Lockdown for chickens as Denny vet urges action ahead of new Avian Flu law

Now a Forth Valley vet has urged anyone with poultry or outdoor pet and aviary birds to ensure they are under cover before it becomes law on December 14.

Douglas Paterson, director of Denny based Apex Vets, said owners should start making any adjustments now to ensure accommodation for their birds complies.

Avian Flu is considered to be a "notifiable disease" meaning vets have a compulsory duty to report to the government if they suspect a case.

The disease has been found in the UK, but no cases reported in Scotland.

Mr Paterson said: “The potential for this virus to 'jump' into domestic fowl is a concerning one so I'm glad the public are taking the advice seriously.

“The worst case scenario is that there could issue ‘compulsory slaughter orders’ for both domestic and farmed birds across an entire area to reduce transmission risk.

“This would be devastating for backyard poultry keepers like me and many others in this area, but could be disastrous for food production.

“Worse still, Avian 'flu can jump species to humans which is another reason that the authorities are taking it so seriously.”

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Mr Paterson’s own chickens - Francesca, Harvey and Henrietta - are in a netted run with a tarpaulin over the top so that wild bird poo can't fall in.

Feeders are also inside the run so wild birds can’t get at them from the outside, and he is reinforcing the net to catch any small holes so that tiny songbirds can't squeeze through.

He said: “It's important to keep backyard poultry and also outdoor pet and aviary birds under cover or housed, and check netting so that songbirds or other wild birds can't get near your pets.

“It is still okay to feed the birds - it's really important to provide food for these little song birds to help see them through the cold weather.

“You just need to keep them separate from your chickens or pets.”

If the public find dead wild waterfowl - swans, geese or ducks - or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, they should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77 - please select option 7).

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