DEFRA restrictions now extended to 28 February 2017

[JillJ72]

See here - www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-flu-prevention-zone-extended

Please please do your bit to comply.

[ThornyBird]

Bumping

[desertmum]

I saw this yesterday - so now trying to sort out a slightly bigger area for them and better nighttime arrangements as the weather is so cold. Also have to organise the sheep as the chickens are in the sheep shelter. It's going to be a long two months.

[AlakazamAlakazoom]

We don't have any possible indoor space, so have moved ours into an Eglu plus run, with the top covered by tarpaulin to avoid droppings from above. The run mesh is fine enough that wild birds can't get through. Now the period has been extended do you think this is good enough, or should we somehow improve the exclusion measures? Poor chickens, their space is so limited compared to their usual garden.

[ThornyBird]

That's our set up Alakazam - Eglu run covered in a massive tarpaulin.

[AlakazamAlakazoom]

Glad you also think that's ok Thorny

[ThornyBird]

I don't realistically know what else we personally could do other than cull!

Our shed is less small wild bird proof as it's falling apart and has bigger holes in than the Eglu mesh! The garage is full of kayaks, bikes, camping stuff etc so really not practical to put the chickens in. Our house layout is not such that we have a utility room or porch we could keep them in.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

My 2 ducks are in the Eglu run (standard with extension) with tarpaulin.
They're doing ok, poor things.

I can't believe how Defra can seriously expect everyone to abide by this when there has been practically zero publicity. I only know about it from Mumsnet and actually visiting the website.
I was in a village yesterday (N Yorks, and there has been a case in Settle) where there were chickens pecking around the verge as usual but it's hardly as if Defra could succeed in any prosecutions given people would just have to say they weren't aware of it.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Watch for the weather tomorrow. for those who aren't in gales today, the wind will pick up tomorrow. Potential for heavy snow in some places (see weather section) and heavy snow could collapse chicken runs covered in tarps if they aren't sturdy.

[AlakazamAlakazoom]

We said exactly the same countess. I had to actively search to find the ban extension plans, if I hadn't I could easily have let ours out on 6th Jan, & I am a constant BBC news online reader/radio 4 listener.

[Pixel]

I had a search around and eventually found a small article on the Daily Mail website, but it was well-hidden.