Hamish was away on an Official Veterinarian (OV) training day in Swindon yesterday, and he came back with some really interesting information for anyone who keeps backyard chickens….
Did you know that there have been 12 identified outbreaks of Avian Flu in the UK over the last 12 months? And that 5 of them were in backyard flocks?
Thankfully, the UK is currently clear of Avian Flu. However, Avian Flu is often brought in by migrating birds, so there is a greater risk of Avian Flu arriving during the forthcoming migration period this Winter.
We would urge all backyard chicken owners to sign up to DEFRA’s Avian Flu updates to make sure you are aware of any UK outbreaks and advice. Click on this link and look for the ‘Alerts Service’ heading on DEFRA’s page.
All chicken owners – not just commercial farmers – must follow DEFRA guidelines on preventing the spread of this potentially fatal virus, to keep your chickens – and others locally – safe.