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National chicken charity offers grants to improve hen health
Applications will be assessed by a panel of veterinary professionals.

Research to be shared among veterinary professionals

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) has announced that it will be offering research grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 to veterinary surgeons and students working globally to improve pet hen health and welfare.

The charity, founded in 2005, has rehomed more than 750,000 commercial hens intended for slaughter. It works to improve hen welfare standards and educate the public on caring for pet hens, which have recently become the sixth most popular pet in the UK. Because of this, there has been an increase in the number of hens being brought into practice for treatment.

Grant applications will be open from 1 February 2020 and will be assessed for feasibility and suitability by a panel of veterinary professionals, as well as the Royal Veterinary College ethical review board.

The panel are searching for projects that have a fast, practical impact on diagnosing, managing and treating diseases in hens at a specialist level and in general practice. As well as those that will improve knowledge of hen welfare amongst general veterinary surgeons, allowing for wider access to treatment for chickens.

Jane Howorth MBE, founder and CEO of the BHWT said: “The scientific evidence and knowledge around pet hen health is currently very limited, which means that thousands of hens each year are either being unnecessarily euthanised or misdiagnosed.

“These new research grants will take hen health to the next level across the UK, providing practitioners with a wealth of material and guidance that has never been available before.

“Our hope is that these projects will increase knowledge about both common and rare disorders, resulting in better care and diagnosis and ultimately providing hens with a longer life expectancy.”

The results from the research will be published in peer-reviewed scientific or veterinary journals, in order to share knowledge to the wider veterinary profession.

Image (c) BHWT

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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.