The NFU has produced a poster aimed at backyard flock keepers with some top tips to keep birds safe while restrictions apply to help prevent the spread of Avian Influenza.
The Prevention Zone calls for all birds to be housed, or if this is not practical keepers should put in place measures to separate them from wild birds, they should be fed in areas wild birds can’t access and kept occupied.
It is important keepers call their vet if they’re worried about the health or welfare of your birds.
What you can do:
Download the PDF/image to print and distribute as you see fit, perhaps on a communal notice board or within a relevant business. You may want to pass it on to neighbours or friends who keep poultry. It’s crucial that everyone follows these top tips to keep their birds safe. If you plan on photocopying the poster, you may prefer to use this version.
NFU chief poultry adviser Gary Ford said: “I would urge all of our poultry members to continue to practice enhanced biosecurity at all times and to be vigilant for signs of disease. I would also ask that other people that keep hens, geese and ducks to follow our tips and Defra’s advice as they have an important part to play in reducing the risk of AI both to their birds as well as the commercial poultry sector.”
Read Defra’s biosecurity guidance here.
The Prevention Zone was first announced on 6 December 2016 and will now remain in place until 28 February 2017. All poultry owners are required to take the appropriate measures to ensure their flock abides by Governments call for increased biosecurity.
More tips from Chief Vet, Nigel Gibbens, can be found here.
