Is Bird Flu here already ?

[Paulwillhappy]

http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_a....php?aID=42569

A Dead goose has been found in Shrewsbury some 16 Miles away, I live in the country near Market Drayton and Geese & Swans fly over most days.

Some have been known to land to look at my Koi ponds and get some food & rest.

What do i do Shooo them off ?


Its a bit Sad

[shezz]

I think it is here already

[dragonmist]

The madness is already here, even if Avian flu isn't.
Defra's instructions are, if you have 50 or more birds, you must register the flock. If you have less than 50 birds, but sell any eggs or chicks/chickens you must register them. So if you have 6 birds and sell 6 eggs to a neighbour you must register.
If Avian Flu does arrive, we must all put our free range birds under cover. It must have a bird-dropping proof roof, and 1/2" mesh sides to prevent contact with wild birds.
Anyone keeping free range birds in a covered pen will then lose the free range status and can no longer sell eggs at a premium. Also, birds that are used to free-rangeing will become stressed, and stressed birds get sick easily.
The chickens kept as indicators amongst the infected parrots and exotics at Pegasus Aviaries did not catch Avian Flu. The birds which have caught the disease, going by the TV coverage, have been in crowded conditions and not kept clean. It seems to me that Battery hens and Broiler birds would be more likely to catch Avian Flu than healthy free range birds kept in clean uncrowded conditions. What is the chance of an infected duck / goose flying over my garden and pooping, thus infecting my birds? I've probably got a better chance of being hit by a meteor, or winning the Lottery jackpot.
What do I know though? I've only kept healthy disease free chickens for 40 odd years.

[cutpricegoodies]

I saw some Canada geese fly over my allotment today, I wouldn't like to be hit by one of their poo's, it's about the size of a pritt stick and mostly made of grass with the white icky stuff too.

I saw a flock of parakeets too, they live around here, as do the Canada geese, by the Thames. Mind you the allotment is a couple of miles from the river.

[fairywishes]

birds get colds ... men get flu

[bigusdickus]

can girafs get measels?

[pupsandpets]

birds get colds ... men get flu

rofl............. so true. Man flu!