Smart Door Power Options

[The Dogmother]

They’re still allowed out now though aren’t they as long as theyre in a fenced area made unattractive to wild birds?

 

They have to be in a run/enclosed area which can't be entered by wild birds or vermin, and covered too, so that bird droppings can't get in. A run with a clear tarp over the top and sides is fine.

[mullethunter]

Right. I’m confused. Are they supposed to be confined to their covered run again like last year?

 

Because that’s not how I’ve read it? I might have missed something because I thought we were at the stage we were at towards the end of last winter where they could be out in an uncovered area as long as it was fenced and you discouraged wild birds from being there. And all feeding must be in a covered area.

[The Dogmother]

This documentseems to describe the measures clearly.

 

The general gist is to prevent contamination by wild bird faeces, from droppings getting into the run on footwear or dropping in, also via contaminated feed and water.

 

Mine are in covered runs 24/7 at the moment; it's not a problem, and at least they are safe.

[sjp]

like mullethunter I wasn't that sure this year as to weather or not they should be on lock down the one like I followed I found a bit confusing it wasn't the one that The Dogmother has posted. Mine have been confined for a lot of this winter through as the garden's not getting time to dry out between the snow and the rain plus the few days work I've picked up over the last couple of weeks

[mullethunter]

That document is linked from the current measures as best practice rather than currently mandatory.

 

I agree that if following everything in here works for you then brilliant because as it says, it is best practice, but perhaps it’s not entirely fair to criticise people who don’t have their birds permanently in a covered run / area at the moment as I’m pretty sure that hasn’t been ordered yet because the strain hasn’t been seen in poultry yet.

 

I’m not trying to be confrontational - just trying to clarify exactly what the current (06-02-18) situation is.

[The Dogmother]

That's entirely welcome - any clarification always is I am almost always guilty of speed reading as my time is very limited, so happy to hear other views.

 

We were under lock down during the last prevention measures, so I had assumed it to be the same this time, and was surprised to see birds still out free ranging in fields, especially those alongside the river near me. Mine are usually confined to the run in the winter anyhow as I don't get back before it gets dark, so it's no problem for them to be there.

[sjp]

it's hit a lot later this winter and it's seams to have started a lot further south on mainland Europe so it's been out of sight out of mind this year. The info. coming out DEFRA this year is a lot less detailed as to what the birds are that have tested positive. Other than the swans at Windsor which officially haven't yet been confirmed as having AI is the only big out break all the rest sound like either one or two birds or very small numbers.

In My mind through the next 2 or 3 months will be the teller as the Spring migration gets under way once the weather pattern changes and We get the winds blowing up from the South-South East

[The Dogmother]

Yes, last year it spread for the east coast as well, coming from Netherlands and Belgium.

[Cat tails]

We haven’t had any outbreaks anymore since the one in November/December. (Can’t remember when it was exactly) or they might not have hit the news. Although I do follow many twitterfeeds of the inspection and vets etc. and no mention there as well. We were on official lockdown: covered run/keeping in stalls and deterring wildlife.

[Valkyrie]

Just spotted that a buzzard was found to have died from bird flu on farmland in Hampshire.  It would be really useful if they mentioned whereabouts - it's a darned big county!  It could even have been on the Isle of Wight for all we know!  

So that makes 2 buzzards in the space of a few days seeing as one was found in the Vale of Glamorgan earlier.  I was hoping this bout of flu was coming to an end.

[Leicester_H]

Just looked on the DEFRA site - national prevention zone seems still to be in place - anyone know if its likely to be removed soon (I thought by end of April, risk had usually minimised) ?

Site says  "If you keep birds then you can continue to allow your birds outdoors into fenced areas, but only if these areas meet certain conditions including:

• you have made the areas unattractive to wild birds, for example by netting ponds, and by removing wild bird food sources
• you have taken action to reduce any existing contamination, such as cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas
• you have assessed the risk of birds coming into contact with wild birds or contamination from them"

So its not illegal to let hens out into my garden(fenced area) if I follow above ??? Is there anything else I need to know / follow ???

Thanks, H

[The Dogmother]

The general consensus seems to be that it's over,but DEFRA has forgotten to tell anyone! There certainly haven't been any reported outbreaks recently

[Cat tails]

All restrictions have been lifted here in the Netherlands about 2 weeks ago.

[Leicester_H]

53 minutes ago, The Dogmother said:

The general consensus seems to be that it's over,but DEFRA has forgotten to tell anyone! There certainly haven't been any reported outbreaks recently

Good - Thanks.

H

[mullethunter]

Well done DEFRA 

[Valkyrie]

When we've been visiting areas, we saw chickens on the loose and down lanes - all over the place!  I don't think anyone knew there was an issue obviously!