As the Eastleach jungle drums are beating again, just wanted to let you know, we have been advised by DEFRA that there have been a number of bird flu cases ( they report that this does not affect humans) in wild birds around the country.
This being the case we have three options to protect our chickens and ducks in the paddock and the allotments:
1) Keep the girls locked up in the stable for the next few weeks.
2) Cull them.
3) Keep them under bird proof netting while outside.
We think that it would be cruel to keep them locked up in the stable 24/7 and we don’t want to end their lives either as they are all happy and healthy.
Therefore we are putting up in the paddock a temporary bird proof run, as stipulated by DERFA.
This will only be while the scare is around, last time it was about six weeks.
Just so it’s clear out birds are all healthy, this is just a legal precaution to make sure they are not infected by wild birds.
We let people know last week whose houses overlook the paddock, but wanted to stop any gossip or worry about what we are doing.
Thanks ,stay safe
Steve & Vince, No. 29
