Leicester_H Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Hi How careful do I/we have to be re. Bird flu and disinfectant ? I now have a tray to walk in before entering the run but .... I take in a bucket (to pick droppings) and a watering can (to replace water). These are kept on the bottom shelf of a garden structure (ie under cover, of sorts) - I could keep them in the Greenhouse as its empty at present. However, if I fill watering can, I would normally put it on the ground (under the tap) - wild birds could have walked here - obviously if there are obvious wild bird droppings I would wash them away with disinfectant first. Just how careful does one have to be ? Dead wild bird with bird flu has been found in Leicestershire. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 I think it would be practically impossible to be absolutely hygenic. Sounds like you are doing more than most (and definitely me). Your birds are still kept outside, with wind/wild birds/mice being able to enter the run. Poultry farms are much more closed off and some even have air treatment installations. Not sure how effective your disinfectant tray is in this case. Like you said your also take other things in with you and not forgetting you touch your run and things in the run with you hands/gloves. I think you are doing all you can and wouldn't fret too much. If it happens, it will happen. I'm currently less than a kilometer from the exclusion zone so less than 11 km from a confirmed case of bird flu and nothing much I can do about it, but keeping my fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 I agree with Cat tails, it's important to maintain a sense of perspective. When it's your first experience of AI, it's inevitable that you worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted December 27, 2016 Author Share Posted December 27, 2016 Hi Thanks for replies. Does anyone else use a disinfectant shoe bath before entering the run (or is this simply OTT) ? H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I have, but it's really only necessary if you have lots of wild birds in the garden, or over flying waterfowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 We live in Lincolnshire and are just inside a surveillance zone (issued by Defra), as a turkey farm in one of the nearby villages has had 5000 birds killed for bird flu. The instructions we have been given are that all birds must be kept under cover and not allowed to free range - and yes this applies to "backyard chickens". Also - no-one in the surveillance zone is allowed to move livestock. We had a problem with some people in our village not complying - but they were visited by Trading Standards who are doing spot checks and told they needed to comply or would be issued with a hefty fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I have to say I'm surprised (pleasantly) that it's actually being enforced. I don't disinfect my boots, but I do only wear them in the chicken part of the garden - I wouldn't wear boots in the run that I'd worn elsewhere without disinfecting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I have to say I'm surprised (pleasantly) that it's actually being enforced. Me too, they haven't before. Glad that DEFRA is actually getting its act together this time and acting timeously and in an appropriate manner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Are the thirty days up? I remember thinking oh, that's them in until New Year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 I think it was 6th December, so it'll be another few days before we learn. Personally I am not using a disinfectant footbath - I think the risk of transferring anything to my hens is minimal, but more importantly I am not visiting anywhere else with poultry so there's no risk of contaminating other birds. I would be cautious if I was walking anywhere that wild birds roost, e.g. sometimes I walk past a lake with waterfowl, but I'm not going there at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 I think it was 6th December, so it'll be another few days before we learn. Personally I am not using a disinfectant footbath - I think the risk of transferring anything to my hens is minimal, but more importantly I am not visiting anywhere else with poultry so there's no risk of contaminating other birds. I would be cautious if I was walking anywhere that wild birds roost, e.g. sometimes I walk past a lake with waterfowl, but I'm not going there at the moment. Same here. Keep avoiding the local lake too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 I felt a bit sorry for my girls being locked up all the time since the DEFRA instructions - so I did a bit of modification last weekend and rigged up a small secure covered outside run around the side of the cube run - so they could have a bit of digging / bathing area (the cube and run are on paving stones with Aubiose on top). However, today I noticed some suspicious holes under the paving stones (rats?) inside my new run area - so I now think I need to keep them totally locked up in the run again until I get rid of the visitors. I'm giving the girls extra veggies and pekkablocks, and I've got a tray for a dust bath - any other suggestions for boredom busting? Thanks Jill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 I think the tray for a dust bath is key. Mine are fortunate, they have mountains of woodchips which they did to Australia in. This does normally work fine, but with the present situation, I think the chips will need refreshing sooner than normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Everyone will be clearing out and sanitising their runs more frequently right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Yes DM, they will be. I personally would like to be in the chicken pellet/sanitiser industry. In particular my chickens are eating a stash of food, no filling themselves with garden greenery/worms etc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Yes I think people with hard wood chip businesses will be doing OK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Re sanitising runs - I did a massive clear out at the weekend, totally changing the bedding in the bottom of the run. When I do that I usually clear it all out, then spread Stalosan and brush it around, then replace the bedding (Aubiose type stuff). I usually do a total change every 6 -8 weeks or so, with a partial change in between times - again with Stalosan on the cleared area. Is that enough still? How often do you reckon for a total change, and is Stalosan OK, or do you suggest something else? (I've only got 3 chickens in a cube and 4m run i.e. The bit under the cube and 3 panels length). Also - for my dust bathing tray - again, in normal times I get dry soil from the garden... do you think that is still OK? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 The cleaning regime sounds fine, just use your judgement now they are in the run all the time. I would avoid ysing soil from the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Thanks. I was thinking that garden soil wouldn't be ideal at the moment... how about bagged compost or sand for dust bathing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 compost is OK I put the compost from the tomato pots in the dust bath once it's dried out about this time of year I just cut of the dead stems and empty the pots into the dust bath area break up the root ball a little bit and leave the rest to the mob to get how they want it you could use sand but not building sand kiln dried would work but get it from a builder merchants that stocks the 40kg bags not the 25kg ones as it'll work out cheaper as the 40's will go further Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Eggscelent! ( at my pun!!) Thanks for the advice... Jill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 I put the compost from the tomato pots in the dust bath I did that at the weekend - great minds Although my grandad always said fools never differ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
