Poultry keepers have been urged to provide extra enrichment for their pets as government requirements mean some areas of the country are being placed under preventative measures against avian flu.
Some parts of England were already been legally required to keep their birds indoors.
They included East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, York and Hull as well as Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Shropshire.
The Avian Influenza Protection Zones follow outbreaks in those areas.
As of Sunday (16th February) further areas were also placed under housing restrictions – including Cheshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Worcestershire.
The rest of the country is also required to follow enhanced biosecurity, but there is currently no mandatory housing order.
The RSPCA strongly recommended owners and keepers to follow government advice and keep up-to-date as this could change on a daily basis.
Kate Parkes, poultry expert at the RSPCA, said: “Keeping hens has become increasingly popular in recent years so it’s important that owners follow official biosecurity advice, staying vigilant for signs of disease and ill health in their flocks, and seeking veterinary advice if they have any concerns for their birds.
“It’s also important to report any suspected outbreaks of avian influenza to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
“All pet poultry owners in England and Wales must register their birds with the APHA within one month, so they can contact owners if there’s a disease outbreak in their area.”
The RSPCA also urged pet owners to keep their flock “hentertained” whilst the housing orders were in place.
From straw bales to hanging pieces of corn on the cob and tyres with sand in the middle, there are plenty of easy ways that pet owners can keep their birds happy indoors.
The RSPCA’s top tips
- Provide perches – hens naturally like to access raised perches where they will rest during the day and preen their feathers.
- Straw bales and vegetables – providing these items give the hens something to peck at to encourage them to exhibit their natural behaviour and keep them active – but do not feed kitchen scraps to poultry.
- Tyres filled with sand in the middle – this encourages hens to dust bathe which is something they’d usually do outside.
- Make a puzzle feeder out of old egg cartons or balls with a hole in the middle.
- Verandas – if it is possible create a veranda for your hen house, this allows them to have more space and get natural light plus fresh air while still keeping them safe from bird flu. Ensuring there is a solid cover on the roof – such as perspex – will reduce the risk of wild birds droppings entering the run.
Ms Parkes said: “Moving cockerels and hens indoors, who have previously had access to the outside, can be quite stressful for them which is why it’s really important to make sure they have lots of enrichment to keep them happy.
“Having nothing to do can lead to boredom, stress and contribute to problems such as feather pecking.”
For more information on what bird keepers need to do, please visit Defra’s website.
For those who are looking to bring a new pet bird into their lives, visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet for more information
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