[mumof4]

Just heard the end of a report on News 24 of possible bird flu in oxfordshire

3km tep zone, it's near banbury.

what will this mean for hens in the garden

[Aunt Sally]

Just heard the end of a report on News 24 of possible bird flu in oxfordshire

3km tep zone, it's near banbury.

what will this mean for hens in the garden

Garden hens in that area will have to be kept away from wild birds.

DEFRA has told Omlet that keeping chooks in the eglu run with a cover over it (many used a shower curtain) so that wild bird faeces couldn't get in was fine.

[poultrygeist]

I think there'll be an order to keep them covered over and confined within a certain area.
Presumably movement restrictions too and disinfection requirements.
Unless that's only registered flocks.

Rob

[bedifferent]

Um, i am only 20 mins away from banbury!!! Do i have to do anything??

[poultrygeist]

3kilometre inner zone
10km outer zone

Are you within that ?

[peggyprice]

Information here
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2008/animal-0603.htm

here http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm

and here
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/keptbirds/index.htm

in particular
A Temporary Control Zone with a 3km inner zone and a 10km outer zone is being established around the Infected Premises. A number of measures apply. All birds must be housed or otherwise isolated from contact with wild birds in the inner zone. Bird gatherings are banned and all other movements of birds and some products are banned in the whole of the Temporary Control Zone. Defra is urgently considering whether any wider measures may be needed.

Poultry keepers are urged to be extremely vigilant, practice the highest levels of biosecurity and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health Office immediately.

[poultrygeist]

Just says 'near' Banbury  :roll:

I would suggest, as Aunt Sally says, to keep them out of direct contact with wild birds if you can.

eg, run with cover over top.

[bedifferent]

19 Kilometers, so guess i am in the clear  :?

[poultrygeist]

Cheers Peggy

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/declaration-tczab080603.pdf

Full instructions and map of zones

edit: The centre is at Shenington, about 5km West of Banbury

[too many girls]

don't mean to sound selfish but i hope it doesn't come up north, i lost all my sheep and lambs plus my pet jersey cow Elliemay from foot and mouth, they didn't get the disease, but were a dangerous contact ( farmer next door got it) it broke my heart and  i couldn't bear to lose my chickens too, and how do i protect a 40 acre farm with a shower curtain?

[poultrygeist]

It's bad news wherever, but it's only natural to not want it to spread.

Have you got your chooks spread over your farm or just in a certain area ?

[new_2_veg]

thats all abit worying :cry:

as a new keeper of poultry i havent got used to keeping and looking after them yet without having to worry about keeping them safe from things like this

[poultrygeist]

There's not a lot more you can do than you already are. Just make sure all your visitors have a shower before and after they leave and hose them down with jeyes just in case !

The main threat must be from the wild flocks which you can only protect from if your birds are in a run. If you free range there's always a risk but you just have to be sensible and keep an eye out for anything worrying.
What that might be, I've no idea but I would guess any dead bird and start takign precautions.

rob

[Porffor]

Hope everyone is in the clear, but nice to know what restrictions are in place if it ever reaches us.
Horsey folk are used to this sort of thing with Strangles..

[too many girls]

my hens are everywhere, 30 in the cow shed( no cow anymore) 30 in the hen house on the other side of the farm and 8 in the stables, whats worse is there's  a lake in the  same field as the cowshed, 2 swans and a signet  canada geese and ducks plus coots (all wild and transient)  regularly visit, what am i to do?