The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 It's always best to read up and be prepared. If necessary, mine can be kept under cover in their run, but until it's recommended in this area, they continue to enjoy the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Got the spare shower curtains at the ready, but until we are given specific instructions, I will continue to let mine free range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 You only really need to keep your birds indoors if you're in close proximity of an infected area. Otherwise, don't worry and let them continue to enjoy their freedom. If you're that worried, then put a clear cover over the run - shower curtains are ideal - and keep them in. Personaly, I'm not worried at all. thanks, they are covered over but i do let them free range for about 1/2 hour a day, i'm nowhere near an affected area so i assume it's okay to carry on doing this. I had my flu jab 2 weeks ago but have flu like symptoms at the mo and my mother is freaking out thinking i've got bird flu! The birds seem fine though, it's just me coughing up green stuff, not them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 You always get some people who either get worried or think it's funny to joke about you having bird flu because you keep chooks. With the conditions we keep them in , we're not likely at all to catch it from them - it spreads fastest in intensively farmed environments, or place like the Far East, where people often share their houses with their livestock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 You always get some people who either get worried or think it's funny to joke about you having bird flu because you keep chooks. With the conditions we keep them in , we're not likely at all to catch it from them - it spreads fastest in intensively farmed environments, or place like the Far East, where people often share their houses with their livestock. Erm .... should I ban them from raiding the kitchen then??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 thanks clare x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Im in Norfolk so reasonably close, I wont be keeping my girls in, I read that common garden birds are not carriers, but large waterfowl, migrating birds like geese and swans etc, Well we dont get any of those near me as Im inner city, so I dont need to worry about them pooing in my garden and passing anything on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Just read this update post on the DEFRA website which means I will have to keep mine under cover. "A wider Restricted Zone has been established in addition to the controls put in place earlier today; the new Restricted Zone covers much of Norfolk and the whole of Suffolk The new Restricted Zone requires the isolation of poultry from wild birds. Movements within this zone can take place, but movements are not permitted out of the new zone at present. We expect to make available general licences for low risk movements out of the zone shortly" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 You always get some people who either get worried or think it's funny to joke about you having bird flu because you keep chooks. With the conditions we keep them in , we're not likely at all to catch it from them - it spreads fastest in intensively farmed environments, or place like the Far East, where people often share their houses with their livestock. Erm .... should I ban them from raiding the kitchen then??? No...just don't share your bedroom with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 I think it's helpful to remember too that a chicken won't live for more than 24 hours if it has bird flu (I think I'm right ) So, you will definitely know if your hen has Bird Flu. It's sudden rather than gradual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 13, 2007 Author Share Posted November 13, 2007 Thanks Ginette...that is useful to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Uh oh, get those shower curtains on your runs Omleteers! I've got a winter cover on at the moment but am going to replace it with a clear shower curtain as I think it looks better but how do you attach it to the run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 13, 2007 Author Share Posted November 13, 2007 With either bulldog clips, or bungee cords. (Recycle the ones on your winter cover) You can get kits for making eyelets from Millets for about £2.99 and they are very good. You can get additional bungee cords too at B&Q etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 OK Snowy, taking your chooks to bed isn't recommended Rona, I use plastic eyelets for ground sheets, they are easy to click on and I got mine from Millets, but you can also get there here http://www.allplaz.com/acatalog/Fixings1.html, I used bungee hooks from B&Q (but also available on the above url) to secure the curtain to the run, although if you're taking the other cover off, then you could use the bungees from that. You will need to taper the curtain to take account of the funnel shape of the run... takes about 20 minutes to make and fit. The latest news is that they are still testing to ascertain whether it is the H5N1 strain and results are expected later today - I will post them as soosn as I hear. In the meantime.... About 5000 birds are being slaughtered after avian flu was confirmed in turkeys on a Suffolk farm, government officials have announced. The H5 strain was found in turkeys at Redgrave Park Farm near Diss. All birds on the farm, which include ducks and geese, are to be slaughtered. A 3-km protection zone and a 10-km surveillance zone have been set up. Police officers have been seen at the entrance to the farm, and vehicles are being sprayed with a jet hose. A statement issued by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said that preliminary tests showed the turkeys had the H5 strain of bird flu. It is not yet known whether it is a highly pathogenic form of the disease. All birds are being slaughtered at the premises, and Defra said it was consulting on what further measures may be needed. Inside the zones, bird movements will be restricted, and all birds must be housed or isolated from contact with wild birds. All poultry keepers on the British poultry register will be notified, and EU officials have been informed. National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall said: "Obviously, this is another huge blow to the farming industry, which is still dealing with the effects of bluetongue and foot-and mouth." The acting Chief Veterinary Officer, Fred Landeg, said that laboratory results on what type of bird flu it was were expected "in the next 24 hours." He told BBC Radio 5Live that the disease was discovered on Sunday [11 Nov 2007] by a vet who noticed that there had been an increasing number of deaths among turkeys in one of the 5 sheds on the farm. Results on Monday [12 Nov 2007] morning showed that the flu was of the H5 type, but more tests were needed to ascertain whether it is the dangerous variant. He said that the risk of bird flu spreading was increased during the autumn months because of wild bird migration. Mr Landeg confirmed that the affected birds were free-range, meaning they had access to the outdoors and may have been at greater risk of catching the disease. A statement released on behalf of poultry producer Bernard Matthews said the affected farm was not owned by the company, and none of the firm's farms fell within the exclusion zone. . There have also been some recent outbreaks of H5N1 in Indonesia, but it's quite commonplace there due to the conditions that livestock are kept in. Just maintain your usual routine and high standards of animal husbandry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Its H5 N1 folks batten down the hatches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Oh pants . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Its H5 N1 folks batten down the hatches What does H5 N1 mean? I take it its bad..... xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 "Ooops, word censored!". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 13, 2007 Author Share Posted November 13, 2007 Its H5 N1 folks batten down the hatches What does H5 N1 mean? I take it its bad..... xx It is the one that can be passed on to humans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 That is very bad news Prepare for the anti hen onslaught,folks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Its H5 N1 folks batten down the hatches Oh, Poo! Thanks Louise - I took my eye off the ball this afternoon.... been up to my eyeballs in alligators! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Prepare for the anti hen onslaught,folks Is it that bad? Oh Gawd I can just imagine what my hypercondriac (sp?) neighbour is going to say if thats the case Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 I went to work armed with all the facts and ready to defend my chooks to the end and not one person even mentioned bird flu . It may be different tomorrow of course . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 It'll be headlines tomorrow Vicki and it'll start then Just make sure that you're armed with the facts and resist the impulse to hit any of them I usually find a quarantine poster and 'plague zone' sign on my door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Bird Flu is quite a frightening thing. Don't worry folks the Government have had a lot to say on this. "Poultry Keepers must be vigilant." Wow. Thanks. Last time there was a bird flu outbreak we had to cancel some of the BHWT rescues, I'm going to need to email John and Mon to find out. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
