** Tips To Help Prevent The Spread Of Bird Flu **
With so much scaremongering going on and with so much bad advice online and on many poultry forums, our aim here is to provide poultry keepers with hints and tips to help prevent the spread of bird flu (Avian Influenza) and protect their birds.
Restrictions are all well and good and designed under the best intentions, to try and limit or prevent spread of the disease but let's face it, this is not always possible or not possible at all for many poultry keepers especially those who are completely free range, which got us thinking what WE can do as poultry keepers to help prevent any outbreaks or limit the spread of the disease??? So here we take a look...
Make a disinfectant foot bath to dip your feet in prior to entering your coop and after exiting your coop.
Regularly disinfectant your coop, equipment, feeders and drinkers
Burn any dry bedding rather than composting it
Regularly sanitise the ground within your coop / run
Regularly clean out your coop and turn over soil / ground in your run
Put your coop "under cover" or limit access from wild birds. It doesn't have to be pretty just sensible
Updates on bird flu from around Europe
Links to guidance/advice about bird flu
Restrictions are all well and good and designed under the best intentions, to try and limit or prevent spread of the disease but let's face it, this is not always possible or not possible at all for many poultry keepers especially those who are completely free range, which got us thinking what WE can do as poultry keepers to help prevent any outbreaks or limit the spread of the disease??? So here we take a look...
Make a disinfectant foot bath to dip your feet in prior to entering your coop and after exiting your coop.
Regularly disinfectant your coop, equipment, feeders and drinkers
Burn any dry bedding rather than composting it
Regularly sanitise the ground within your coop / run
Regularly clean out your coop and turn over soil / ground in your run
Put your coop "under cover" or limit access from wild birds. It doesn't have to be pretty just sensible
Keep all poultry away from wild birds and/or their droppings
Apply debris netting to your coop/run to limit contact with wild birds
Try and avoid poultry auctions and sales - As many birds from different area's and husbandry levels can mix which can spread disease
Sign Up For Email / Sms Disease Alerts
Defra Registration
Backyard Poultry Bio-security Info Graphic
Updates on bird flu from around Europe
Links to guidance/advice about bird flu
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-to-protect-poultry-against-avian-flu
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#biosecurity
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#about-avian-influenza
Avian Flu Symptoms for Birds
- sudden death without any signs
- lack of coordination
- purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs
- soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
- lack of energy and appetite
- diarrhoea
- swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks
- nasal discharge
- decreased egg production
- coughing, sneezing
Poultry workers should be aware of the signs of avian influenza in poultry, so they can take immediate steps to protect themselves and other workers, quarantine the farm to prevent the spread of disease, and report the disease to the responsible animal health authorities.
Take anti-viral medication & get the current influenza vaccine if appropriate
In the event of an avian influenza outbreak, workers who will be involved in disease control and eradication activities should consult their healthcare provider about the advisability of taking anti-viral medications for influenza. The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that workers receive a daily influenza antiviral drug for the entire time they are in direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. The CDC recommends workers involved in avian influenza disease control and eradication activities should also get the current season's human general influenza vaccine. These precautionary measures could reduce the possibility of infection with avian and human influenza viruses.
Avian Flu Symptoms for Humans
All poultry workers should know the signs and symptoms of avian influenza virus infection in humans so that measures can be taken for immediate treatment. The signs and symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, conjunctivitis (eye infections), and muscle aches. Infection with avian influenza viruses can also lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and other severe and life-threatening complications. A worker who experiences any of these symptoms or illnesses, or who may have been exposed to the avian influenza virus, should seek medical care and tell the healthcare provider before arrival that exposure to the avian influenza virus may have occurred.
In the event of an avian influenza outbreak, workers who will be involved in disease control and eradication activities should consult their healthcare provider about the advisability of taking anti-viral medications for influenza. The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that workers receive a daily influenza antiviral drug for the entire time they are in direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. The CDC recommends workers involved in avian influenza disease control and eradication activities should also get the current season's human general influenza vaccine. These precautionary measures could reduce the possibility of infection with avian and human influenza viruses.
Avian Flu Symptoms for Humans
All poultry workers should know the signs and symptoms of avian influenza virus infection in humans so that measures can be taken for immediate treatment. The signs and symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, conjunctivitis (eye infections), and muscle aches. Infection with avian influenza viruses can also lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and other severe and life-threatening complications. A worker who experiences any of these symptoms or illnesses, or who may have been exposed to the avian influenza virus, should seek medical care and tell the healthcare provider before arrival that exposure to the avian influenza virus may have occurred.
We hope this article is of help to you and we will continue to update this page as much as we can, however any concerns we suggest that you contact DEFRA on 03459 33 55 77 or your local animal enforcement agency.
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