Free-ranging/yarding question.

[Kuntry Klucker]

Hi All,

I was just wondering what other backyard chicken owners are doing since the bird flu has been in the news are you still free ranging your flocks?

I used to yard mine all the time in my back yard. But since the bird flu came into the news I have
been afraid to. What are you all doing with your flocks?

Here is a pic if my backyard where the girls yarded during the day. I want to let them back out again
into my gardens but I am a bit scared to.

What are your opinions?

 

[keesmom]

I worry more about predators than bird flu.

 

[bobbi-j]

I worry more about predators than bird flu.

I agree. Especially since the "professionals" don't even know how it's spread. (I live in an area surrounded by turkey farms, many were hard-hit by this. There is talk that some of it may actually have been spread by inspectors not properly decontaminating their shoes while going from barn to barn.) If it's spread through droppings, how do you avoid them? We have songbirds everywhere. There is no way to completely avoid them, other than having my chickens in a sealed coop. Predators are a much bigger threat than the bird flu.