Avian influenza has me freaked out

[Smileybans]

I just read it’s in Maryland now. Everything I’m reading suggests a covered run. My run is too big to cover. The snow would collapse it in. Covering it in HC is too expensive so I have it covered in deer netting. It keeps the birds out and I wouldn’t know if their poo gets in. Is there anything I can be doing?

I have separate boots for the chickens and clean their waterer when it gets empty. So every other day or every three days. I keep changing their feed situation and with all of this might switch to those rubber buckets from TSC and feed them just enough for the day. Then pick the bucket up at the end of the day. I don’t feed the wild birds but they show up anyway because of the woods behind the chicken coop. I have a rodent problem that I’m trying to fix too. The more I read the more I feel like I should be doing something. But I just don’t know how to keep them safe.

 

[Perris]

the main carriers are ducks; they poo in the water where they feed and then other waterfowl (and occasionally birds of prey or shoreline or carrion feeders) catch it. Unless there is a duck pond nearby and you are on a migrating duck flyway, you should be OK. Your flock won't catch it from typical garden birds. Keeping food and water undercover and removing any leftover food as soon as they've eaten (20 mins typically, twice a day) would be wise precautions though.

 

[aart]

the main carriers are ducks; they poo in the water where they feed and then other waterfowl (and occasionally birds of prey or shoreline or carrion feeders) catch it. Unless there is a duck pond nearby and you are on a migrating duck flyway, you should be OK. Your flock won't catch it from typical garden birds. Keeping food and water undercover and removing any leftover food as soon as they've eaten (20 mins typically, twice a day) would be wise precautions though.

Ditto Dat.

....except the 20 minute twice a day for feeding.
Depending on your flock feed needs to be available every hour they are awake for the rotating feed sessions for all the chooks.

 

[Smileybans]

Okay. Thank you both. That just confirms how I’ve been feeling about feeding my flock with all that’s been going on. I don’t have a duck pond near me but do have a crick. Sucks don’t frequent it but geese fly over sometimes.

 

[Perris]

It is recommended by Mike Hatcher (Hen keeping, 2009; he was president of the GB Poultry Club at the time) to feed laying hens 100-150g food per day (p.28) and best to offer it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon (p.24). Overfed birds develop a variety of health issues.

 

[Smileybans]

I shouldn’t free range them right? Avian influenza isn’t in NYS yet but I shouldn’t let them out just incase correct?

 

[Folly's place]

If possible, a roofed run is best. A flock of turkeys in Indiana was just involved, announced on the USDA website yesterday. Keep checking that site for news! Also good articles about flock biosecurity, read them.
I'm not happy either, and my chickens are going to be inside for now, as we see how this develops. UGH!
Mary

 

[Smileybans]

If possible, a roofed run is best. A flock of turkeys in Indiana was just involved, announced on the USDA website yesterday. Keep checking that site for news! Also good articles about flock biosecurity, read them.
I'm not happy either, and my chickens are going to be inside for now, as we see how this develops. UGH!
Mary

A roofed run isn’t really possible for me. My run is just too large. But I shouldn’t be letting them out of their run? At least from what I’ve been reading i feel like that’s the idea. I just wanted to make sure from other bird keepers.

 

[Perris]

A roofed run isn’t really possible for me. My run is just too large. But I shouldn’t be letting them out of their run? At least from what I’ve been reading i feel like that’s the idea. I just wanted to make sure from other bird keepers.

If your run isn't covered, I can't see it makes a difference whether they are in it or let out to range. Most people here (where we've been dealing with avian flu since last year) don't do 'flockdown' until they are required to, but typically coops and runs are smaller here than in the US so range time is more important. A lot of flocks here suffer as a result of lockdown conditions, ironically far more than might reasonably be expected to contract ai.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd rather have my birds free ranging too, but we get so many Canada geese here, in some of the same areas that our chickens also forage, not good this year. The wild geese haven't all returned yet, but soon. We don't have a good way to keep our birds fenced away from them either. Loosing every bird we have all at once isn't a pleasant thought...
Mary