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Introduction
One way by which certain notifiable diseases, including avian influenza and Newcastle disease, may spread to domestic birds is through contact with infected wild birds. Contact may be direct through mingling, or indirect through faecal contamination of anything that may then come into contact with domestic birds such as feed, water, utensils or clothing. The risk of disease spread can therefore be reduced by minimising contact with wild birds.
If the risk to Great Britain from such a notifiable disease becomes significant or if a case is found within GBdomestic birds will be required by law to be housed or otherwise separated from wild birds.
Where housing is not possible, you will be required to take all reasonable steps to minimise contact between your birds and wild birds. You must also ensure that your birds do not have any direct or indirect contact with poultry or captive birds on other holdings.
These are important disease control requirements. In the event of an outbreak; if you cannot meet them, you may have to reduce stock numbers through culling. In addition, failure to comply with disease control requirements could lead the relevant enforcement authority to bring action against you
This leaflet gives guidance on practical ways to meet your legal obligations. You should read it if you keep birds for commercial or hobby purposes.
Your responsibilities as a bird keeper
As a bird keeper, you are responsible for the welfare of your birds both now and during an outbreak. The Government has already asked you to minimise the possibility of wild birds contaminating the feed or drinking water of domestic birds and to remain vigilant for signs of disease.
What does the law require?
If there is a case of a relevant notifiable disease in domestic birds, all other domestic birds within at least 3km of the infected holding ( i.e. within the protection zone) are immediately required to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds while the outbreak is brought under control. This requirement could remain in force for several weeks.
The extent of the housing requirement will be kept under review, and even if you are not close to an outbreak, you should prepare to house your birds in case wider housing requirement is issued to prevent spread of the disease while the source of the virus is identified and immediate action is taken to control the outbreak. Such wider housing requirements would be relaxed once the disease situation had been clarified, probably within a matter of days.
Impact on organic and free range status
A requirement to keep your birds separate from wild birds will also apply to free range and organic producers.
The organic status of poultry flocks would not be affected by any requirement to house or restrict access to open-air runs, provided that all other requirements of the Compendium of UK Organic Standards 1 continued to be met. This will be reviewed in the light of discussions at EU level.
If free range flocks (including those which also have organic status) are required to be housed, their products will retain their free-range status for up to 12 weeks.
If you have longer term concerns about possible loss of status, for example, organic or free range, we recommend that you refer to the responsible sector body.
Ways to protect your birds
Viruses causing some notifiable diseases of poultry can be spread through faecal droppings from infected birds. Control of disease spread by wild birds involves minimising contact between potentially infected wild birds and domestic birds. Housing your birds indoors whilst maintaining strict biosecurity measures is the best way to achieve this. For most keepers, prior planning should make it easier to house birds.
If you are unable to house all your birds indoors, the aim should be to minimise the risk of contact with wild birds. Remember, this contact may be direct; or indirect through contamination of feed and water.
Housing
The most effective way to minimise direct contact is to house your birds.
If your birds are normally housed, keep your birds inside their existing houses. Ensure that wild birds are prevented from gaining access to your birds by covering any openings with netting. This should have sufficiently small holes to exclude wild birds.
If your birds spend time outside you will have to plan alternative housing. There are different housing options which can be considered including:
- Making use of existing buildings (such as barns, farm sheds, outbuildings, garages, garden sheds) adapted for your birds. Ensure that any openings are netted to prevent wild birds gaining access.
- Erecting a solid lean-to on the side of existing houses.
- Erecting a new temporary structure with solid walls and roof, or a polytunnel. A polytunnel will be suitable only in cooler weather.
Netted structures
If after considering the above options they do not prove to be practical, other steps you could take include:
- Erecting a net structure with a solid or tarpaulin roof.
- Constructing temporary outdoor pens using straw bales and a tarpaulin roof with bird-proof netted gaps for light and ventilation.
If bad weather is likely to be a problem it may be necessary to erect a windbreak around your bird-proof structure.
We recommend that you refer to commercial suppliers of anti-bird netting for advice and further information on equipment.
Feeding and watering
There are certain species of bird - such as ostrich, captive wildfowl or geese which are not normally housed during day or night - for which even the minimum housing steps outlined above may not be practicable. In such cases the very minimum you should do is isolate their food and water from wild birds. Available feed and water will attract wild birds; by feeding and watering your birds under cover, the possibility of mingling is reduced. The steps you can take include:
- Provide extra protection to feed and water stations to avoid attracting wild birds.
- Rotate feeding times. Many wild birds learn when captive birds are fed and congregate at these times.
- Prevent your birds from accessing open water that may be contaminated.
- Ensure that your birds receive only mains or treated water or ensure that reservoirs or storage tanks are covered. Sealed nipple systems can be considered.
Additional deterrents
When designing any housing structure, if posts are necessary, think about incorporating spike strips to deter perching. In all cases you should also consider making use of wild bird deterrents such as flutter tape, flashing lights, scarecrows and auditory scarers.
Agricultural bird scarers are not suitable for domestic circumstances and must always be used responsibly, within the relevant legal controls. If considering using bird scare systems specialist advice should be sought and the welfare of the domestic birds should be considered.
Where large numbers of birds are kept it may not be possible to bring them all indoors and you should consider all of the alternative methods described in this leaflet.
Welfare Surveillance
Housing birds that are not used to being housed for a sustained period may create welfare and behavioural problems. You should be vigilant for signs such as feather pecking, cannibalism and any other signs of poor welfare such as loss of condition
Overcrowding may become a problem and you must take steps to ensure that the stocking density within each house will not reach the point at which bird welfare is compromised - a particular risk in hot weather or cold wet weather.
For chickens and turkeys being reared for consumption, you should consider reducing their growth rate to prevent over-crowding. However you should seek expert advice before doing so as these measures may themselves cause welfare problems.
You should provide fresh litter in all temporary accommodation and ensure adequate feed and water, ventilation and lighting is available. You should consider how to enrich the birds' environment, such as using straw bales.
Always ensure that your birds have clean water - do not use standing water that may have become contaminated by wild birds.
To pick up problems before they lead to the deterioration of bird welfare you should ensure that stockmen inspect the birds more often.
Planning Issues
Planning permission is not always required if the work does not involve building, engineering or similar operations. Permitted Development Rights exist for erecting structures in certain circumstances. Simple structures such as posts and netting might not require permission. It is unlikely, for example, that you would need planning permission if the structure is temporary, mobile, or used for the purposes of agriculture. However, regulations will differ between commercial and hobby poultry keepers. It is always advisable in the first instance to check with your local council who will be able to direct you.
Remember Your Biosecurity Precautions
Regardless of the way in which domestic birds are housed, good biosecurity is also essential in preventing the introduction and spread of disease. This is even more important where birds may be more crowded than usual in accommodation that is unfamiliar to both birds and keepers. It is crucial that you also:
- Maintain good standards of hygiene
- Avoid or clean up feed spillages
- Keep areas around bird accommodation clean and tidy
- Use specific footwear and overalls when caring for your birds
- Use approved disinfectant procedures
Look out for signs of disease in your flock. Increased mortality, falling egg production and respiratory distress may be early signs of a disease problem. If you suspect disease, ask your vet for advice as soon as possible. Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease are notifiable diseases. You must contact the local Animal Health Divisional Office if you suspect these diseases.
Further Help and Advice
General biosecurity: www.scotland.gov.uk/biosecurity
Newcastle disease: www.scotland.gov.uk/newcastledisease
Avian influenza: www.scotland.gov.uk/avianinfluenza
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