The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone housing measures for poultry and captive birds in England and Wales have now been lifted, but the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone mandatory biosecurity measures remain in place across GB.
As previously reported by Island Echo, all poultry and captive birds have been cooped up indoors since 7th November 2022 in order to prevent the spread of bird flu.
Now, the Island’s poultry and captive birds can roam free in the outdoors after the Government’s Animal & Plant Health Agency lifted these measures from 00:01 today (Tuesday) in areas such as the Isle of Wight which does not fall within a Protection Zone or Captive Bird (Monitoring) Control Zone.
Heart-warming footage of newly freed chickens at Hazelgrove Farm in Ashey can be seen below…
Not fully understanding the reasoning for all this. For if migrating birds, or emigrating birds carry this here, then surely all our own wild birds will STILL be a risk as they must ‘catch’ the flu from those coming and leaving?
I know the bird’s doo doo’s spread this, but surely our own birds must be infected and do the business where poultry is free to roam now?
Glad the birds are set free though, whatever.
How beautiful these hens look, compared with Aninmal Welfare Charity photographs of cruel battery hens.