Practical biosecurity for backyard poultry and captive birds from 28th February
From March 1st 2017 poultry keepers will be able to allow their birds to have access to the outdoors so long as they comply with the following requirements.
The essential principle is to observe good biosecurity. As the main risk to the health of your poultry is contact between wild and domestic birds either from direct contact or from contact with contamination.
- Don't let your birds drink or access water used by wild birds (fence off ponds)
- Inspect outdoor areas, removing obvious wild bird contaminants (like faeces and feathers)
- Protect your birds against contact with wild birds while flocks are outdoors
- Provide feed and water under cover so wild birds can't access
- Make your premises unattractive to wild birds
- Use dedicated clothing and footwear when feeding and cleaning the runs/housing. Do not use this clothing off premises.
- You must keep ducks/geese separate from other poultry
- Minimise movement of people, vehicles and equipment to and from bird areas
- Ensure pest control is effective
- If you are planning a gathering of birds e.g. pigeon racing or a bird show, check whether this is permitted
- Failure to comply with this guidance may be an offence
Make your birds’ range unattractive to wild birds
- Net ponds and drain waterlogged areas of land. If this isn’t possible, then can you fence them off from your birds so they cannot access it whilst ranging, or use an alternative paddock that doesn’t have access to water
- Remove any feeders and water stations from the range, or ensure that they are covered to sufficiently restrict access by wild birds
- Consider using decoy predators or other livestock (such as sheep or cattle) on the range, or allowing dogs to accompany you on foot patrols around the range. You could also consider bird scarers if their use is appropriate for the area (see NFU Code of Practice on bird scarers)