Is it ok to let them out in the garden during the day?

Cluckingmad0 · 2022-03-27T21:19:47+00:00

I recently got chickens and they are getting quite bored in their coop. Is it ok to let them out for some exercise and enrichment? It’s only a couple of hens and they is no way they can leave my garden as very secure fence in place. Thanks

User76745333 · 27/03/2022 22:34

No, there’s a national lockdown due to bird flu

Shouldbedoing · 27/03/2022 22:35

Foxes operate in daylight too

Shouldbedoing · 27/03/2022 22:36

Bird flu rules might not apply to 'pets'/small flocks

User76745333 · 27/03/2022 22:36

Bird flu rules do apply to all hens

mushforbrain · 27/03/2022 22:37

Just a heads up that they will destroy your plants and poo everywhere

Hellocatshome · 27/03/2022 22:37

Bird flu rules very much apply to pets and small flocks. Even if you have 1 bird you are supposed to keep it housed at all times until the bird flu lockdown is over. You can be fined thousands of pounds if you dont.

Original poster

Cluckingmad0 · 27/03/2022 22:37

So what will happen if I let them out? It’s just a couple of chickens. I doubt the police will be interested.. lol. I don’t want to keep them locked up, it’s cruel.

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Hellocatshome · 27/03/2022 22:39

So what will happen if I let them out? It’s just a couple of chickens. I doubt the police will be interested.. lol. I don’t want to keep them locked up, it’s cruel.

They may get bird flu and die, they may pass bird flu on to wild birds who die. Look the rules up on the DEFRA website.

Ohyesiam · 27/03/2022 22:39

We’ve just made your coop massive And covered it with fabric netting.

Hellocatshome · 27/03/2022 22:40

Also depending on your area and how recently you mean you and the person you got the chickens off may well have already broken the rules.

User76745333 · 27/03/2022 22:40

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) came into force across Great Britain on the 3 November 2021, and in Northern Ireland on the 17 November 2021. This was extended to include housing measures across the UK on the 29 November 2021.

These measures mean that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) to keep their birds indoors and follow strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

This is from the government website.

Original poster

Cluckingmad0 · 27/03/2022 22:41

@Ohyesiam

We’ve just made your coop massive And covered it with fabric netting.

Unfortunately I don’t have the money to extend the coop.

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User76745333 · 27/03/2022 22:42

I don’t want to keep them locked up, it’s cruel

Not as cruel as exposing them to a deadly disease

Original poster

Cluckingmad0 · 27/03/2022 22:42

@User76745333

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) came into force across Great Britain on the 3 November 2021, and in Northern Ireland on the 17 November 2021. This was extended to include housing measures across the UK on the 29 November 2021.

These measures mean that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) to keep their birds indoors and follow strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

This is from the government website.

Hmm.. I got the birds from a well known rescue and there was birds roaming outside when I went there

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Undecicive · 27/03/2022 22:42

Cruel or not, you need to keep them in. Contacting bird flu isn't nice either... it's still around in wild birds and the earliest the restrictions will be lifted is May. It'd be pretty cruel to let them die of it as well. Buy them a swing, pecking toys, treat dispensers etc. I also have two chickens, not nice for them to be in their small run all day but I'd rather not deal with dying chickens any time soon.

Original poster

Cluckingmad0 · 27/03/2022 22:43

@User76745333

I don’t want to keep them locked up, it’s cruel

Not as cruel as exposing them to a deadly disease

Is it very likely that they’ll get it though. Surely it’s a case of weighing up the risk against the harm caused by confinement.

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BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 27/03/2022 22:44

Did you not think about this before you bought them?

They must be kept in.

3cats4poniesandababy · 27/03/2022 22:44

Well if you let them out their risk of bird flu increases..... hence the restrictions in place.

There are enrichment/toy options available if you do some research.

Original poster

Cluckingmad0 · 27/03/2022 22:45

@BeforeGodAndAllTheFish

Did you not think about this before you bought them?

They must be kept in.

I honestly didn’t know. The rescue never said anything about it.. would have thought they’d of mentioned it.. I’m slightly annoyed but can’t do much about it now.

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BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 27/03/2022 22:45

If everyone decided on their own, because there weighed the risk for themselves and decided to ignore the law, then birds would be caged up endlessly.

If you cannot follow the law then call a charity which rehomes hens and give them up.

findingsomeone · 27/03/2022 22:46

You sound like an idiot that doesn't intend to listen to anyone. For the sake of other people's chickens, please abide by the law.

Original poster

Cluckingmad0 · 27/03/2022 22:46

I have a very muderous cat that roams my garden so no birds in this garden thankfully 😅

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Original poster

Cluckingmad0 · 27/03/2022 22:47

Apart from the hens. Obviously

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BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 27/03/2022 22:47

I dont own birds. Never have.
I know about the bird lockdown and bird flu. It was in the news.

If I were about to buy some hens, I'd certainly have looked up any regulations around keeping them, and that would have been the first result on Google.

Original poster

Cluckingmad0 · 27/03/2022 22:47

@BeforeGodAndAllTheFish

If everyone decided on their own, because there weighed the risk for themselves and decided to ignore the law, then birds would be caged up endlessly.

If you cannot follow the law then call a charity which rehomes hens and give them up.

It’s a charity who no got them from. They never warned me of this. Annoying

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