Do I really have to keep them in?

[Hairyhat]

For 30 days?
I have too chickens. Rescued from a horrible farm where they were shut in. I really really don't want to lock them up again for 30 days. It feels cruel. Am I risking their lives only? Or is there any danger to humans/other birds/pets?

Thanks, Naoko.
I am not questioning the proportionality of it, I was just wondering what had triggered the measures so suddenly.
I agree it's worth it.

my dh is very cynical, and says they decided to issue this just AFTER all the christmas turkeys have been slaughtered.

News article with links here.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38231416

It was only Sunday when we had to stop the car while a chicken roamed backwards and forwards in front of us, then came for a good look at our wheels, so I'm sure I can be excused for telling DS1 and DH about this with the header "Why didn't the chicken cross the road?"

It's to protect the poultry industry

there are big outbreaks in europe.
some in northern france, so very close to the uk. and some birds migrate right now.

it's to protect poultry farms, but also to prevent zoonosis (when flu jumps to other species, incl humans)

And everyone else's little flocks in their back gardens, Hairy

And the ones most at risk aren't the ones kept in their thousands in giant sheds. It's the ones like the small 200 bird flocks with a massive field to roam in like we encountered on Sunday. This is the same farm where a very curious turkey decided to adopt us and follow us around, last year. Hardly Big Poultry.

Actually, the turkey was very big poultry, but you know what I meant!

I am quite keen to protect the poultry industry, especially the higher welfare end of it.
Don't want a situation where it becomes impossible permanently to keep birds outside.

Fair point

It's a new outbreak, H1N8, I think. I spoke to defra, and they said netting is adequate. Just to stop wild birds interacting, and getting to food and water. So an eglu run is fine. No need to buy a greenhouse, unless you want one. My usually free range girls are in their run, and the defra chappy said that would be fine. Covering the top is what's needed. Don't panic!

Like someone said upthread, the key is to reduce contact with wild bird poo. So an outside run and coop is ok if the top is covered, and the sides protected (for example, plastic sheeting or fruit netting pinned out), and although stinky and not ideal, keep it in the same place for the thirty days (to avoid the possibility of moving it on to a spot potentially contaminated already).

Rather than leave it in the same place I will protect an area in advance so I have places to move it, I think.
30 days of poo doesn't bear thinking about unless it's frozen all that time (as it did a few years ago).

Oh dear this is going to be worse than entertaining children! You have to have your wits about you to get in and out of the run without them escaping as they are outraged at being kept in all day. I've got them a big cabbage and hung it up so they are amusing themselves with that at the moment and they can have some porridge later. Got a feeling they are going to get fat wink.

Meant to be . Ignore that other one it goes nowhere as I put in too many brackets!

Very relieved to hear that they are ok in the netted run. I have been eyeing the greenhouse, but no nesting boxes/night house in there.

They are shut in today and bored already, and our run is pretty generous. They are not happy.

Last time they were kept in was when we were on holiday, I bought a feeder thing, with thick food sticks for them to peck at. Supposed to be great entertainment for bored chickens. They never touched it.

My run has a woodchip floor. It works well at absorbing poo and they can scratch round in it too, if you scatter some corn.

Mine petitioned me when I got home. I have an Eglu WIR which has a stable door. A handful of mealworms and some corn chucked in and they forgot they were asking to come out and play. That won't last though....! Nae mind, countdown is on to what I think should be called National Chicken Freedom Day (07/01/2017) - hopefully this won't be extended!!

Sorted mine out today and now have some very pissed off ladies! Split them into the 3 large houses with fresh shavings and straw, feed and water and ran the giant key every time I opened the door - I even had one make a bid for free down through the back of the nest box

The 2 old geese have spent the day honking at their gate to get out so it's been musical here to say the least

Runs will be built at the weekend so they will only have another 48 hours on house arrest.

Did also manage to have a stand up row with one of the mums at the school gate as she is refusing to shut her hens in apparently the rules don't apply to her and it would cause her too much extra work

Cause her more work if they die...

We are all meant to be in this together. So if this does become an issue and she hasn't complied then well, how altruistic, not

It's frustrating. I had a shed but I took it down this summer and never got round to putting up a new one. Am making do with plastic sheeting.

tell the mum at school she can be fine up to £5000 if she doesn't comply - that might change her mind!

It is difficult, we've had to chuck the sheep out of their shelter to put the chooks in and then when it is all over the whole thing will have to be thoroughly disinfected as chickens carry diseases that are bad for sheep.
BUT I love my girls and would hate them to get sick - and we have friends whose livelihood depends on their chickens and turkeys - a cull for them would be disastrous.

Unfortunately people like the mum at school only think of themselves and not the wider implications of their actions.

It is also recommended you have a foot bath for your wellies before you enter the chicken areas until this is all over - you can use Jeyes fluid dilated in water for this. And you can also use it to disinfect their feed and water bowls.

Good point. Not much sense in taking all this care if you have to walk across the garden to get to your coop! I usually wear some old crocs that I keep for gardening so they are easy enough to dunk in some disinfectant. Can't believe I didn't think of that.

I've put all of my free rangers in loose boxes aside from one of my oldies who is refusing to be caught
Will have to follow her this evening to see where she's roosting and grab her when she's dozing, the little sod. Knowing my luck it will be in the cattle shed

I'm expecting a very angry rooster come January, he's not happy already and I'm running out of ideas to occupy him. Has to be done though, greater good and all that. Annoying to hear of people not intending to follow the guidance, selfish twats.

Some great ideas on here.we put corrugated plastic on ours a few months ago because of the rain. We've found birds trapped in the run overnight but I put a stone where I thought they were getting in and haven't seen any since. Will put stones right around today. I have three in a run similar to Mamuskas but mine has an extra bit so perhaps double. I usually let the free range during the day as much as possible, unless I'm going to be out until dark. Do you think it is too small? They were battery hens. Our shed is full of wood for the stove and their feed but I might be able to move them there. Not sure if it would be bigger and no windows just stable half door. So I would have to measure it. Also just remembered swallows in all summer so might be better to leave them where they are and get an extension.

Sussex with a double run is 41.59 ft. I found it. We didn't buy it originally. It was neighbours whose Jack Russell thought they were for him! So will measure the shed and see which is bigger. Shed has stone floor. My girls won't be happy either.