Posted: Tue 18th Apr 2023

Bird keepers urged to maintain stringent biosecurity as housing order lifts

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

Bird keepers are being urged to maintain rigorous hygiene and biosecurity measures, and to remain vigilant for the signs of avian flu, as the housing order for poultry and captive birds is lifted today. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

While avian influenza risk levels to poultry and captive birds have reduced, the risk of outbreaks remains. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), which covers all of Wales, remains in place. As before, this requires keepers of poultry and other captive birds to take appropriate and practicable steps to prevent avian influenza, including: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

  • Keeping kept birds off land that is known to be, or at high risk of being, frequented by wild waterfowl, or contaminated by their droppings or feathers.
  • Ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to wild birds, especially waterfowl, for example, by netting ponds and surrounding areas and by removing wild bird food sources;
  • Feed and water birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds;
  • Minimise movement of people in and out of bird enclosures;
  • Clean and disinfect footwear, use foot dips before entering poultry enclosures, and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy;
  • Ensure all bedding, equipment, clothing and anything else that enters the areas where birds are kept are free of direct or indirect contamination with HPAI, which is mainly spread through bird droppings.
  • Keep domestic ducks and geese separate from other poultry.
  • All of these steps are important in protecting birds. Alongside these, completing the mandatory biosecurity self-assessment can further help keepers identify the measures needed to be taken to ensure the safety of their flock.

Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Richard Irvine said: “Rigorous and scrupulous hygiene and biosecurity measures offer the best protection for kept birds against avian influenza. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Whether keepers have a few birds or a thousand, it is vital the very highest standards of biosecurity are maintained. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Vigilance is also key, and it’s important any signs or suspicion of avian influenza is reported immediately. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I want to thank bird keepers across Wales for their continued efforts to keep their flocks safe.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Findings of dead wild birds should continue to be reported to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and keepers should continue to promptly report suspicion of disease in their birds to APHA on 0300 303 8268. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Keepers can familiarise themselves with avian flu advice on the Welsh Government’s website. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Spotted something? Got a story? Send a Facebook Message | A direct message on Twitter | Email: News@Deeside.com

Latest News

  • Clwydian Range and Dee Valley could become Wales’ fourth National Park
  • Police appeal for help locating 82 year old man reported missing from Saltney
  • Flint: Church Street ‘closed for sometime’ following serious collision

  • More...

    Clwydian Range and Dee Valley could become Wales’ fourth National Park

    News

    Police appeal for help locating 82 year old man reported missing from Saltney

    News

    Flint: Church Street ‘closed for sometime’ following serious collision

    News

    Senedd to discuss petition urging Wales’ 20mph speed limit rollout to be scrapped

    News

    Cost of Living Crisis fuels surge demand for Flintshire Council’s Early Help Hub

    News

    North East Wales woodland wonderland created by a former social worker is transforming lives

    News

    Two Flintshire choir members with an age gap of 78 will line up together to sing at 90th birthday concert

    News

    Airbus on verge of securing massive 500 jet order, according to reports

    News

    Flintshire Bridge to close for five days from today for for ‘essential works’

    News