The chicken rules 🐔

[MashBag]

The government have decided that from the 1st October 2024 you MUST register to keep chickens.

Just one.

https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-a...announces-changes-to-the-gb-poultry-register/

Is this clearly stupid, inspired or pointless?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I cannot see the problem as long as there is not going to be a huge added cost to poultry owners.

The announcement follows a long-standing ask from the NFU dating back to 2017, for the government to urgently review the GB poultry register. ​

Protecting the national flock​

The government said the changes would help manage potential disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and limit any spread.

The information on the register will also be used to identify all bird keepers in disease control zones, allowing for more effective surveillance, so that zones can be lifted at the earliest possible opportunity and trade can resume more quickly following an outbreak of avian disease in Great Britain.

NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead said the NFU was pleased to see Defra and the devolved governments taking steps to improve the accuracy and the relevance of the information it holds on poultry keepers of all scales and sizes.

He said: “It’s important that the government now focuses on making the process of registering, reviewing and updating the GB Poultry Register as straightforward as possible to minimise the administrative burden on all poultry keepers.

“The NFU is also calling on the government to ensure that these new requirements will help remove restrictions imposed on poultry farmers when non-commercial poultry are affected by notifiable disease.

“These changes should help the government communicate important information to all poultry keepers in a more timely manner, which in turn will help protect the health of the national flock.”

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said this information “will be vital in helping to inform future risk assessments and maintain our commitment to continually building our extensive avian influenza research portfolio”.

There have been more than 360 cases of avian influenza across Great Britain since October 2021, including a significant number of backyard flocks.

​

 

[Clint]

What about the non chickens that get into these coups and sheds that will carry the "virus"?
It'd like the rules of dipping your net at a fishery...who's dipping the millions of birds that fly between them?

 

[MashBag]

I have had chance to think about this. What a load of bolleaux.

#1. Vegans of the world unite with those who just want animals to be "free".... Roll up, roll up, come see the enormous neck ringing on September 30th..

#2 having a whizz on all four corners of my chicken coop would do more to control avian flu.

#3 Superb way to spend public money recording this pointless data.
Next week, homebrew licensing!

#4 Enforcement
"is that the police"
"yes"
"I would like to report an unregistered chicken"
"Hello, hello.... Helloo...... "

 

[Clint]

What do they treat avian flu with?
Errrrr....wouldn't be a corona virus vaccine by any chance?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I have edited the OP to add the part in RED if this is so pointless why would the NFU have asked for it 6 years ago?

The announcement follows a long-standing ask from the NFU dating back to 2017, for the government to urgently review the GB poultry register. ​

Protecting the national flock​

The government said the changes would help manage potential disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and limit any spread.

The information on the register will also be used to identify all bird keepers in disease control zones, allowing for more effective surveillance, so that zones can be lifted at the earliest possible opportunity and trade can resume more quickly following an outbreak of avian disease in Great Britain.

NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead said the NFU was pleased to see Defra and the devolved governments taking steps to improve the accuracy and the relevance of the information it holds on poultry keepers of all scales and sizes.

He said: “It’s important that the government now focuses on making the process of registering, reviewing and updating the GB Poultry Register as straightforward as possible to minimise the administrative burden on all poultry keepers.

“The NFU is also calling on the government to ensure that these new requirements will help remove restrictions imposed on poultry farmers when non-commercial poultry are affected by notifiable disease.

“These changes should help the government communicate important information to all poultry keepers in a more timely manner, which in turn will help protect the health of the national flock.”

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said this information “will be vital in helping to inform future risk assessments and maintain our commitment to continually building our extensive avian influenza research portfolio”.

There have been more than 360 cases of avian influenza across Great Britain since October 2021, including a significant number of backyard flocks.

 

[MashBag]

Who do you suspect the big supporters of the NFU are?

Maybe big poultry producers?

I am not saying it is not a problem, but this isn't a solution, Tbh it's not even a good mitigation.

 

[jof]

Why only chickens?
What about ducks on your MPs fancy pond.
Or racing pigeons, parrots & budgies etc.
And the blackbirds that the Mrs feeds in the garden.

 

[Jim Brewster]

 

[foxy]

What do they treat avian flu with?
Errrrr....wouldn't be a corona virus vaccine by any chance?

America has a stockpile of vaccines for avian flu should it ever be transmitted through humans. A wise decision as almost 50% of the humans who have contracted avian flu died.
Spanish flu was supposedly a mix of avian flu and human flu virus

 

[An Ankoù]

What do they treat avian flu with?
Errrrr....wouldn't be a corona virus vaccine by any chance?

Don't be daft. It;s chicken pox vaccine, innit!

 

[Clint]

Racing pigeons are currently vaccinated.

 

[hoppyscotty]

Don't be daft. It;s chicken pox vaccine, innit!

Bet they make the chicken meat taste fowl....

(the old ones are still best!)

 

[An Ankoù]

Bet they make the chicken meat taste fowl....

(the old ones are still best!)

You could knock me down with a feather.

 

[Cheyne_brewer]

Might as well go all the way…