Valkyrie Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Apparently what was marked as "low" risk is now "medium". Time to take measures for that "just in case it happens again" scenario. Although so far it looks like the National Show is being planned and I guess the Fed too. Hope we don't have to repeat last winter. The fella up the road still has his garden covered in netting - never took it down. I have tarpaulins to hand and I really don't want to have to use them. Meanwhile the new bedding has been put in the run ready for winter (mine free range but they do shelter in bad weather in the run) but they think it's snow as they do anything to avoid it and hop up on the perching bars to get in and out of the cube. I seem to remember playing shark infested carpets with the children a long time ago - reminds me of that game! The roof has been fixed as acorns have damaged some of the corrugated plastic on the top, so should be nice and dry for them now. Just have to do the eglu run as the covering there has disintegrated and they like to shelter in there too - depends which way the wind is blowing - I like to make sure they have options! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 I've replaced my run covers, to be on the safe side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Fortunately my fibre glass roof on the wooden part of my run has stood up to next door's acorns. The plastic tarpaulin on my Omlet run has loads of holes though, but we have managed to patch them up with green tape. Hopefully this will keep them safe from any bird flu bugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 I was reviewing my measures last weekend - it won't be long now before the restrictions come into place. I have clear tarps on my run all year round anyhow, and during the darker months, they tend to be confined to the run as I leave before it's light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 3, 2017 Author Share Posted November 3, 2017 I'll be trying to use the garden hoops to make an elongated run for them - the cube run with the extension is still too small I think for 2 bigguns and a diddy - I need to let the diddy one have more escape routes from the not so newbie but wannabe second in command. Along with the eglu run it'll definitely be more than last winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 14, 2017 Author Share Posted November 14, 2017 Moved the eglu run today so that it's the other side of our oak tree. It now has been recovered with new corrugated plastic (we got it years ago to shelter the chicks. I wonder if Squirt will recognise it all? The old turtle sand pit has been emptied out underneath and more topsoil added so it's a nice dry dust bath in there. Meecies were hiding underneath the turtle and so when we had the bigger rodents that became a no-no. So nowhere to hide under now. So now if we have to shut them in, it's just a matter of easy linking the two together. Feeling much more relaxed about this winter now. The cube run was sorted a couple of weeks ago and in the meantime they have the run of the veggie patch - but their favourite spot is now by the raspberries picking up the odd little segments that drop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Avian Influenza never really went away and has been grumbling along on the continent. DEFRA publish regular updates, this was published last week: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-winter-2017-to-2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 As of today we Dutch are back under cover... we have a bird flu outbreak in a duck farm and all birds need to be kept under cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 As of today we Dutch are back under cover... we have a bird flu outbreak in a duck farm and all birds need to be kept under cover. Oh dear, not again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Sorry to hear that. Thanks for letting us know. This year's strain does seem less virulent, but I guess that we might be under prevention measures again soon - it was around this time last year, but then there had been more instances of outbreaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 There has been a confirmed case of a very mild strain at a duck farm in neighbouring Lot and Garonne. As a precaution the 12,000 ducks have been slaughtered and a no movement zone imposed around it. It was a year to the day since the same farm had Bird Flu in 2016 and all the ducks were slaughtered then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Beantree, have you moved to France too ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Yes I now have Luvachicken; we moved in August, but for the last 5 years I've been back and forth from the UK viewing properties and getting a feel for living in the place by renting here. We changed our search criteria based on experience so many times I've lost count, as had the Estate Agents! Still plenty of room for chickens though and no issues with cockerel noise either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Congratulations on your move to France Beantree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 16, 2017 Author Share Posted December 16, 2017 Yup, been keeping check on things frequently. I think I'm pretty much ready should anything happen now - I can easily link up the Eglu run behind the oak tree so that they can have dry dust baths without making a mess of the aubiose in the cube - and that's more than they had last year. Being just the two happy old ladies er, I use that term loosely for Squirt, there is no need for me to worry about Skye being cooped up with a mean youngster. Happy new home Beany. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
