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

[StephanieSB]

Well, I had insomnia last night, so I decided to sit up and entertain myself by reading the July issue of Country Smallholding (I know what you're thinking: "The long winter nights must just fly by in her house" )... Anyway, came across this info from an impecable source, veterinarian Victoria Roberts herself (author/editor of British Poultry Standards, Diseases of Free-range Poultry, and Teach Yourself Keeping Poultry, etc.).

 

Some more experienced people know this, but I and maybe a good few others are still newbies, so here goes:

 

1) It is illegal to bury your deceased chickens in your garden. The only approved method for the back garden poultry keeper is to dispose via a vet.

 

2) "... it is, in fact illegal to feed anything to hens which has been in your kitchen, to avoid cross-contamination of food, birds and humans."

 

It was #2 that surprised me the most and established me as an instant chookie criminal. I do hope the Old Bill don't read this forum!

Edited July 3, 2008 by Guest

[chickenanne]

Didn't know (1) but did no (2).... to be honest, it jsut manes me ultra-careful with treats and potential for contamination.

 

I guess (1) makes sense with bird-flu etc, i.e. getting a proper diagnosis of what something died of is going to be important in containing agri diseases. Seems pretty excessive though..!

[prettychic]

wow didnt know about number 2!! woops !

[jomaxsmith]

I knew 1 (think it's in the Omlet info) but I suspect no 2 only applies if you're selling your eggs.

 

Jo

[Olly]

er - define 'has been in your kitchen'?

 

Does that mean that if I buy a reduced-price lettuce from Waitrose, take it out of the bag in the kitchen and then carry it up the garden, that's illegal? Whereas if I picked one out of the garden and poked it through the bars of the run, that would be ok?

 

If cross-contamination is such a risk, we'd better stop eating eggs pretty quickly. After all, they come out of chicken's bottoms!

 

I'm assuming the article didn't actually quote chapter and verse about which particular statute we'd be breaching!

[mrs chook]

I do hope the Old Bill don't read this forum!

 

 

We'll be getting our collars felt

[The Dogmother]

I believe that the main reason for number 2) is because some people feed meat s"Ooops, word censored!"s to their chooks and DEFRA aren't happy about this because of the possibility of cross-contamination from meat reared intensively and the potential for spreading diseases like foot and mouth across species.

 

Having said that... 'some people', who are confident that their meat is free range and from a trusted source feed their chooks cooked bacon rind

[mrs chook]

Well done to 'some people'!

 

'Other people' only feed fruit and veg to their hens as treats

[The Dogmother]

I couldn't possibly be quoted..... but it's entirely up to the owner. Do bear in mind though that if you intend selling your eggs, you 'may' be required to comply with DEFRA regs

[..lay a little egg for me]

What about the chooks who enter the kitchen of their own accord and steal the cat's dinner....will the old bill be round for them then?

[The Dogmother]

They'll be rounded up and forced into those natty white jackets with long sleeves.. the ones we keep for moderators

 

My lot would eat their own grandmother given half the chance. I have yet to see one of them get between Biscuit and his food though

[Egluntyne]

How are they going to find out?

[The Dogmother]

How are they going to find out?

 

I couldn't possibly comment on DEFRAs efficiency

 

Suffice to say that a 'little bird' told me that during the recent AI outbreak locally, many poultry farmers (allegedly) weren't even told of the restrictions and outbreak, until much later - it was left to them to find out for themselves.

[chickenanne]

My understanding is that feeding anything which could conceivably have come into contact with farmed meat is illegal. It is part of the same legislation brought in to help prevent BSE and s"Ooops, word censored!"ie, both of which are thought to have arisen through the feeding of contaminated food stuffs (i.e. contaminated by meat).

I don't understand how the ins-and-outs of it work, but know there was more to it than the effect of feeding herbivorous animals meat products.

 

Quite a few farmers' seem to have an issue with "backyard" poultry keepers because of the tendency to ignore DEFRA guidelines and rulings and a perceived risk of disease resulting from that. Personally, am sure some of that is just being miserable, because loads of people feed suet and bacon-rinds to birds, after all. But anyone know more details?

[Bootscooter Nell]

I wouldn't give my chooks the left over veg that was from my dinner plate but when cooking the veg for my family I will do some extra for the girls. Same with boiled rice or pasta, they wouldn't get the leftovers but I would cook extra for them. I read an article about it and that's how I interpreted it but I've probably got it wrong. Anyway, I'm happy that my chooks aren't fed anything that has come in contact with our meat.

 

Well, I had insomnia last night,

I couldn't sleep either last night Stephanie, perhaps there was something in the air!

[Egluntyne]

Mine are just demolishing some left over pasta.

[Faye&Ant]

My friends a policeman im going to ask him....

 

All I know is that they don't turn up for car theft or break in's so I would be surprised if they took an interest in my girls dinner

 

or would it be DEFRA that turn up and fine you? would they the conviscate the chooks?????

 

You have got me thinking now

[Egluntyne]

I think it is really aimed at commercial enterprises.

 

They couldn't realistically spot check all backyard flocks.

[Egg Lou]

While turning my back for 2 minutes, my suffolk "Burger" has just come into the kitchen, which she does far too often!, jumped onto the worktop and demolished my DD beautifully laid out dinner!

 

Less than impressed Do you think I should turn her in to the old bill for this criminal activity

[Faye&Ant]

While turning my back for 2 minutes, my suffolk "Burger" has just come into the kitchen, which she does far too often!, jumped onto the worktop and demolished my DD beautifully laid out dinner!

 

Less than impressed Do you think I should turn her in to the old bill for this criminal activity

 

LOL, I reckon so, criminal damage, theft or taking without consent? I can imagine her defence

[Cooks]

mine are far too spoiled to get s"Ooops, word censored!"s!.. I need my head testing (my husband says) the only thing they have off plates is the left over bits from corn on the cob, other than that, they have their own stuff cut up into perfect little chunks..

 

I had pasta tonight and 'accidentally' made too much so they are having a good ol time nattering in between mouthfulls (greedy blighters)

 

Oldest Son is convinced Sugar is getting fat (she is a tad wide beamed) I think they are fed better than me to be honest

[StephanieSB]

Well, my chickens have made sure I am safe from arrest, as they have no interest whatsoever in any s"Ooops, word censored!"s from my kitchen. I'm trying not to take it personally, as some insult to my cooking, but... they don't even want some boiled rice. No pasta. No joy with corn (yeah, I know!), no interest in raisins or oats... they like live worms & mixed corn & their pellets. That's it.

 

"Keep all yer non-proprietory, non-poultry rations to yerself, please, madame -- we are law obiding chickens only in this coop!"

[Faye&Ant]

Well, my chickens have made sure I am safe from arrest, as they have no interest whatsoever in any s"Ooops, word censored!"s from my kitchen. I'm trying not to take it personally, as some insult to my cooking, but... they don't even want some boiled rice. No pasta. No joy with corn (yeah, I know!), no interest in raisins or oats... they like live worms & mixed corn & their pellets. That's it.

 

"Keep all yer non-proprietory, non-poultry rations to yerself, please, madame -- we are law obiding chickens only in this coop!"

 

 

No interest in your s"Ooops, word censored!"s or CORN even

 

Without sounding patronizing, im sure your cooking is lovely

[The Dogmother]

I think it is really aimed at commercial enterprises.

 

They couldn't realistically spot check all backyard flocks.

 

You're right - only flocks over 50 birds need to be registered with DEFRA and regulated by them, but the guidelines apply (apparently) to all flocks of any size. I know people around here, with flocks over 50 birds, who never heard a dicky from DEFRA during the recent outbreak.

 

Don't get me wrong - DEFRA are there for a good reason and have good guidelines, just no manpower to reinforce them.

[chickenanne]

Yep - how would DEFRA even know where to look for backyard flocks? But just becuase DEFRA can't check doesn't mean we should all be feeding our chickens sausages for brekkie....

I dunno, I think common sesne should apply - i.e. not feeding anything that's been in contact with animal products (or salt).