Colchester and Suffolk Poultry Club (CSPC)
AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI)
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Time to net an area or house your birds!!!
Mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds are to be introduced to all areas of England from 00:01 on Monday 7 November 2022, following a decision by the United Kingdom’s Chief Veterinary Officer.
The housing measures legally require all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.
The order will extend the mandatory housing measures already in force in the hot spot area of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex to the whole of England following an increase in the national risk of bird flu in wild birds to very high.
Over the last year, the United Kingdom has faced its largest ever outbreak of avian influenza with over 200 cases confirmed since late October 2021. The introduction of the housing measures comes after the disease was detected at over 70 premises since the beginning of October, as well as multiple reports in wild birds.
The Chief Veterinary Officer is now encouraging all bird keepers across England to use the week to prepare, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their private vet and expand housing where necessary.
We are now facing this year, the largest ever outbreak of bird flu and are seeing rapid escalation in the number of cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across England. The risk of kept birds being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice.
Scrupulous biosecurity and separating flocks in all ways, from wild birds remain the best form of defence. Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from Monday 7 November onwards you must keep your indoors. This decision has not been taken lightly, but is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.
Evidence shows that housing birds reduces the risk of kept birds being infected with bird flu. However, housing alone will not protect birds and all keepers must still follow the other enhanced biosecurity measures mandated by the AIPZ at all times to protect their flocks and prevent the risk of future outbreaks which is circulating in wild birds. Housing combined with stringent biosecurity measures can provide even greater reduction in risk.
The new housing measures build on the strengthened biosecurity measures that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) earlier this month. The AIPZ means that all bird keepers need to take extra precautions, such as restricting access for non-essential people on site, ensuring workers change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and cleaning and disinfecting vehicles regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
but The UK Health Security Agency continue to advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency advice remains unchanged, that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
CSPC Shows:
We hold several Colchester and Suffolk Poultry Club poultry shows each year.
CSPC Shows are usually held at Norton Village Hall IP3 3LE, but always check latest infomation:
NB: No live poultry in exhibitions at Agricultural Shows for 2022
Unfortunately, due to ongoing Avian Influenza concerns, we have
been unable to show or display live birds in 2022.
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AGRICULTURAL SHOWS:
In a 'normal' year, the club will be in our usual Poultry Tent at the Agricultural Shows listed below.
Please visit websites for further information:
PLEASE CHECK information nearer the time:
The South Suffolk Show Sunday early May.
The Hadleigh Show Saturday mid May.
Essex Young Farmers Sunday mid May.
The Suffolk Show mid week May / beginning June.
Tendring 100 Show Saturday in July.
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If you are looking for stock or hatching eggs please:
Contact one of our advertisers in 'The Hen Pen' or put a request on the NEW (members only) CSPC club Facebook Page
or the open club Facebook page.
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BIRD FLU
Bird flu is most likely to be a problem in migration season, spring and autumn. We need to stay vigilant.
Public Health England (PHE) advises that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
For more information please visit the DEFRA website.
About the Club
The club's aim is to promote and encourage poultry keeping as a worthwhile hobby, for the enjoyment of the whole family.
Our goals are to increase peoples awareness of the benefits of keeping poultry, to encourage new poultry keepers of all ages, and to offer support and information to new and established poultry keepers alike.
Many breeds of poultry are on the decline, once they are gone we will lose a large part of our agricultural heritage. It is estimated that five breeds a year are lost. East Anglia has three breeds associated with its counties. The Norfolk Grey (originally called the 'Black Maria') which is making a steady come back. The Ixworth of Suffolk which is not doing so well and the Golden Essex, which is now extinct and can never be brought back. Small backyard breeders are the backbone of keeping breeds of non commercial poultry going for the future. Through our shows, exhibitions and education we try to encourage people to keep poultry in their own garden. Like many clubs, the Colchester Poultry Club is run by (busy!) volunteers. We aim to provide encouragement to those wanting to take up this worthwhile hobby.
Becoming a member entitles you to discounts on feed, accessories, and medicines at supporting stockist's in East Anglia. There are discounts on Show Entry fees plus a free magazine produced approximately twice a year.
Our constitution.
