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New Avian Influenza housing measures in place in some regions of England

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New Avian Influenza housing measures in place in some regions of England

Due to a recent increase of cases of Avian Influenza, from Thursday 30 October Defra are requiring some areas of England in the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) to house their birds.

You must house your birds, if you keep either:

  • more than 50 birds of any species – including poultry and other captive birds;

  • any number of poultry (birds that are kept to give away or sell eggs, poultry products or live birds).

You do not have to house your birds if you keep less than 50 birds and their eggs or poultry products are for your own use only.

These additional housing measures apply in the high-risk counties listed below to help protect your birds from bird flu:

  • Cheshire

  • Cumbria

  • Derbyshire

  • Durham

  • East Riding of Yorkshire

  • Greater Manchester

  • Lancashire

  • Leicestershire

  • Lincolnshire

  • Merseyside

  • Norfolk

  • North Yorkshire

  • Northumberland

  • Nottinghamshire

  • Rutland

  • Shropshire

  • South Yorkshire

  • Staffordshire

  • Suffolk

  • Tyne and Wear

  • West Yorkshire

Housing and biosecurity measures should include:

  • housing or netting all poultry and captive birds;

  • cleansing and disinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing;

  • reducing the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and using effective vermin control;

  • thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting housing at the end of a production cycle;

  • keeping fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all points where people should use it, such as farm entrances and before entering poultry and captive bird housing or enclosures;

  • minimising direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds.

The organic regulations and Soil Association Standard 3.12.11 allow the housing of organic poultry where there is a temporary statutory obligation to do so, such as the obligations required under the AIPZ. The housing of organic poultry under these AIPZ requirements will not affect the organic status of your poultry or poultry products provided all other standard requirements are met.

When organic poultry do have to be housed you must ensure they have access to roughage and other environmental enhancement to meet their ethological needs (SA Standard 3.12.19). Bales of straw, hay or alfalfa, pecking blocks, vegetables and other vegetations such as foliage can all help to provide birds with the roughage they need and environmental enrichment to meet their needs to forage for food. Products that are eaten by the birds must be organic or approved for use under organic standard requirements. For more information on enrichment materials see the Featherwel website. Additionally litter management is critically important and extra attention should be made to ensure litter is dry and friable (topped up as needed) with increased droppings and traffic from housed birds.

You are advised to be vigilant for any signs of disease in birds, and seek prompt advice from your vet if you have any concerns about your birds. You should report dead wild birds to the Defra, and report suspicion of disease in your own poultry to APHA on 03000 200 301 if you’re in England or 03003 038 268 if you’re in Wales.