UK Bird Flu - All poultry must be housed indoors by 14th December

[Cazook]

Here is the latest: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-national-prevention-zone-declared



A joint statement from Great Britain’s three Chief Veterinary Officers said:

"We have taken swift action to limit the spread of the disease and are now planning to introduce a legal requirement for all poultry and captive bird keepers to keep their birds housed or otherwise separate from wild birds.

Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from 14 December onwards you will be legally required to keep your birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds. We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease."

 

[DustyDivas]

Yeah, just read about this today!
Luckily my girls spend their days in an enclosed and covered run, and I use an extension with a netted cover so just a little bit of security tightening needed here.
Pretty new to chicken keeping, so scary times.

 

[Cazook]

Yeah I'm wondering if they need to be completely indoors or if a netted run is enough. Doesn't seem to have any specifics that I can find.

 

[Henrietta 65]

Yeah I'm wondering if they need to be completely indoors or if a netted run is enough. Doesn't seem to have any specifics that I can find.

I’m wondering this too

 

[KingD]

Oops. My hens spend most of their time outside of my property. Better get them girls locked up!

 

[ChickenPollz]

So if I’m reading this correctly ‘indoors’ can mean a covered run that keeps wild birds out, so thin mesh/netted walls etc. The key is keeping wild birds away from the hens and food etc. Can anyone confirm if my understanding is correct. Thx.

 

[woodworm]

IMO it means enclosed so they can't mingle with wild birds. The roof should be solid so poop can't fall through.

BHWT have an advice page with example pictures of suitable enclosures

 

[SulkyBantam]

I'm in Ireland... do you think it is coming here?!

I have a suitable cage luckily.
It has already been found in wild birds in the next county.... but I love them and I'm panicking.... their cage is just 6' by 10' and there are 8 of them...!

 

[ChickenPollz]

IMO it means enclosed so they can't mingle with wild birds. The roof should be solid so poop can't fall through.

BHWT have an advice page with example pictures of suitable enclosures

Brilliant. Thank you.

 

[ackie]

IMO it means enclosed so they can't mingle with wild birds. The roof should be solid so poop can't fall through.

I assume this is the intent, but you'll have to see how its legally written to see what you can vs cant get away with. Obviously absolutely no contact is great if you can achieve it, but the law may legally give more leeway than that, which would, at the least, help you comply in the time span.