Poultry and captive birds can be kept outside again from Tuesday 18th April as the risk of bird flu eases across the country.
Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards officers are keen to get the message out to bird keepers that the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss has announced that from that date, the mandatory housing order for poultry for England and Wales will be lifted, and birds can be kept outside unless they are in a protection zone or captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone.
In Derbyshire a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone remains in place in the Bakewell area following an outbreak of bird flu in January, and birds in that zone must still be housed until these specific restrictions are lifted. For the latest information on the Bakewell situation residents should go to Bird flu: near Bakewell, Derbyshire Dales, Derbyshire (AIV 2023/08) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
All bird keepers must continue to follow strict biosecurity measures despite the lifting of national housing restrictions.
The decision to lift the housing restrictions nationally means that from 18 April, eggs laid by hens with access to outside range areas can return to being marketed as ‘free-range’ eggs.
The county council’s trading standards team are advising that people who are intending to let their birds go outside after the restrictions lift should start preparing their outside areas for their birds’ release, including cleansing and disinfecting hard surfaces, fencing off ponds or standing water and reintroducing wild bird deterrents.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “Bird keepers across Derbyshire will welcome the lifting of these mandatory housing measures but it’s really important they keep up the good work and continue to be strict with their biosecurity measures as this will help to keep their birds safe.
“I know that bird keepers, our trading standards officers and all the partner agencies have been working hard to keep flocks safe and it’s been a difficult time due to the number of outbreaks across the country, with five outbreaks in Derbyshire in the past 12 months.
“It really shows that it’s more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant for signs of disease, maintain high standards of biosecurity and try to prevent future outbreaks.”