Bury chicken keepers should observe new legal guidelines concerning their birds housing to guard towards avian flu from this week.
The brand new legal guidelines got here into pressure on Monday because the UK faces its largest ever outbreak of chicken flu.
Greater than 200 circumstances have been confirmed throughout the nation since late October 2021 which has meant that an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has now been declared throughout Nice Britain.
Which means, no matter whether or not you retain just a few birds or hundreds, you have to hold the birds indoors and observe stringent biosecurity measures to guard flocks from the illness.
The brand new AIPZ means chicken keepers should:
• Home or internet all poultry and captive birds.
• Cleanse and disinfect clothes, footwear, tools and autos earlier than and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if sensible, use disposable protecting clothes.
• Cut back the motion of individuals, autos or tools to and from areas the place poultry and captive birds are saved, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and different merchandise, and use efficient vermin management.
• Preserve information of mortality, motion of poultry and poultry merchandise and any adjustments in manufacturing.
• Completely cleanse and disinfect housing on a steady foundation.
• Preserve recent disinfectant on the proper focus in any respect farm and poultry housing entry and exit factors.
• Minimise direct and oblique contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, together with ensuring all feed and water shouldn’t be accessible to wild birds.
• Stop entry by poultry to ponds and watercourses and make sure that birds are saved in fenced or enclosed areas.
Bury chicken keepers are suggested to register as a keeper, click on right here to register.
Lesley Jones, Bury’s director of public well being, stated: “I wish to reassure residents that the chance to public well being from avian flu could be very low.
“Nonetheless, it is crucial that folks don’t decide up any sick or useless birds to keep away from spreading the virus, which might have an effect on people in uncommon circumstances.
“For those who do discover any useless swans, geese or geese or different useless wild birds whereas out and about, please report them to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
“I might additionally urge chicken keepers to be vigilant for any indicators of illness and report any suspected circumstances to their nearest Animal and Plant Well being Company (APHA workplace).”
The Animal and Plant Well being Company (APHA) carries out year-round avian influenza surveillance of useless wild birds submitted by way of public stories and warden patrols.
The APHA will gather a few of these birds and check them to know how the illness is distributed geographically and in various kinds of chicken.
It’s also essential to notice that avian flu is on no account related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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