The Netherlands is an interesting place.
Folks pride themselves on being tolerant, but everyone minds everyone elses business. Part of the reason I got the heck out. People are constantly watching eachother. Gossip is awful there. Ladies go to the neighbor atleast once a week to drink coffee and talk about weather, their kids and the other neighbors. One of the typical Dutch sayings says it all "Act normal, it's crazy enough". If you don't work 9 to 5, you're going to be talked about. If you don't look somewhat fashionable, you're talked about. And they will go to your parents and talk about you, and tell them to 'fix' you (even if you're in your 20s or 30s).
Basically, very few folks would have backyard birds and keep it under wraps. 'Good Samaritans' would report you in a heartbeat if it hits the news that there's a clean-out. On top of that, a lot of Dutch people have this sense of duty and to do the right thing and will report their own birds.
There's 17 million people on a piece of land twice the size of New Jersey (or 1/3 the size of Alabama). People live on postage stamp property.
It's a claustrophobic place, in my opinion
Aw man...
for all those with backyard flocks that may end up in the crossfire.
Greenfire of the Phils... now THAT is something. Now the question is, is there going to be a point where you quit your day job and become a full-time chicken farmer?
And a map would be cool
One of our BYC members got Marek's in her flock from birds flying over her run.
We can only do so much, I fear. Vaccinate, mind your bio security and keep your fingers crossed.
I have luckily a mouser of a cat who loves sleeping on the coop. No bird sets foot in my yard
