Avian Influenza -The Future
Practical Poultry|July - August 2017

Experienced poultry vet, David Parsons, MRCVS, explains some of the health-related consequences of prolonged confinement, and how to deal with them

David Parsons
Avian Influenza -The Future

Well here’s hoping that this will be the last mention that I give to Avian Influenza for a few months. The last few months have been quite unique. A salutary reminder that real disease, the sort that we cannot control, can occur with devastating consequences.

Bad enough that chickens die but up to now, Avian Influenza had not affected fancy fowl and backyard poultry. This time it did and the first signs that those affected saw, was a sudden increase in the number of dead birds over a day or two.

The last two outbreaks occurred in backyard poultry near Thornton, Wyre, Lancashire on May 4th and 6th.The first was a mixed age flock of about 30 chicken whist the second was apparently a flock of 9 birds, mainly chickens with 3 ducks.

With the Avian Influenza Protection Zone due to be lifted on May 15th, this could not have occurred at a worse time. It will be a few more months before reports on how and why these outbreaks occurred. My understanding is that this very nasty strain of H5N8 Avian Influenza was introduced to the UK by migratory waterfowl. Wigeons seem to be being blamed at present but many other species of bird have been affected and infected. Ideally, when these birds migrate back they would take the virus with them and our problem should go away or at least be reduced.

You may be aware that Defra have been very keen to examine dead wild birds to determine how wide spread the virus was. The good news is that for the last 8 weeks (calendar weeks 13 to 19), no virus has been found in wild birds. Prior to this time, virus was being found regularly throughout England and Wales in many different bird species but including wigeon, swans, raptors and gulls.

This story is from the July - August 2017 edition of Practical Poultry.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July - August 2017 edition of Practical Poultry.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PRACTICAL POULTRYView All
Growing food for Chickens
Practical Poultry

Growing food for Chickens

Mary Larham explores some crops to grow on your holding…

time-read
5 mins  |
January - February 2020
Poultry in the garden – the truth!
Practical Poultry

Poultry in the garden – the truth!

Jo-Jane Buxton shares her experiences

time-read
2 mins  |
January - February 2020
The British Waterfowl Association
Practical Poultry

The British Waterfowl Association

Which came first, the goose or the egg?

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2020
WHY FIT A FAN IN AN INCUBATOR?
Practical Poultry

WHY FIT A FAN IN AN INCUBATOR?

Brinsea Products, the Incubation Specialists explain the difference between still air and forced draught

time-read
8 mins  |
January - February 2020
Incubating turkey eggs
Practical Poultry

Incubating turkey eggs

Janice Houghton-Wallace looks at broody turkeys and artificial incubation

time-read
4 mins  |
January - February 2020
Chicken nesting box herbs
Practical Poultry

Chicken nesting box herbs

Diana Clauss owns The Blue Feather Farm, in St Cloud, Florida, home to chickens, ducks, goats, and Anatolian Shepherd dogs.

time-read
4 mins  |
January - February 2020
Incubate in January?
Practical Poultry

Incubate in January?

Jessica Wombwell says plan the breeding

time-read
5 mins  |
January - February 2020
Andy's DIARY
Practical Poultry

Andy's DIARY

Andy emphases the importance of keeping out damp and wet but allowing ventilation even in cold weather

time-read
5 mins  |
January - February 2020
Feeding for Breeding
Practical Poultry

Feeding for Breeding

It may be winter, but as Joanna Palmer, nutritionist for Smallholder Range explains, now’s the time to get your flock in tiptop shape and plan ahead for a successful breeding season next spring.

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2020
A chick named Cuckoo raised by a duck!
Practical Poultry

A chick named Cuckoo raised by a duck!

Chris Hammacott and her husband live on a small croft in the Outer Hebrides, they keep a ‘no kill’ flock or rare and rescue sheep which they use to spin and weave rugs. They also share the 8 acres with hens, ducks, cats and 9 rescue pugs.

time-read
7 mins  |
January - February 2020