Avian influenza (bird flu): Latest situation

[Clipgate]

A little background :
The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. Although there is not universal consensus regarding where the virus originated, it spread worldwide during 1918-1919. In the United States, it was first identified in military personnel in spring 1918. It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States.

 

[Quackers]

In Case any bird keepers have missed the latest headlines, it is not good news, restrictions are being enforced again to combat the disease.

Avian influenza (bird flu)​

Latest situation​

1. 31 October 2022
   Mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds are to be introduced to all areas of England from 00:01 on Monday 7 November. The housing measures legally require all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.

Guidance Avian influenza (bird flu)

 

[sedge]

They've already had to cull some swans with it on the Avon. I imagine some of the 'royal' birds on the Thames ditto. It's heartbreaking to see them with it because they act in such a peculiar unnatural way which I've only seen briefly on TV whilst Defra were removing them.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

My mates not to happy, he breeds show birds and has had some luck with coming tops at the last few bird shows obviously now shows on hold so probably this season will be a disaster

 

[Shrimp]

Didn’t we have this a few years back, about the same time of year and it affected the Xmas Turkey as it will this time?!?!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Quackers]

Turkey will be in short supply this year, and expensive, get your order in now.

 

[2GB Racing]

In East Anglia many of the Christmas flocks of turkeys and ducks have been culled, Will certainly not be enough to go around on the 25th Dec, along with most peoples show birds ranging from bantams to emus and around 50% of the swans have died, not uncommon to see a dead swan floating on the river stour.
A friend up on the north west coast of Scotland states the sea bird population has been and is being devastated with all manner of sea fairing birds washed up daily.
I remember years back the sparrow population suffered with swollen heads and their eyes closed up so they starved around here the population has never really recovered.
Similar with migrating starlings 60 yrs back this time of year the sky could be black with a murmuration of them at dusk, they were accused of bringing foot & mouth in from Europe at the time hardly ever see one around here now.
Just evolution perhaps or man’s intervention ?

 

[L' Hobo]

NOTHING is worse than man flu ...............

except you rarely die of man flu!

So far, 60,000 birds have died in GB, and this is set to rise when the flocks of migratory birds start to land in this country from the North.

The worst hit are birds like the Gannet that take a number of years to start breeding and when they do, they only produce one egg so will take years to recover.
A few months ago, I was up on the Farne islands and the bird population was a carpet of dead birds. and here in East Anglia I think the latest count is 67 poultry farms where the flock has been culled.

Near Sudbury, Suffolk, 19 out of 26 swans that were on the flood meadows, have died and the duck population has halved.

Please take it seriously because, as has been said before, 'you will miss them when their gone' and a hell of a lot have already!

PS I am not 'having a go' at anyone, just informing!

 

[Wildbill]

Inoculation is one answered but it would be a bit of a bugger getting a Gannett common get you jab.
But maybe inoculation of our flocks would be a start.
Sumthing in ther water or apleyed as a mist to ther coops
Bill

 

[L' Hobo]

The Spanish Flu epidemic which killed millions of people after the First World War originated from an infected duck on a farm in the US.

The bird flu passed to a farm worker and then infected soldiers at a nearby training camp.

Bird flu is potentially a major source of infection

That was then, this is now!

Can I assure everyone, the medical advice I have been given is that, unless you go around kissing your bird population (and some do?)
the general public has very little to be alarmed about after taking sensible precautions already outlined by Quackers!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[chaser]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but we havnt seen a sign of any swallows here this year, I know they have been about as I have seen them elsewhere but actually here on this farm where we used to have at least half a dozen nests we havnt seen one swallow.

 

[Puddleduck]

I'm really hoping we don't have to keep our birds inside. They are undercover now with side netting but they are used to free ranging and are not happy. The egg production is about half normal.

 

[Puddleduck]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but we havnt seen a sign of any swallows here this year, I know they have been about as I have seen them elsewhere but actually here on this farm where we used to have at least half a dozen nests we havnt seen one swallow.

We had loads, more than usual.

 

[chaser]

We had loads, more than usual.

You must have had ours

 

[Quackers]

Not looking forward to explaining to our flock that they have to stay in from next week.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[L' Hobo]

You must have had ours

and ours!

 

[2GB Racing]

Chaser certainly less swallows, martins and swifts around my small area of Suffolk over the last few yrs, maybe not enough flys for food, not making the migration trip as being shot / caught in mist nets along the way etc, changes in house construction not suitable I have no idea.

 

[L' Hobo]

I'm really hoping we don't have to keep our birds inside. They are undercover now with side netting but they are used to free ranging and are not happy. The egg production is about half normal.

Unless you can separate them from the wild birds, there is a good chance you might lose them.
A little bit of pain is worth months of gain!

 

[Puddleduck]

Unless you can separate them from the wild birds, there is a good chance you might lose them.
A little bit of pain is worth months of gain!

At the moment keeping indoors is not a requirement in Scotland.

I am not sure how we would be able to keep them indoors so they might have to go anyway.

At the moment they are in a covered run to segregate them from the wild birds.

 

[hja]

This is really serious. We just dont seem to get on top of it.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jockaneezer]

We used to get flocks of a dozen to twenty Swifts "screaming" around the village of a summer's evening, I only saw two this year.
Son's MIL sells duck eggs at the roadside on the A7, last flu time she had to lock up her flock of 80 Chinese Runners in the big stable they had built, going in to collect eggs after they'd done their business was like that scene from Bambi where he steps onto the frozen lake, thank goodness for pressure washers !

 

[L' Hobo]

This is really serious. We just dont seem to get on top of it.

The problem is the wild birds which, of course, carry the disease and fly everywhere also the Raptors eat the dead birds and spread it before dying themselves.

 

[DerryW]

I was listening to a farmer on this evening's local news, he had to cull nearly his entire flock of Turkeys. Apparently, he can only get compensation for any live uninfected birds. which in his case I believe was 8 birds.

Shocking.

 

[Ridgeway]

We’ve only 1 Maran remainning and she’s around 7yrs old now so quite easy to keep in. Had a letter already from our commune reminding us that they are to be kept inside.

 

[Grianan]

We lost ours due up a fox and haven’t replaced due to bird flu. Not sure we will now as can’t envisage it getting under control. That’s my cheery thought for the evening.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TinaLes]

Very sad situation for all producers, this Avian Flu keeps on re-appearing every year, maybe a vaccination of all caged birds is the only answer, as you cannot vaccinate wild birds, or maybe put something in the feed so all birds are attracted to it But I don't think anything has been developed yet?, I know they are looking at all possibilities.

They will also have to remove the "Free Range" on egg boxes as they should have done before, but I don't remember seeing it disappear from the supermarkets.
LES

 

[hja]

Very sad situation for all producers, this Avian Flu keeps on re-appearing every year, maybe a vaccination of all caged birds is the only answer, as you cannot vaccinate wild birds, or maybe put something in the feed so all birds are attracted to it But I don't think anything has been developed yet?, I know they are looking at all possibilities.

They will also have to remove the "Free Range" on egg boxes as they should have done before, but I don't remember seeing it disappear from the supermarkets.
LES

I think the birds have to kept in for a number of weeks, is it 16, before you have to change the labelling. Our local egg supplier had sticky labels on his boxes. I have a vague feeling of seeing shelf labelling in the supermarket.

 

[Beemobile]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but we havnt seen a sign of any swallows here this year, I know they have been about as I have seen them elsewhere but actually here on this farm where we used to have at least half a dozen nests we havnt seen one swallow.

These little darlings were hatched in our back porch, they stayed till the beginning of October, and we shut up the chickens at the end of Oct, there were four if them along with their parents, took more time to clean up after them than I liked but they were great and I hope they come back next year.

 

[Quackers]

Good News For Poultry Owners

Avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ): mandatory housing​

The Chief Veterinary Officer has announced that mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across England to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 April 2023, but scrupulous standards of biosecurity remain essential. The measures in Wales will be lifted at the same time.

Following ongoing monitoring using the latest scientific evidence and a robust risk assessment, bird flu risk levels have been reduced meaning poultry and other captive birds will no longer need to be housed and can be kept outside, unless they are in a protection zone or captive bird monitoring controlled zone.

The decision means that from 18 April, eggs laid by hens with access to outside range areas can return to being marketed as ‘Free-Range’ eggs.

Those who intend to allow their birds outside are advised to use the upcoming days to prepare their outside areas for the release of their birds. This will include cleansing and disinfection of hard surfaces, fencing off ponds or standing water and reintroduction of wild bird deterrents.

 

[Quackers]

Warning you are running out of time if you keep any ducks, chickens, geese etc, even if it is only 1 you now have to register.
Not seen much publicity on this so here is a reminder.
In England and Wales you must register if you keep poultry or other captive birds by 1 October 2024. This includes any birds you keep as pets.

You’re breaking the law if you do not register.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-as-a-keeper-of-less-than-50-poultry-or-other-captive-birds

You do not need to register psittaciformes or passeriformes (such as budgies, parrots, cockatiels and finches) if they are both:

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}