suspicions of avian
influenza or Newcastle Disease to your Divisional Veterinary
Manager (DVM) at the local Animal Health Divisional Office
without delay.
For more information on biosecurity and poultry diseases, visit the
Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk or call the Helpline on
08459 33 55 77.
There is also information on the following sites:
National Assembly for Wales www.countryside.wales.gov.uk
Scottish Executive www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk
Published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
© Crown Copyright 2005.
Printed on recycled paper containing 80% post consumer waste and
20% Totally Chlorine Free virgin pulp.
PB 11380
www.defra.gov.uk
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Phil@Birchams
Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Beccles
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| Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:06 am Post subject: |
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Workers had flu jabs in Halesworth on Saturday, and yes, they seem to be still coming and going 
Restrictions apply for 28 days or so, providing no more cases.
Have found out that table eggs are exempt if for retail sale.
Couple of snippets:
Look east TV were turned away from the plant, so they went straight to the nearest farm shop for an interview  Got put straight about biosecurity - really helpful act 
A farmer (not poultry) in the protection zone went out for a paper, and the police refused to let him back in 
Phil |
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horace
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 2
Location: suffolk
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| Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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Hello there
Well here we are in Suffolk. 4 weeks ago( after two years of nagging) I gave in to Hubs and agreed we could get 6 hens. I have never really liked birds. So we went along and bought six hens and something strange happened. I absolutely fell in love with them and all things hen and eggy. We have 3 welsummers, 1 black rock, 1 cochin and a disabled Maran.
Then we get bird flu in Suffolk!
We are complete novices and my question to you all is this. Are we doing the right thing? We live a mile from the larger restricted zone. I have kept the hens inside since Sat but they are running for the door when I open it and dont seem to enjoy being in. They have a 4 foot by 6 foot shed with an upstairs as it is an old childrens playhouse. Is it big enough to keep them in here til this has passed. Our run is big 40 foot by about 20 foot and fenced but not covered and would not be an easy task. I put a cabbage on a string for them to peck at to stop boredom. Is that right?
Thanks
Horace  |
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CP
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 15425
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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Hi horace & welcome again.
Your birds will not like being in if they've been used to going outside, so yes, they will run for the door!
There is a minimum size area for birds, but can't remember it offhand - no doubt someone will later. But with an upstairs to your shed it doesn't sound like it's overcrowded with 6 hens.
The main problem in the short term will be boredom, so do what you can to alleviate that. The cabbage on a string works, you could also put a small log in there, or straw bale if there's room. Straw on the floor will give them something to peck & scratch as they always seem to find left behind grains in there.
Watch out for bullying too. Tempers fray sometimes, just like us humans! 
If something more long term is needed, you may have to consider roofing your outdoor run. Could it be halved in size & then only roof half, for instance?
If we ever have to keep ours in, our runs will be near impossible to roof, but we have considered trying to do parts instead of the whole lot.
Hope that helps a little. |
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Phil@Birchams
Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Beccles
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| Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Horace,
If you are outside the restriction zone, I would leave them out. But keep the food and water inside. The evidence for wild bird contamination is pretty thin.
If keeping them in 9 birds per square metre is the commercial figure, so your shed is pure luxury 
Watch for feather pecking, reduce daylight if a problem.
Scratch feed wheat - put a handful over the floor each day for them to scratch and find.
Hang the cabbage inside for them. Give them several levels of perch, so any being bullied can escape somewhere.
Hope this helps,
Phil |
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Bhindi
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 1567
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire
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| Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Sesame seeds & flax seed are even smaller, and hide well, which will take longer to find, to entertain bored chooks. |
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horace
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 2
Location: suffolk
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| Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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Hi there
Thanks for your ideas and reassurances. We have decided we will let them out in a few more days if no more outbreaks come up and leave the food in the house. Poor things they definitely have cabin fever at the mo. We will look into covering part of the run at the weekend. We are not DIYers so that should be int resting!
Thanks again
Horace |
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Phil@Birchams
Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Beccles
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| Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:04 am Post subject: |
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Horace,
Remember if you need to comply, the run sides must be fine mesh that will exclude all birds, something around 10mm mesh, like strawberry netting.
Phil |
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milkmaid
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
Posts: 7153
Location: isle of lewis
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| Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:05 am Post subject: |
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the black netting from fruit cages is good ,
what we have done with my big run might be of help for some people
we knocked 8 fence posts in to the ground the posts where 2.20 each
then there where some rails 6 inches (from the post and rail fencing ) 12 foot long along the bottom and near the top of the posts they where 2.80 wire fixed to the bottom and the top rail .and the i have put a tarpoline over the top ,i am going to cover with stirling board ,i did a dry run last time and am doing another at the moment ,we are really close to the sea and the wetlands are across the road ,this way it lets me iron out problems ,it didn't take long although i froze in the snow getting it done ,i do miss tripping over the birds on the plus side it's going to give the grass time to recover  |
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thelongwayround
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 497
Location: Camborne, Cornwall
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| Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:24 am Post subject: |
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I think this is something we are all going to have to live with from now on.
I have had a rethink, my eggs have not even hatched yet (perfect time to start keeping eh!) and have plans to cover and screen off part of my garden which I would previously not have thought of. Intensive farming is prone to disease. A free-range flock are much healthier and happier, and due to this, are much more resistant to disease and infection.
To put things in a little perspective with regards to human health, there is a virus that affects (and kills) mammals, it is rife in europe, infests a large percentage of the bat population in the UK and kills around 60,000 people per year, yet many of us still keep cats, dogs and other pets without fear.
This virus is RABIES. We have had our panics over it in the past, but are all still alive and well.
I wish everyone in the affected area luck and good wishes. Try not to worry too much, just take every precaution you can and keep your flock healthy and happy.
Paul |
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thelongwayround
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 497
Location: Camborne, Cornwall
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Loudmouth Schnook
Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 1600
Location: Back, Isle of Lewis
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| Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:05 pm Post subject: |
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| It was interesting when I was watching the late news that scientists now feel the disease's routing seems to follow truck routes rather than wild bird migratory routes - and they followed this with the graphics illustrating it moving from Xian in China to Mongolia during the time when there isn't wild migration. |
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CP
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 15425
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Very interesting......wonder if anything will happen because of that information though. |
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Paulfrompompey
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Posts: 162
Location: Back in Pompey
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| Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Well, the good news is that before our beloved media could stir the public up into even more of a frenzy, the vet who was working at the site has proved negative. I think that we could have told them he wouldn't have it, for goodness sake!
Hey, I've just been off sick with a dose of 'man flu', does that mean that I will have the press camped outside my house now!
Lets also not forget that malaria kills loads more people then avian flu, I just wish that the media would explain this to the public then coming out with all that cr*p!! |
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thelongwayround
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 497
Location: Camborne, Cornwall
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| Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:42 am Post subject: |
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I do feel sorry for people in the area that keep poultry on a small scale, and even on a large scale free ranging, it must be a worry, but what do intensive farmers of any kind of livestock expect.
If anything is kept in poor conditions and overcrowded, including people, disease is bound to be present. |
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