Bird flu restrictions in Lincolnshire UK

[richardeblack]

Hello All
I live in Lincolnshire, England and my hens have been in Flockdown for months.
A lifting of the mandatory housing rule is being lifted by DEFRA but it is really difficult to understand. They say it will be phased in until the 22nd May bit don't explain what this means or what regions are going to be lifted first.
Does anyone understand and know if I can let my chicks out now?
Also they say to have bird scarers to keep all wild birds away. This would be very difficult in my garden with a large number of trees and large hedges around.
I have fenced off my wild bird feeders and fenced the garden to stop the chicks escaping and reduce the pheasants numbers (can't stop them flying in but they do so rarely). The biosecurity measures are also geared for industrial units and are not possible to do in a wooded domestic garden.
I have a complication of having a huge breeding unit next door to me so I don't want to do anything that puts me at risk.
Thank you for any advice.
Richard.
Ps. They are desperate to get out.

 

[richardeblack]

Ps. I have pigeons and jackdaws nesting on the property but have read they are low risk carriers?

 

[kattabelly]

I think the transition period is just an advisory thing, in case you need to use the time to get your outside space ready (cleaning if wild birds have had access, etc) and/or acclimatise your birds to outdoor conditions gradually.

This page has links to the current guidance. It looks like you have to stop wild birds roosting or nesting actually on your birds' housing, but not the entire property - though you should do what you can to deter them.

If the huge breeding unit next door is within 500m and has more than 500 birds, you aren't allowed to feed pheasants or other wild game birds.

 

[richardeblack]

Thank you for the reassuring advice. They are out now but I have decided to keep them in my small paddock to minimise contact with large wild birds.
They are a bit annoyed as they love mooching round the garden.
Thank you again
Richard.