Compulsory Housing for Poultry and Captive Birds in Ireland (Avian Influenza) - Frequently Raised Topics Dec 2020

Q1. Why has this measure been taken?

Answer:

• the H5N8 strain of avian influenza has been responsible for a number of outbreaks of “Bird Flu” in both poultry and wild birds in Europe since the end of October this year. It is a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza which means that it causes severe disease and often death in infected birds. As of today’s date (21/12/2020) 12 countries in Europe have confirmed cases of the disease in poultry and/or wild birds, including the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
• between 6 November 2020 and 24 December 2020, avian influenza H5N8 has been detected in a total of 16 birds (in 14 separate events) in the Republic of Ireland. The birds were found in a variety of locations across the country which means there is an ongoing risk of spread to domestic poultry and captive birds here
• on the 10th one outbreak of H5N8 was confirmed in a small flock of turkeys in county Wicklow
• the risk of avian influenza increases with colder weather as it survives for longer in the environment
• as a precaution, Ireland has introduced a specific set of regulations that require the temporary housing of all poultry and other captive birds until further notice. The regulations entitled the Avian Influenza (Precautionary Confinement of Birds) Regulations 2020 require all poultry and captive birds in the Republic of Ireland to be housed in a secure building or where this is not practical, steps to be taken to confine them so that they are kept separate from wild birds. The regulations come into force on the 21/12/2020
• housing alone will not prevent an outbreak of avian influenza. The department advises strict adherence to the precautionary measures against avian influenza recently introduced in regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. These Regulations require specific biosecurity measures to be implemented by the keepers of all poultry (and other captive birds), irrespective of flock size, to help mitigate the risk of the virus and additional enhanced biosecurity measures that must be implemented in flocks of 500 birds or more

The legislation can be found here: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2020/si/566/made/en/print

Further information on preventative biosecurity measures for flock owners is available at: Biosecurity to Prevent Avian Influenza

• in addition, on foot of the confirmed outbreak in poultry in county Wicklow, restriction zones (Protection Zone of 3km and Surveillance Zone of 10km) have been established around the infected premises. Within the zones, poultry and other captive birds are already housed and additional restrictions are also in place regarding the movement of birds and their products for example

Q2. How often has this measure been taken in the past?

Answer:

• this preventative measure has been taken once before in Ireland in December 2016 on foot of a similar epidemic of avian influenza H5N8

Q3. How does this measure help reduce the risk of spread of the disease?

Answer:

• wild bird faeces are currently the major source of avian influenza virus for poultry and captive birds. Housing of outdoor birds will prevent their direct exposure to wild bird faeces
• housing will also mean that birds are fed and watered indoors and therefore, the potential for feed or water to be contaminated by wild birds is also reduced
• however, housing does not eliminate the risk of a disease outbreak and it is essential to have robust biosecurity measures in place on all holdings with birds. Such measures include:

o preventing access to the holding by vermin, wild birds or any other animals

o putting in place footwear disinfection points at all entry and exit points to and from the premises

o limiting access to the premises to essential personnel only

o ensuring that biosecurity protocols are followed by all personnel entering and leaving the premises as regards dedicated/disposable clothing, footwear, handwashing and so on

• information about avian influenza clinical signs that will be put in place in the event of an outbreak can be found at: Clinical Signs of Avian Influenza

Q4. How long do I need to keep my birds in for?

Answer:

• the Regulations and therefore the requirement to keep birds housed will be in place until further notice but it will be reviewed 30 days from the date of introduction

Q5. Will I be compensated as a result of this requirement?

Answer:

• no. The department is not required to compensate owners on foot of these measures

Q6. Are birds in England, Scotland and Wales housed?

Answer:

• measures covering the whole of England, Scotland and Wales have been in place since 14 December 2020, requiring that all poultry and other captive birds are housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds. The housing measures will be kept under regular review there

Q7. What is the situation in Northern Ireland?

Answer:

• a similar measure requiring the housing of all poultry and captive birds also is being introduced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland on 23 December 2020.

Q1. After housing are free range/organic birds considered to be free range for the purposes of marketing eggs and meat?

Answer:

• free range and organic egg producing birds can be housed for up to 16 weeks without affecting the status of the eggs produced where specific animal health legislation is introduced requiring this measure in order to protect the health of the birds. In the same way, free range meat producing birds can be housed for 12 weeks without affecting the status of the meat
• the 16 week limit applies to individual birds/batches of laying hens not premises as a whole

Q2. After housing are there any other implications for commercial free range/organic birds?

Answer:

Commercial free range and organic flocks are required to meet specific animal welfare requirements which are set down in EU legislation and even when temporarily housed this animal welfare legislation continues to apply. However, as full housing represents a significant change to the standard environment for free range and organic birds, owners should monitor their birds closely for any signs of stress.

Q1. What about small “back yard” poultry flocks?

Answer:

• the requirement to house also applies also to small backyard flocks as housing is an important measure to prevent contact between the poultry and wild birds

Q2. What if I don’t have housing for my birds?

Answer:

• if you keep your birds near your home, consider housing them in alternative accommodation, such as a garden building, a garage or redundant building that could be adapted to house your birds temporarily
• if you don’t have housing for your birds, you will be expected to take all reasonable steps to contain your birds, and to minimise contact between your birds and wild birds
• you can construct or adapt pens/buildings temporarily, for example:

o Use other barns, sheds, garages or out houses

o Construct a lean-to veranda on the side of existing houses

o Construct a pen using straw bales, with a tarpaulin roof, and bird-proof netting (25mm aperture for light and ventilation)

o Use bird-proof netting to roof outdoor pens

• at the very minimum control measures to ensure that wild birds cannot access the feed and water supplies must be implemented such as:

o Provide additional protection around the supplies (for example: netting)

o Prevent access to open water, and use mains or treated water for the birds

o Install bird scaring systems

• remember to check for, and remove, hazardous and toxic substances such as rat bait before housing birds somewhere new, and make sure the birds have access to water and some environmental enrichment such as somewhere to perch (see Part 7, Q2 below for further details on environmental enrichment)
• where it is not practical to house at all, follow general guidance and practice good biosecurity - keep your birds, and birds’ food and water separate from wild birds

Further department biosecurity advice can be found at: Biosecurity to Prevent Avian Influenza

Q3. Once my birds are housed do I need to do anything differently? Will housing create any problems for them?

Answer:

• when birds are not used to being housed, it may create problems for their welfare. Environmental enrichment (for example: perches or straw bales) may be required to reduce stress (see Part 7, Q2 below for further details on environmental enrichment)
• birds will need to be checked more often than usual to ensure that:

o Feed and water are kept fresh, and free from faecal contamination

o There is no evidence of behaviour such as feather pecking or cannibalism

o In hot weather or cold, wet weather, that the birds have sufficient ventilation

o Overcrowding is not becoming a problem (particularly with fast-growing birds)

o There is no evidence of disease

Q4. My birds are under wire netting. Will it be okay to let them out under this or do I need to

cover the roof with plastic?

Answer:

• it is okay to let your birds out under wire netting, though if possible covering the roof would prevent wild birds from perching on the roof and defecating into the run

Q5. What if none of the mentioned housing steps are possible?

Answer:

• the very minimum you should do is isolate any food and water from wild birds, as available food and water may attract wild birds:

o By feeding and watering your birds under cover, the possibility of attracting wild birds may be reduced

o Provide extra protection to feed and water stations to avoid attracting birds

o Regular inspection of feeding and watering areas should be carried out to observe for signs of wild birds

o Rotate feeding times as wild birds may ‘learn’ when captive birds get fed

• prevent your birds from accessing open water sources. Only provide mains or treated water and ensure all storage tanks and reservoirs are covered. The use of additional deterrents could be considered to help keep wild birds away. Suggested methods include:

o Spike strips to deter perching

o Flutter tape, flashing lights and scarecrows

Q1. Does the housing order apply to pigeon fanciers, aviaries and zoos?

Answer:

• the preventative housing measures apply to all captive birds. Many zoos already house their birds or have aviaries that keep captive birds separate from wild birds
• exercising and flying of pigeons is still allowed as currently pigeons are not of particular significance in the transmission of this strain of avian influenza

Q2. Can I fly my birds of prey?

Answer:

• you can still fly birds of prey but you should avoid contact with wild birds as birds of prey are also susceptible to avian influenza
• however new legislation introduced to prevent avian influenza bans bird any gatherings in the whole country until further notice so birds of prey cannot be brought together from different premises
• you should always monitor your birds and make sure they are healthy. Report any suspicious clinical signs to:

o The department at Department Local Offices

o department’s Avian Influenza helpline: 076 106 4403

o outside of office hours: 1850 200 456

Q3. Can I still use birds of prey for pest control?

Answer:

• you can still fly birds of prey but you should avoid direct contact with wild birds (that is, catching the birds)

Q4. If assessed by a veterinary surgeon and clear of any symptoms, can injured wild birds still be treated, rehabilitated and released?

Answer:

• if avian influenza is not suspected (please consult your veterinary surgeon about this), birds can be treated, rehabilitated and released. Where possible rehabilitated wild birds should not be released within the restricted zones around the infected premises described at Q1 above

Q. Am I still able to show birds as they will be kept in baskets and cages?

Answer:

• no, recent legislation introduced to prevent avian influenza bans bird gatherings in the whole country until further notice. This includes fairs, shows, sales of birds
• it does not apply however to gathering of pigeons for example for racing purposes

Further information on this legislation can be found at: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2020/si/567/made/en/print

Answer:

Q1. Am I still able to go shooting?

• there are currently no restrictions in place for shoots, but this situation may change and you should monitor the department’s website regularly for the most up to date information on avian influenza controls before going shooting
• while out shooting if you observe any dead wild birds that are on the high risk list for avian influenza please report this to DAFM as soon as possible. Contact details are as follows:

o Department Local Office

o department’s Avian Influenza helpline: Tel: 076 1064403

o outside of office hours: 1850 200 456

Q2. How does compulsory housing affect game birds?

Answer:

• game birds that have already been released are classified as wild birds. Those people that release game birds are no longer classed as the ‘keeper’ of the birds once they have been released
• release of game birds is prohibited in the restriction zones around the infected premises described at Q1 above
• where other released game birds continue to be fed and watered this can continue though other wild birds should have had no contact with the feed and water. Commercial feed and fresh or treated water should only be used
• if they remain in pens, contact with wild birds should be restricted, for example, through netting, roofing, and the other above mentioned measures should be followed to keep wild and captive birds apart

Answer:

Q1. What cleaning and disinfecting products should be used on my premises and is there a protocol in place to dispose of the waste?

• a list of DAFM approved disinfectant products can be found at Animal Health and Welfare - Disease Control. It is important to use one that is listed as being effective against avian influenza
• many of these are widely available from farm co-operatives for example
• the waste can be treated as normal as long there is no suspicion of avian influenza

Q2. What can I do to keep my birds happy while they are kept indoors?

Answer:

• it is important that you consider introducing activities for your birds if they are used to having large spaces to roam, as their welfare is very important. This is particularly important for smaller backyard flocks as commercial free-range flocks will already have environment enrichment in place such as perching and nesting facilities and litter for foraging. There are a variety of environmental enrichment options for captive birds, including poultry. Suggested environmental enrichment includes:

o Hanging objects that are safe for the birds such as old CDs and cabbage or kale leaves from perches or the ceiling of the enclosure for them to peck

o Provide foraging items inside like hay, dirt clumps, (non-toxic) weeds or old wood stumps

• to prevent boredom frequent changing these activities will help stop birds losing interest in them and will help reduce stress levels and provide mental stimulation for them

Q3. What about turkeys, ducks and geese?

Answer:

• keepers of turkeys, ducks and geese are also required to house their birds. There are distinct challenges with housing larger species of poultry and care must be taken not to compromise the welfare of the birds after housing. Please consult with your veterinary practitioner for advice if you are concerned about the implications of housing for larger birds

Q4. Can I vaccinate my birds?

Answer:

• no. The vaccination of poultry and captive birds against avian influenza is not currently permitted
• an exception for vaccination of zoo birds is permitted in the EU, subject to meeting eligibility criteria

Q5. Who do I report non-compliance with the housing restrictions to?

Answer:

• the introduction of compulsory housing and separation requirements is designed to minimise the risk of poultry or captive birds becoming infected with avian influenza. They should be implemented where practical alongside improved biosecurity measures. Unfortunately, not all birds may be able to be housed and therefore likely that some poultry and captive birds will still be outside
• you should contact your Department Regional Veterinary Offices to report any potential non-compliance. Contact details for regional details available at: Department Local Offices or

call the Avian Influenza Hotline at 076 1064403 or Outside of Office hours: 1850 200 456.

Further information on avian influenza can be found at:

department’s website Avian influenza (Bird Flu)- Current Situation

Situation in Europe with H5N8: https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/animal-diseases/control-measures/avian-influenza_en

Information on avian influenza clinical signs in poultry and control measures: Avian influenza (Bird Flu)- Current Situation

Information on biosecurity for flock owners: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/50ce4-avian-influenza-bird-flu/#avian-biosecurity-measures-guidance

Legislation

• S.I. No. 566/2020 - Avian Influenza (Biosecurity measures) Regulations 2020

• S.I. No. 567/2020 - Avian Influenza (Restriction on Assembly of Live Birds) Regulations 2020

Avian influenza helpline: Tel: 076 1064403 or Outside of Office hours: 1850 200 456.