They're in a proper hen house with a run which is enclosed all round with chicken wire - do I need to build a frame and cover it with netting to prevent wild birds from being in contact with our chicks?
Also, does anyone know if you can get hens vaccinated against bird flu?
2007-02-04 00:10:53 · 10 answers · asked by caro_calandra 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
you are not allowed to vaccinate in the UK. Elswhere in the world vaccination has proved effective in controlling it. Your run needs to have a solid roof or tarpaulin and the mesh needs to be small enough to stop wild birds getting inside. Our government is doign all it can to make it look like they are trying to prevent it. They banned imports of wild parrots and other pet species. But they don't tell you that they still allow hatching eggs and day old chicks to be imported from places like Hungary. You have to ask yourself how the virus entered secure factory like sheds. My belief is that it was brought in with a batch of infected chicks. The strain of the virus in Suffolk is the same strain as was in Hungary last month. If people demand cheap frozen poultry in the supermarket, and other countries pay lower wages than the hatcheries over here, the poultry people who raise chicken and turkey in factory farms pressurise the goverment into allowing them to bring in cheap imported chicks. Disease and misery are the true costs of cheap poultry meat in this country. Stop buying frozen chicken and turkey from supermarkets, stop buying battery eggs, ready meals containing chicken, KFC, chicken burgers etc etc etc and within a week the business grinds to a halt. Insist on free range English meat and eggs only. Customers dictate the policy and every person who buys frozen chicken or turkey has helped live animals suffer in the most terrible fashion. Look at the links on my webpage to see the true cost of factory farmed chicken and eggs.
2007-02-04 01:48:18 · answer #1 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the chances of your hens getting bird flu are negligible to zero unless an epidemic takes hold or there are proven cases found in your locality (say within a 500 mile area around where you live).Its like so many other issues (CJD/SARS) which the media whip up into a frenzy and panic us about
Usually,in the end,what's forecast will happen doesn't.
You've taken sensible precautions so far.Prevent contact with wild birds when and if you think it necessary which probably will be never
2007-02-04 00:24:34 · answer #2 · answered by bearbrain 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not just a case of putting netting up to stop contact with wild birds. The flu can be spread by wild bird droppings, which could fall through the net and infect your hens. The advice is to keep hens inside. Don't touch your hens much either, just in case you get it.
As soon as it is a threat in your area and to domestic hens, the government/council wilk advise everyone on what to do (they won't just leave it up to the public to try to contain it).
I don't think you can get them vaccinated yet, you have to know what strain it is and i doubt they will make the vaccination available for peoples hens.
2007-02-04 10:28:34 · answer #3 · answered by Esquire 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a solid sheet of onduline or timber over the top of your run. also make sure that the wire mesh is max 1/2 inch to prevent wild birds entering to feed. Keep the area around the pen scrupulously clean to deter other birds feeding.
Keep your coop clean and disinfect regularly.
The risk is negligible at present but get into the way of good practice now.
2007-02-06 21:51:58 · answer #4 · answered by des c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
keeping them away from the contact of wild birds helps if you have a shed or something you can keep them in temporarily you should but it's helpful to ask a vet as bird flu is spreading more rapidly but remember keeping your hens out of danger is good but keep your self out of danger as well
2007-02-04 05:31:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
contact ur local vet 4 information regarding any inoculations, if there r any available.
keep ur chickens under cover as much as possible.
& scare any wild birds away, hang some old DVD/cds on a string over the run, it shouldn't bother ur hens.
contact that vet, 4 better advice than any scare-mongers on here.
2007-02-04 00:16:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, keeping them seperated from wild birds will do it. Keep them enclosed, not even allowing little common birds to get in.
2007-02-04 04:49:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
vets might no about the vacinations
but a protective cage would help
2007-02-04 00:14:28 · answer #8 · answered by creme8888 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have registerd my chickens with the council. they will give you a leaflet telling you what to do.
2007-02-04 02:45:26 · answer #9 · answered by grumpcookie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could try freezing them?
2007-02-04 00:15:38 · answer #10 · answered by Neill 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋