Colchester Poultry Club
2021 MEMBERSHIP CARDS
If you joined the club for 2020, new cards extending membership to the end of 2021 will be posted immediately after Christmas. You do not need to do anything.
BIRD FLU New housing measures came into force in England, Scotland and Wales on 14 December 2020
Backyard flocks and pet/hobby birds:
Where possible, the best approach may be to keep birds in a suitable building, such as a shed, outbuilding or garage adapted to house birds, or a new temporary structure such as a lean-to or polytunnel (note - a polytunnel will be suitable only in cooler weather). Ensure openings and ranges are netted to prevent wild birds getting in and remove any hazardous substances.
You are responsible for ensuring the welfare of your birds while they are indoors, and for keeping them calm and comfortable:
• ensure birds have natural light where possible and are not kept permanently in the dark. Any artificial light should ideally follow typical day and night patterns
• ensure there is adequate ventilation – adult birds will tolerate low temperatures but are very susceptible to high temperatures (temperatures should not be allowed to go significantly above 21oC)
• feather pecking can be a risk when birds are kept indoors. Keep the environment interesting to reduce this risk. Consider adding pecking blocks, fresh bedding, straw bales and objects such as cabbages, scatter feed or whole grain on the floor of the building and add grit to litter so birds can scratch and carry out natural foraging behaviors
• if feather pecking occurs, you can reduce light levels, although they should still be light enough for you to read anewspaper
• if you keep several types of birds, you should house chickens or turkeys in separate enclosures from waterfowl (ducks andgeese)
• check birds regularly to ensure they are healthy and have enough food, water and dry bedding; you may want to consider nutritional supplements in drinking water as these can help keep birds calm
• skin parasites, such as red mite, can be a problem in birds kept indoors and can make birds more irritable. Advice on controlling these parasites can be obtained from your vet
• Register your birds on the GB PoultryRegister.
If an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is in place requiring birds to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds, specific advice and guidance for backyard producers and pet keepers will be published on GOV.UK
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.
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CLUB NEWS
On 6th September we held a joint committee meeting of the Suffolk and Essex Poultry Club S&EPC and the Colchester PC. We discussed a range of issues one of which was the way forward for the proposed merger of the two clubs. A temporary acting committee was agreed in the absence of any possible inaugural AGM for the new club i.e. Colchester and Suffolk Poultry Club. Officers for the new club was discussed with the outcome that all members and lifetime member of both clubs will be invited by post to stand for any of the available positions. This will be followed at a later date by a postal vote. Membership was also discussed with the decision that paid up members would have their membership extended to 1st January 2022.
It is currently impossible to hold any show or get together because of the Corona Virus but the acting committee will be working on your behalf to ensure that we are in the best possible position when it is appropriate to again hold a show.
Any member requiring further clarification feel free to email the club secretaty (email address below).
This followed the EGM held at 10.15 am on Sunday 16th February the club voted to merge the Suffolk and Essex Poultry Club with the Colchester Poultry Club.
The idea of the merger is to form a bigger and hopefully better Club with a much larger committee of enthusiastic members, and to enable us to hold an extra show each year.
The proposals accepted:
1) The current Suffolk and Essex club will cease to exist and all funds and assets of the present Suffolk and Essex club will be given to Colchester Poultry Club (as agreed by Suffolk and Essex members at their EGM on 12th January 2020).
2) to change the name to a new name for the new, joint Club.
3) the new name, suggested to be"Colchester and Suffolk Poultry Club".
As the AGM 19th April has been postponed until further notice, voting on the change of name of the club, and electing officers and committee (as per the constitution) will take place at a future date.
Happy Poultry Keeping 2020 and 2021 to all !!!
Your membership for 2020 will be extended to the end of 2021. If you haev paid for 2020 you don't need to do anything, a new membership card will be sent to you by the end of the year.
To join the club. please print the form (on the right) and post, with your membership fee to the address on the form. With apologies, your Membership Sec can only get to sending out cards about once a month, so your patience (or volunteering for the Committee!) is appreciated.
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If you are looking for stock or hatching eggs please:
Either: for a copy of the Colchester Poultry Club (CPC) Breeders' Directory, send a cheque made out to the Colchester Poultry Club for £2.50 to our show sec. Email first, please, for the address.
Or: join the CPC, details on the right, and contact one of our advertisers in 'The Hen Pen' or put a request on the (members only) CPC club Facebook Page.
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Usual Colchester Poultry Club Events are:
1) The Club in a normal year, will be in our usual Poultry Tent at the Agricultural Shows listed below.
Please visit websites for further information:
2)We also usually hold the Colchester Poultry Club shows at the Venture Centre.
Spring Show in February
Egg Show and AGM each April
The Egg Show is an informal aside to the AGM and great fun. Refreshments are available, as well as the opportunity to chat with members and feel part of the club.
Autumn Show late October/early November
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.
