Newsletter Gov plans to lift housing restrictions March 2021

Mantel Farm Update 20th March 2021..

GB Government plans to lift poultry housing measures
from 23:59 on 31 March

Great News - the GB Governments have announced plans to lift poultry housing measures from 23:59 on 31 March meaning our birds will again be able to enjoy the outdoors.

Just in time for Easter - your hens can have an outdoor gathering of their own of up to 6 hens (or more if in a family group)!!  So little steps out of lockdown for us over the Easter Holidays but let's hope the weather is good and we can all enjoy time in our gardens with our chickens.

Defra guidance:

The risk of avian influenza to both wild and kept birds has been reduced to 'medium', so birds no longer have to be housed, however enhanced biosecutiy measures are still required.  

• Make the range (outdoor area) unattractive to wild birds, particularly wild waterfowl,
corvids (e.g. crows and magpies) or gulls.

• Net or cover ponds – you must net or cover any ponds that are within the fenced
range area. You should also consider netting ponds or larger bodies of water within
100m of the perimeter of the outdoor area if within your premises. If this is not
possible you should take steps to deter birds from accessing them.

• Fence off ponds, streams, standing water or wet or boggy areas – whilst the
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone measures is in place, poultry must not be allowed
access to areas around ponds, streams, canals or other wet areas as there is a much greater risk that these areas have been contaminated by the droppings of wild birds.

• Remove any wild bird feed sources – check the range and surrounding areas for
any feed sources that might attract wild birds: these are most likely to be associated
with wet areas but also include spilt grain, seeds and uncovered feed bins. All
feeding must be undertaken undercover

Where the range has not been used for several months it may have been contaminated by wild bird faecal matter. This is particularly important if you are changing the area accessed by free ranging birds. For example, when moving mobile arks or fencing off areas not previously used for poultry.  The virus that causes avian influenza can still be infective in faeces or droppings and other contaminated material for around 50 days (longer in wet conditions or in standing water). If wild birds have had access to your ranges and other outdoor areas, you must take steps to reduce the levels of contamination. You could:

• Cleanse and disinfect concrete and other impermeable areas – use a government- approved disinfectant at the recommended dilution rate for Diseases of Poultry Order. 

• Decontaminate the range – it may be possible to reduce the level of the virus
present in heavily contaminated areas by exposing surface to sunlight and
drying. This could be done by harrowing or raking the range to break any buildup of faeces followed by the use of some government-approved disinfectants at the recommended dilution rate. 

• Add shavings or woodchip – the resin in shavings and woodchips has some
virucidal properties and may help reduce the virus load in wet areas.

• Drain wet patches and areas of standing water.

Limit the number of people who have access to the range and ensure that they have no
contact with any other poultry or birds.

Full guidance is available at:

GOV.​UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu