Chicken bald back

[Cat tails]

Just got an email from the poultry place I got my initial three hens from.

 

A few birds have been diagnosed with the bird flu... and all their feathered animals have been destroyed! They will be closed for at least three months.

 

Apart from loads of chickens, they also stocked dozens of water birds, including swans and exotic ducks. They also had an avery with doves and one with parrots and even emoes. All gone. They must be devistated!

[mollyripkim]

That's so sad.

[Cat tails]

It really is...

 

Must be so hard to see your business destroyed together with hundreds of birds.

[Blackrocksrock]

So sorry to read this - I so hope it does not come to nearer you. All crossed that this clears up quickly.

[Cat tails]

Thanks Black, me too.

As far as I know, no big poultry farms or anything like that close to me. But yeah, fingers crossed.

[Cat tails]

Just heard the news and a new case of bird flu was found only 13 km away from me. Two poultry farms have been cleared and a restriction zone of 10 km around the farm is instituted. No birds, bird products, poop and other thins can be transported in or out.

[grahamrhind]

You see, that's what I don't get. Why are backyard flocks expected to be kept undercover as a precautionary measure (when the chances of the virus spreading to them is tiny) when birds and bird products may be moved around freely (though contact between flocks is how it spreads) until the virus is found, when they put into place the measures that should have been there all along? If the powers that be were really serious about stopping the spread of the virus they'd stop the movement of all birds and bird products for the duration, and not allow any contact between flocks. But that would affect commercial interests, so they don't do it. They make a token gesture by asking us to keep our flocks inside. Can anybody name one occurrence of the bird flu virus being found in a backyard flock?

 

Madness.

[Cat tails]

The rules here are that farmers should take necessary precautions to prevent contact between flocks. They can however ship their birds to the slaughterhouse or get in new eggs/birds and dispose of manure.

All of the instances found so far have been from farms in "rural" area's with lots of wild life around, especially water fowl. Those are still expected to be the source of all infections.

 

Just read that the poultry place I mentioned before had over 6600 birds...

[sjp]

it's not a token measure to keep back yard birds under cover in the UK it's a total measure anyway as all captive birds are supposed to be indoors or under cover. in theory if the precautions are been followed then there should be any more commercial flocks infected by the wild population. secondary infection from farm to farm is plain and simple bad management. the disinfectant precautions if done properly using approved disinfectants work

[AndyRoo]

Oh, no!!

 

We went down to my MiL's house last night from Christmas, and someone just a little way down the road had a case of it and lost their birds!

 

I told my MiL off, though, as she still had hers out free-ranging!!

[Luvachicken]

Such a sad thing to read Cat tails

Nature can be so cruel sometimes.

[Cat tails]

Just keeping my fingers crossed. Like most of you too!

[Valkyrie]

Terribly sad - and it seems to be popping up all over - Glamorgan and Wales too (Farmers Weekly).

[The Dogmother]

Yes, more and more incidents in the UK now. All we can do is take all the necessary precautions and wait it out.

 

Someone around here keeps a mixed flock of pigeons and doves. No idea who they are, but these birds are still wheeling around the sky

[sjp]

I've been surprised by my mob about how quickly they've accepted confinement but one down side I noticed yesterday is a few of them developed a bit of a hook to their top beak a result of not been able to peck about looking for earth worms I supposed. so I'll get them swede when I go down the lottie this AM that should make a good pecking block

[Cat tails]

In the Netherlands the confinement regulations only apply to poultry and water fowl. People that have pigeons and birds of prey can still fly their birds as they are much less likely to be affected.

[The Dogmother]

In the Netherlands the confinement regulations only apply to poultry and water fowl. People that have pigeons and birds of prey can still fly their birds as they are much less likely to be affected.

 

Any idea why they think that is?

[Cat tails]

Not yet, but this strain seems to be mostly virilent amongst water fowl. Hardly any other wild birds have been found with this strain of flu. Might be down to the specific type: H5N8.

Same with the human flu, which is mostly restricted to infecting humans. It's very unlikely for for instance cats to get that particular strain.

[sjp]

that might change now that Scotland has a confirmed case of it in a bird of prey

[Valkyrie]

I think the bird of prey was put down to something it ate, was found alive and taken in and euthanised as a result.

[sjp]

I assumed it had been eating Wigeon as they seem to be the main birds to be found with AI at the time

[mullethunter]

Not a surprise but still disappointing - order extended until end of Feb

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-flu-prevention-zone-extended

[Cat tails]

A few days ago I realised that the petting zoo where I board my chickens is in one of the prevention zones. So no birds can be moved to and from. Hope it will be lifted in 30 days. Need to board the ladies somewhere in February. Did give them a ring and he is still slightly optimistic and also hopes to be in the clear in a months time.