Our birds are out from under the housing order imposed recently due to the risk of avian flu.
The higher than average risk that caused the ban in the first place was from wild birds over wintering here in the UK. The majority of these birds have now left the UK – presumably realising that the UK is a rubbish choice for a winter holiday. Those that are resident wildfowl are busy with the breeding season and less likely to travel for food away from their nesting areas.
With this great news we are allowing the birds outside again to stretch their legs and enjoy the sunshine (when we have some). Of course when it comes to chickens there are always the rebels in the crowd and some have decided that being in the warm, next to the food and some cosy bedding is a better choice than venturing outside but we encourage to them out everyday.
The lifting of the temporary housing order does not mean the risks of avian flu have totally gone – it’s just that the risk is no higher than other areas of the UK. We continue to adhere to strict biosecurity measures such as minimising the movement of birds in and out of the flock, cleaning footwear used in the barns and ensuring the birds are housed in clean and tidy areas.