Warning for chicken keepers - Newcastle disease outbreak in Surrey

bugs

Apologies as this is not strictly a tip or question for Old Style, but as I know there are a number of chicken keepers on this board I thought this would be a helpful post (not very Moneysaving if Defra decides to start wiping out flocks )

On Defra's site there is some information about an outbreak of Newcastle Disease in a pheasant shoot in Surrey. 9000 poults are/have been culled to prevent spreading. This disease can spread very quickly through wild birds as well as through the normal contact/transport of birds so everybody needs to be aware of the symptoms and precautions to take. Defra is also encouraging vaccination; however I don't know if you bought vaccinated birds whether they need a top up. And even if they do, vaccine is only available in units of 500...not a lot of use if you keep a few birds for eggs in your back garden.

Here are the links to Defra's site:

Defra FAQs:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/newcastle/newcastle-faqs.htm

Map of affected area:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/newcastle/cases/maps/day0.htm

I am waiting to hear back from my vet on costs/methods of vaccine and top ups; from my breeder on whether my own birds were vaccinated (worth checking, if you can); and from Defra (you never know) on whether they have any specific advice for small scale keepers.

I will keep you updated if anything else useful comes up and would appreciate it if others could do the same.

(PS apologies to visitors to River Cottage and Downsizer, and Countrysmallholding, who will probably see the same posts in different places, but I would rather overreact than underreact in this case).

ancasta_2

oh no they will catch out dreaded geordie-itis.

Im a country bumpkin type and this has really shook up alot of my friends who are game keepers. eeek.

Hope everyones stock is ok.

moggins

Does anyone know what happens with this disease only a friend of mine has just found one of hers dead in the chicken house this morning when it was perfectly fine when she put them to bed last night?

bugs

There's a list of symptoms on the DEFRA site - hope this link takes you straight there - http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/newcastle/newcastle-faqs.htm#q6

It doesn't sound much like this would be the problem (though obviously don't take my word on that) because it sounds like some of the other symptoms would have shown up first. If it were me, I would dig out some details (CS did a feature on it a while ago but you can probably find them on the internet somewhere) about doing an "autopsy" type thing. There are quite a few things which can result in sudden death, by having a good examination your friend might be able to prevent the same thing happening to the rest of her flock.