UK bird flu 2017

Over the back fence from our next door neighbour is a large orchard, part of which has been turned into a run for forty or fifty chickens and also some geese. It is certainly not netted and when the bird flu directive was issued - that all poultry had to be kept in for a month - he did not seem to be taking a lot of notice of it. At the rare breeds centre in one of our local parks, on the other hand, all the poultry has been kept inside for the statutory length of time. I wonder about the feasibility of netting large runs, such as that behind us, and the ones in the park. I thought I had heard that there was a case in North Yorkshire and all the stock had to be destroyed, but I haven't heard of any others.

This has been rumbling on since December with the latest case in Lincolnshire this week. All poultry should be under cover I.e. wild birds should not be able to access either the hens or their food and water. Ours are confined to a covered run. All netting must be too small for wild birds to get through. DEFRA will fine around £5000 for non compliance.

It is spread by migratory birds and the current order is in place until 28th February with every chance of it being extended.

Oh dear, that's difficult. I hope we don't have to do that here because our run is too big. They would have to be confined to the henhouse.
We were told that hens aren't so prone to catching this flu. It's mainly the palmipedes.
This flu is happening so often, some poultry farmers are talking of giving up altogether.

How big is your run? Ours is covered and is 12' X 12' X 6' high and links on to a small one, also covered. It is infectious to hens hence the restrictions and it is migratory birds that are the source of infection.
Google DEFRA and look at their advice.

it's mainly the palmipedes. If that's the case, the man over the fence is taking a risk with his geese, which are in with his chickens.

Ours is L shaped, about 24m by 15m. Plus a little bit at the back. It's fenced off because of the foxes etc.
Maybe their are different strains of the virus, affecting different birds.
My friend said she found a dead heron in one of the streams here, and wondered if it had been ill with the 'flu too.
I wonder if the price of chicken is going to go up? We usually buy living hens at the market, and use them for meat. But none of the markets are allowed to sell them now.