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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 31st October 2022
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Poultry housing order announced across England
The housing order comes into force at midnight on Monday, 7 November.
Measures legally require all bird keepers to keep their flocks indoors.

Captive birds and poultry in England must be kept inside from next week, regardless of type or size, the UK government has announced.

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said the decision “has not been taken lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.”

The order comes into force at midnight on Monday, 7 November, under which bird keepers must keep their birds indoors and follow stringent biosecurity measures to protect their flocks from the disease.

It extends the mandatory housing measures already in force across parts of East Anglia following an increase in the national risk of avian flu in wild birds to “very high”.

Since October 2021, the UK has seen more than 200 confirmed cases of avian influenza - the largest-ever outbreak of the disease. The introduction of the housing measures comes after cases were confirmed at more than 70 premises in the past month alone, and multiple reports in wild birds.

Ms Middlemiss is now urging all bird keepers across England to use the coming days to prepare, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their vet and expand housing where necessary. 

"We are now facing this year, the largest-ever outbreak of bird flu and are seeing rapid escalation in the number of cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across England. The risk of kept birds being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice," she said.

"Scrupulous biosecurity and separating flocks in all ways, from wild birds remain the best form of defence. Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from Monday 7 November onwards, you must keep your indoors. This decision has not been taken lightly, but is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.”

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.