As we transfer into Autumn and Winter it’s extra essential than ever for all fowl keepers to keep up the best ranges of biosecurity and hygiene to guard their flocks and keep vigilant for any indicators of avian flu.
While avian flu has continued to have an effect on wild birds over the summer season, the winter migration interval brings a heightened danger to saved birds.
Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales Dr Richard Irvine mentioned: “Rigorous and scrupulous hygiene and biosecurity measures provide the very best safety for saved birds in opposition to avian influenza. Whether keepers have just a few birds or a thousand, it’s vital the very highest requirements of biosecurity are maintained always.
“Vigilance can also be key. It’s essential you report any indicators or suspicion of avian influenza in your flock instantly.
“I’d like to thank bird keepers for their efforts to date in keeping their birds safe. As we enter the autumn and winter months it is now more important than ever to maintain the very highest levels of biosecurity and stay vigilant.”
Advice for keepers of poultry and captive birds on easy methods to preserve their flocks protected is available on the Welsh Government’s web site, together with the biosecurity self-assessment guidelines. There is a guidelines to assist house owners of small poultry flocks preserve their birds freed from illness, and one for business keepers – Biosecurity and preventing disease in poultry and kept birds | GOV.WALES
Findings of any useless wild birds ought to proceed to be reported to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and keepers ought to proceed to promptly report suspicion of illness of their birds to APHA on 0300 303 8268.
