Free range flocks cope with life indoors

The UK’s first free range flocks to be ordered inside as a precaution against avian influenza are coping well with their confinement, says Deans Foods.

Although the packer has no supplying farms within the 3km protection and 10km surveillance zones still imposed in Fife, four of its own farms are situated in the designated ’Wild Bird Risk Area’. These supply free range eggs to the Thornton packing centre which is only 18 miles away from Cellardyke and the site of the UK’s first case of H5N1.

Part of the restrictions imposed in this 2500 sq km area included the separation of domestic poultry from wild birds which, for commercial flocks at least, meant confinement to the house.

Deans’ regional manager Michael Darrah was briefed by Scotland’s chief vet Charles Milne around 5.00pm on the day that the swan was confirmed as carrying the H5N1 virus. 130,000 of the company’s hens were affected by the order and kept in the next morning. With a range of flock ages, the response from the birds was varied.

“In the main we haven’t had too many problems but we’re continuing to monitor the birds very closely,” said Mr Darrah.

“Where flocks had developed a good ranging habit these birds were obviously more agitated about not being let out. It’s usually the same birds that dash out first to the range every morning and these were the ones that were queued up behind the popholes pecking at them.”

According to Mr Darrah this potentially stressful activity lessened as each day went by, helped by the fact that farm staff have been spending time quietly walking through the birds to distract them.

“We’ve also taken steps to keep the birds occupied and have put half-opened bales of shavings in the sheds for the birds to peck at as well as hanging up string.”

Small bales of straw are also on standby ready to be placed in any area of the building where the hen’s behaviour is giving cause for concern.

“The ongoing worry is that confinement could trigger feather pulling or even aggression, but so far so good,” Mr Darrah told the Ranger, one week into the confinement period.

With popholes closed and the house stocked at higher levels during the day than would be normal, farm staff have also had to keep a close watch on ventilation rates but again no problems have been encountered so far. Production levels too appear unaffected but Mr Darrah said he was unsure whether reduced light levels in the closed-up houses might have some impact, particularly where younger flocks were being brought into lay.

With regards to letting the birds back out again, hopefully it will be at the end of this month, meaning the birds will have been in for just over three weeks. If no further infection is discovered the Protection Zone becomes a Surveillance Zone 21 days from 30th March. 30 days on from 30th

March all restrictions should be lifted.

Mr Darrah believes that the Scottish Executive and its chief vet have handled the situation well and, despite criticism by some farmers that communication has been poor, in his experience this had not been the case.

“For those poultry keepers signed up to the National Poultry Register the communication has been highly effective, particularly in the PZ and SZ areas,” he said.

Deans has implemented its AI contingency plan in Scotland, which means all vehicles are being disinfected in and out of farms; the Thornton packing centre and feed mill; and the egg products factory at Edinburgh. The company has also instigated disinfection of vehicles arriving from Scotland at Deans’ sites south of the border.

“These measures will remain in place whilst the various zones are in force,” said agricultural director Andrew Joret.