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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To warn bird keepers of the new regulations?

56 replies

Lougle · 03/12/2020 22:18

"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." www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-national-prevention-zone-declared

You have 11 days to make your housing secure, so that wild birds (and their droppings) can't come into contact with your domestic birds.

I'm going to put tarpaulins on top of their pen, I think. They have a coop with a run inside the pen, but it seems far too small to keep them in 24/7.

OP posts:
Poorlykitten · 03/12/2020 22:20

I didn’t realise you have to keep wild bird poop out too, I have wire over my chickens....

peakotter · 04/12/2020 12:55

Argh, mine need the whole free range run atm as I’ve just added new chickens and there is a lot of bullying going on. Hopefully they will have calmed down in the next week.

Thanks for the heads up. I must register for alerts.

Going to spend this weekend making a bigger outdoor run with a roof. Do you know if it has to be sparrow proof or is it just big birds that are the issue? Most of my enclosed run is inch square netting on the side, but I could cover it with fruit net I suppose.

Duckduckduck123 · 04/12/2020 13:06

All birds I'm afraid peakotter

Whatthechicken · 04/12/2020 13:09

I move my run when the ground gets too chewed up, would using sanitising powder on the new ground do the trick? My girls free range in the afternoon - they tell me off if I’m a bit late to let them out - they are going to be really, really grumpy. New pen with tarpaulin sounds like it might be a way forward.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo · 04/12/2020 13:09

Makes sense ........we've lost all the swans on a canal that's nearby. I think there were 12 in total :(

UnconsideredTrifles · 04/12/2020 13:44

Thank you - I hadn't seen this! My enormous flock (3 birds) are going to be very grumpy about being removed to the greenhouse again...

Original poster
Lougle · 04/12/2020 13:48

I know, it's sad. My (2) girls normally free range from about 7 am until dusk.

OP posts:
cautiouscovidity · 05/12/2020 14:30

My chooks are not going to be happy! Mr cautiouscovidity is out building them a palace Smile

CatsMother66 · 05/12/2020 15:28

Thank you for posting this. I had no idea. I’ve just checked on facebook and the chicken group I was on seems to have disappeared.

Lurkingforawhile · 05/12/2020 15:30

Good work sharing OP. I work with APHA sometimes and heard about it this week. Sad news but hopefully we can stop it spreading.

summerstorms · 05/12/2020 15:37

I put out food for wild birds in my garden. Should I stop?

Original poster
Lougle · 05/12/2020 17:47

@summerstorms

I put out food for wild birds in my garden. Should I stop?
The risk to humans is really low, so I wouldn't stop. But you do need to protect any birds you have from coming into contact with wild bird droppings.

Additional to the covering, you should really have disinfectant at the entrance of your enclosure, so that you aren't tracking in wild bird droppings to your domestic birds. I'm considering getting boot covers, as I only have 2 old chickens and I have a treadle feeder. So I'll only be going in to change their water/clean them out.

DH covered the back and top of the enclosure with tarpaulin today, so our chickens are 'housed' now.

OP posts:
Summerstorms · 05/12/2020 18:53

Thanks. I don't have my own birds so its all ok

ScruffGin · 05/12/2020 18:55

I've been trying to find the cover for our small run, they've not been allowed to free range since the first warning. Not sure where I put it after the last bird flu scare a few years ago... Blush

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 05/12/2020 19:01

So...this will apply to the school chickens? They let them into an open air penned area during the day?

Is this to stop the spread of avian flu to humans?

Poorlykitten · 05/12/2020 19:21

On the government website it says netting is okay....

OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/12/2020 19:45

Take care with tarp, there's a chance of snow for many over the coming days.

Original poster
Lougle · 05/12/2020 21:06

@OhYouBadBadKitten

Take care with tarp, there's a chance of snow for many over the coming days.
Sorry to be ignorant, but why is this an issue?
OP posts:
FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 05/12/2020 21:20

I think it's becuase the weight of the snow can collapse the tarp and might hurt or suffocate anything underneath.

peakotter · 05/12/2020 21:24

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2 they would need to cover the pen with fine netting or tarp to stop wild birds accessing it. And the sides if they have 2” holes like mine.

I think the aim is to stop it spreading widely among farmed birds (and wild ones too). Chicken feeders in particular could be points of high infection. A bit like stopping mass gatherings for coronavirus! But there is no danger to humans.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/12/2020 21:27

Exactly Flavia. Snow is really heavy. If you are putting it up, consider the structure underneath and whether you can remove the tarp easily or remove snow from it easily.

Original poster
Lougle · 05/12/2020 21:32

Ahh ok. Our enclosure has wooden beams and chicken wire across the top, so that should support the tarpaulin. It's also under a tree, so that should give cover, too.

OP posts:
PinkiOcelot · 05/12/2020 21:37

It’s awful. My local park has lost 7 swans this week already. Think the others are going to be culled.
Luckily my birds are all indoor birds.

MeringueCloud · 05/12/2020 21:38

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2

So...this will apply to the school chickens? They let them into an open air penned area during the day?

Is this to stop the spread of avian flu to humans?

It applies to school chickens as well.

It is to stop wild and farmed/pet birds getting it. If they find it they will likely have all birds within a certain radius of the outbreak culled.

EnglishRain · 05/12/2020 21:41

So tarpaulin across the roof of a chicken run light to suffice for now?

I hope my area doesn't get it. Had one of my poor hens die unexpectedly a few weeks ago and it was so sad. Can't bear the thought of them being culled Sad