Avian flu outbreak

[MrsAvocet]

I'm fairly new to chicken keeping and am a bit concerned about info I am just reading regarding Avian flu.
Our birds are in a fenced off run but our neighbours have free range ones who do come into our garden, though they can't get into the run. I've asked them to keep their birds in their own garden for now though.
The info I have read says that domestic chicken keepers need to stop feeding wild birds. We have bird feeders but they are in a completely separate part of the garden and it seems to me that the birds that normally feed here are more likely to go into the chicken enclosure for feed if their usual feeders are empty. Is it reasonable to keep the feeders if they are a good distance apart?
Also, the advice mentions cleaning shoes before and after entering the chicken run, but not with what. Is soap and water ok or is some specific chemical needed? Honestly, you'd think that 2020 had enough viruses by now. I've got a self isolating child in the house and now this! At least we dont have to make the chickens keep 2m apart!!

Yes like you I’m just trying to work out what we need to do. I think it needs to be DEFEA approved disinfectant to clean with. I ordered some Virkon yesterday which we’ll keep in an old washing up bowl to step in, and will use to regularly clean the concrete areas etc in their run.

I’m also trying to prepare for if this goes to full ‘lock down’ and we’re required to keep them completely undercover. Just working out what we can improvise as they currently have a large area in an electric fence to roam. Hopefully it won’t come to it but ‘be prepared’ seems to be the advice I’m seeing from more experienced folk.

I really don’t know about the wild bird feed but think I’d agree with you - as long as it’s far away from the chickens it’s no different than eg if a neighbour was feeding the birds is it?

I had heard nothing about this! Thanks for the alert.

Is it reasonable to keep the feeders if they are a good distance apart?

It's not about distance so much as keeping your chickens well separated from wild birds, to reduce their risk of acquiring bird flu.

So you need to ensure the area in which you feed wild birds is sectioned off and completely inaccessible to your chickens.

And you should not do anything which might encourage wild birds into the area your chickens are in (because you don't want wild bird poo where your chickens are).

Your chicken's food and water must be under cover. Your chicken run should be under cover (even if that's just a tarp).

At this stage, you're not required to keep your chickens under cover at all times, though a lot of owners are opting to. We may be required to keep them in their runs soon though, if there are more outbreaks.

You want a Defra-approved disinfectant like Vanodine 18 or Virkon S because they're fast acting and so convenient for use as a foot dip. If you used something like Jeyes, your footwear would need to be dipped for 30 minutes to kill the virus.

It's all about taking reasonable steps to protect your chickens from getting sick.

Rules have changed and now I'm stressed! Have worked out a solution, I think. Hens are going to hate me though.

I’m glad I’ve found this thread as it’s difficult to pin down what they expect people with a couple of back yard hens to be doing . I keep reading guidance for premises with flocks rather than one chicken and two bantams which is our situation. Also lots of advice about keeping them away from swans, ducks and geese which really isn’t an issue in our back garden.

They have a big enclosed run - with wire roof, they can stay in if they have to although they won’t be happy. At the moment it seems to be they need to not be free ranging after December 14th? Presume that does apply to people like us with a few pet birds? How long is it likely to be for??

Hi Cathpot, I think you've got the gist of it. The regulations apply to those of us with a few pet chickens but I think it's about what you can reasonably do to prevent contact with wild birds. I don't think anyone can predict how long it will be for, but as there are obvious welfare implications, I think the requirement to keep indoors will be lifted as soon as they think it's safe to do so.

In my case, I've got my six chickens and one cockerel penned up in a slightly too small covered run/cage area. I've put perches in to give them something to do and I'm planning to put a tarpaulin over the the top, so they are undercover. The problem with my plan is that I live in a really windy place and said tarp is unlikely to stay put!

There will be no chickens moving on and off my premises for the foreseeable, so no need to keep records. I won't be letting my neighbour's kid in the chicken pen and I will monitor my chooks for signs of illness. Job done!

I found the guidance was long-winded and difficult to understand, but I think it was more aimed at commercial flocks. I won't be using disinfectant/Virkon as it is an asthma trigger for me.

We’re keeping ours in their run rather than letting them range round the garden. It’s plenty big enough but they’ll still be furious

I'm in Ireland but all the information here has been quite emphatic about owners of small numbers of 'pet' chickens needing to take the same measures as commercial farms. Any chicken can harbour the virus and spread it, just like humans and covid.

I had to combine/introduce two smaller groups of chickens and there was three days of chicken war - however bloodshed has now ceased and pecking order appears to have been established. More stress than I needed though.

Mine two chickens are in an eglu and pretty much free range during the day. I don't have a run for the eglu and they're about £135 which I could do without at the moment (although I will buy it if I need to). Has anyone got a cheaper solution for a run that would work with the eglu? Thanks!

Has anyone got a link to the guidance?

www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu

I cant work out if a wire roof is enough?

@MillieEpple

I cant work out if a wire roof is enough?

Not if eg wild bird droppings could fall in through it. Sounds like you would need to put tarpaulin or similar over it.

We were thinking of a net. What an absolute pain; ours are completely free range in an orchard. They're going to be very displeased!

Anything they range in has to be completely inaccessible to wild birds, and any droppings that might fall. So covered on top and with mesh small enough to keep wild birds out.

We've had to stump up £150 for an Omlet 2m run with a cover for ours as their current 3m x 5m run has large mesh fencing and no roof.

Failing to comply could mean prosecution, so be careful!

I’ve just bought a new 4 x 4m run and I’m going to put clear plastic shower curtains over the roof, I could have built something, but figured with my DIY skills it would end up costing more. I’ve also justified the cost to myself by thinking it will be useful when we (finally) go on holiday and someone else looks after them, because they are wanderers and are always getting somewhere they shouldn’t. The mesh for the new run is half inch. I only have 4 chickens, but their normal run feels too small to keep them in all day, and the ground gets way too messy. They are still going to be so cross though. Chickens are the most expensive pets I’ve ever had!

How long do we have to keep them in? Anyone know?
My girls are used to an hour or two roaming the garden most days, and are not at all impressed!

Mine are very fed up too. Ive got 50 housed in two flocks. I really don't know how long I can keep them in like this, it's miserable for them. That said the mud outside is pretty grim

does anyone know how long this will go on for?

Stil it's endless. TBA, I had to let one flock out. (I've 60 birds). The birds had started pecking eachother overnight one night last week and when we opened up to feed them one was dead - vent pecking. I took a humanitarian view and let them out. They're back to normal now. I'm keeping their feed and water inside and feeding all treats, veg scraps inside too

My girls are so sad :(
On the plus side the lawn is looking great!

There has been an update over the weekend on Gov.uk, it says that Devon and Norfolk restrictions have been revoked but something else still applies.....Sorry I can't make sense of it and can't link.

Still need to be quarantined until February 28th at least I can gather.