Biosecurity Guidance
This information is also available in PDF.
Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease that can infect birds. The disease can manifest itself in a number of different forms ranging from relatively mild to severe according to the subtype; further information on subtypes of AI can be found on our website.
Typically, highly pathogenic avian influenza presents suddenly, often with very high mortality; details of the symptoms to look out for are listed in our website section on symptoms. If you are suspicious that your flock has any form of avian influenza you MUST contact your local Animal Health Office immediately.
Comprehensive biosecurity advice is available that has been designed to heighten the awareness of keepers of poultry and other captive birds regarding what you can do to minimise the risk to your birds.
The ultimate aim, as with any disease and particularly with fast spreading diseases such as avian influenza, is to prevent infection. This guide has been produced to help those owning or caring for poultry or other captive birds to find the information they need to help keep their stock disease free.
Biosecurity Guidance
Keepers of poultry and other captive birds should maintain stringent biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of introducing any disease into their birds or spreading disease should it occur. Biosecurity is a set of management practices that collectively reduce the potential for the introduction or spread of animal (including bird) disease-causing agents into and between groups of animals.
The Scottish Executive wishes to encourage everyone to take responsibility for biosecurity to avoid the devastating effects of animal diseases.
Key Practices include:
- Buying in healthy stock from proven sources
- Providing clean food and water
- Maintaining good standards of hygiene
- Separation and isolation of new or ill stock
- Appropriate slurry management or disposal of faeces
- Traceability and identification of stock, visitors and deliveries.
Further information on these practices is available in the biosecurity section on our website or in our ' Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Animal Health and Biosecurity'.
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Good biosecurity should be practised at all times, not just during a disease outbreak
Taking the right measures can help protect your birds, your business, the industry and the community. The biosecurity leaflet for poultry keepers explains what you can do to prevent your birds becoming sick with diseases such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease. It outlines the benefits of good biosecurity, how disease is spread, actions that if implemented will reduce the likelihood of your birds becoming infected, and how to plan ahead in case of an outbreak. Although aimed at poultry keepers, the advice is equally valid for other captive birds.
Good biosecurity demands minimising contact between your birds and wild birds
One of the main ways in which avian influenza may be spread is by contact between infected wild birds and domestic poultry or other captive birds. This can be through either direct contact with secretions and faeces, or indirectly via contaminated feed, water, boots, equipment etc. Our guide on how to protect your birds from the risk of avian influenza lists key precautions that you can take to heighten biosecurity on your premises.
Plan ahead - assess the risks
Our leaflet giving advice on assessing risks of avian influenza where poultry are kept ( www.defra.gov.uk) outlines potential risks that might be a factor in your birds becoming infected and aims to help you design your own contingency plan to better prepare you for any increase in the risk of disease. While aimed at poultry keepers, the advice is equally valid for other captive birds.
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Plan ahead - make housing arrangements
If highly pathogenic avian influenza is found in the country there will be a requirement, by law, for the indoor housing of birds or, if impractical, another method of isolation from wild birds. This is for the protection of your own birds and others and if you cannot meet the requirements you may have to reduce stock numbers through culling. Our leaflet, Preparing for avian influenza - separating flocks from wild birds, outlines what the requirement involves and gives advice on the practical steps bird keepers will wish to consider when planning how they would house their birds in the event of an outbreak, including welfare and planning permission issues.
In the event of an outbreak
Our national avian influenza Contingency Plan contains biosecurity advice for all poultry keepers which can be found at Annex E of the Plan. This outlines the clinical signs of both Newcastle disease and H5N1 avian influenza, explains further actions that should be taken to prevent the spread of disease into your birds in light of the higher risk of infection and tells you what action you should take if you suspect your birds might have become infected. While aimed at poultry keepers, the advice is also valid for other captive birds.
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