Lock up your birds

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...a-crackdown-chicken-avian-flu-exclusion-zone/

 

It just shows what goes on, foot and mouth was just the same

 

Bird flu now in Someset, found in wild duck (i think)

 

Somerset, England & Scotland now .....I think this situation is going to get a lot worse before it gets better! DEFRA are also 'encouraging' people to register flocks less than 50 now ...until it's law I'm going to keep quiet

 

I heard about this on the radio when news first broke. I was driving at the time so couldn't do anything but made a mental note to phone my dad as soon as I could, as he has chucks and ducks on his allotment.

Unfortunately I forgot. It was nearly a week later when I remembered, but he'd already taken action. Here's the thing. His allotment is on a site that although council owned, is entirely privately managed. In fact my dad is one of the top boys in the committee so is usually first to know anything that applies to the site. He found out because 'massive notices' had been put up at every entrance to the site, which suggests DEFRA were taking it a lot more seriously than the almost casual news broadcasts would suggest.

Here's a thing though. Apparently the 'advisory' doesn't apply to keepers of pigeons. To my dad's annoyance, the pigeon keepers are allowed to let their birds mingle as much as they like, then come home to right next door to birds that have to be locked in for weeks.

 

Chickens are still running around free here

 

People who keep poultry should have facilities to keep them under lockdown whenever needed. I let mine out to free range, but at certain times of the year, the hawks are more active, following the migration. We also have two Great Pyrenees dogs who watch the chickens and sheep, they help keep them safe. I would certainly want then kept up if there was disease floating around. In your situation, shame on those who endanger the flocks of others by their own negligence.

 

Anyone thinking of uncovering their birds yet?

 

I thought it was until later Feb

 

I thought it was for 30 days

 

I think they extended it, 30 days from last report, but i could be wrong

Edit @"M"
Extended till 28th Feb on the Gov.uk website

 

Yep, it has been extended until the end of next month. However, you no longer need to shut them in the shed, you just need to protect them from wild birds.

 

I'm sure I seen another case confirmed in Lincs a day or 2 ago I didn't read the article, I'm sure I did read though, that it's 30 days of lockdown from the last known case. I might be wrong.

 

And still chickens running free here even though bird flu isn't far away