4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Phosphorus]

Just wondered looking at the DEFRA site with all this AI outbreak - is it worth voluntarily registering. Do any of you do this? Wondered whether it was worth it for the outbreak notifications or is it a worry that they would get a bit Big Brother and start insisting on cullings if the situation got worse?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think you only have to register if you have more than 50 chickens and under that number it's voluntary. I don't see any benefit for any of us registering .

[Willow]

When there are further outbreaks in this country it will be in the news (even if it's a small news item) and someone will post a message on this forum so no benefit to registering from a notification point of view.

[Lesley]

I wouldn't register if I only had a couple of hens........ and the lists will be used for culling should the need arise.

 

We registered when we moved to this smallholding even though we were just under the 50 because with any hatching or temporary batches of table birds our numbers go over 50.

 

DEFRA info. will be posted on this site as well as all the others so any information needed by keepers will be readily accessible. It is always useful to read what is available - if only so that you are able to try to prevent hysteria among neighbours

[surferdog]

I had to give my name and address to the breeder when I picked mine up (I only have 3). She said it was for DEFRA.

 

Personally I wouldn't voluntarily register for anything with any government department. Some jobsworth would be bound to make a nuisance of themselves

[ubereglu]

Or they're likely to loose your details.

[Hen Watch]

I have voluntarily registered my 4 chooks on the GB Poultry Register online with DEFRA. I did this a year ago.

 

You only have to register if you have 50+ birds. But I personally decided to register voluntarily anyway. You can leave your mobile number and you get automatic texts of any outbreaks. That said you don't get them any earlier than just watching the news or reading this forum.

 

For example the outbreak was on this forum yesterday (as it was on Sky news) but my text from DEFRA only arrived today (Wed 4th) at 10.51am and it said "H7 AI confirmed at premises in Banbury. Be vigilant and biosecure. Latest info www.defra.gov.uk".

 

I decided that as a mother with children, I wanted to know ASAP of any outbreak of H5 N1 subtype strain of the AI virus. And I know this might upset some on the forum but if there was a local outbreak near me of this strain and DEFRA told me to cull my chickens, then I would.

 

Please, please don't feel you must register, it is a totally personal decision and most people of this forum have not (as well as no need to do so). I'm just a scaredy cat that wants to make sure I don't miss any news.

 

Oddly enough, just as I'm typing this post, my mobile bleeps and I've got a 2nd text from the GB Poultry Register. At 7.04pm it says "High path H7AI outbreak and restriction zones confirmed in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Be vigilant and biosecure".........

[debbie26pet]

i have registered and recieved no warnings, so im thinking its because im not in the area.

and when i bought my 4 first birds i had to give me name address for defra

Edited June 4, 2008 by Guest

[Mrs Frugal]

I was asked for my address and postcode last time I bought layers mash from our local feed supplier. Stealth tactics by DEFRA .

[daj198]

You must be registered if you:

 

Have 50+ birds

OR

Sell your eggs

 

If not, I wouldn't bother. I think I might register so that I can sell eggs in the future though...

[Hen Watch]

i have registered and recieved no warnings, so im thinking its because im not in the area.

and when i bought my 4 first birds i had to give me name address for defra

 

I got a text about the Welsh outbreaks last year and I'm nowhere near there.

 

Are you actually registered or did the person you bought your hens from is just required to keep names and addresses on file for movement of their birds? You only get outbreak info if you leave a mobile number on your registration.

 

In case others want to know, for the GB Poultry Register you have to give name, address, number of hens, type of housing, answer if you live within 500m of a pond or reservoir, how many people have day-to-day contact with the birds on the premises, and say yes/no to if you can keep the birds protected from wild bird droppings (which you can with a shower curtain over the run should biosecurity measures be needed). Then they post you a "Confirmation of Registration" with a reference number.

[TAJ]

Initially DEFRA were quite clear that they only wanted to here from those with over 50 hens - and advised those keeping a small number to NOT contact them to register - perhaps they have soften the guidelines to allow smal chicken holders - but they really are looking at farm stocks/food chain not pets.

 

Tracy

[Phosphorus]

Initially DEFRA were quite clear that they only wanted to here from those with over 50 hens - and advised those keeping a small number to NOT contact them to register - perhaps they have soften the guidelines to allow smal chicken holders - but they really are looking at farm stocks/food chain not pets.

 

Tracy

 

Not sure about that now - they say on their website only required if keeping 50 or more birds but that they would actively encourage all keepers to register voluntarily.

[Abbey Road Girl]

I know a bit about the power structure in the UK and although you couldn't make a coherent organisational chart because there is no coherence, professions (such as the RCVS) can wield considerable influence with government ministers.

 

The unconscionable cull of millions of healthy animals (including pets) for the relatively harmless foot-and-mouth disease certainly provided lots of work/money for vets. I'm not suggesting that the vets themselves initiated the cull or enjoyed doing the culling, but that the wariness re DEFRA expressed in this thread is well-founded.

 

Science, unfortunately, counts for less than pull.

 

It's not that bird flu poses no danger whatsoever, but that danger can be and often is exaggerated because money is involved. The deaths which have been caused by bird flu were very often of people who consumed chicken blood, something that no one here is likely to be doing.

[Gallina]

I had quite a job finding the GB Poultry register to sign up, so here is the link:

https://secure.poultry.defra.gov.uk/wps/portal/!ut/p/.scr/Login

 

I will have a surplus of eggs soon and hope to sell some, so I want to be legal. Also it will be useful to be given official information as a poultry owner (rather than gleaning it from the newspapers, which have been pretty inaccurate recently).