[Information provided by Shropshire Council]

[Accessibility: Image of five brown hens outdoors next to a fence]

All bird keepers in Shropshire must from Monday 27 January keep their birds housed to protect them from bird flu.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency has said the whole of the Shropshire Council area will be subject to an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory housing and biosecurity measures for any kept birds.

This applies to pet birds, commercial flocks and just a few birds in a backyard flock.

This follows the reporting of an outbreak of avian flu in a large commercial poultry flock near Wem earlier this week.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km surveillance zone is already in force around the outbreak near Wem.

Flock keepers are being asked to look for any signs of diseases whilst ensuring good levels of biosecurity at their premises. The following advice will assist you in identifying and reporting any potential cases:

Spot the signs of Bird Flu:

• Unusual quietness, decreased activity levels.
• Decreased levels of vocalisation.
• Decreased levels of feed and water consumption.
• Decreased egg production.

If you are concerned about the health of your animals, please seek advice from your vet.

Advice for bird keepers

It is currently a legal requirement to register all flocks of birds in order that information can be sent to you. Registration of flocks can be completed by going to: www.gov.uk/bird-flu

There are some simple measures poultry keepers should take to protect their birds against the threat of avian flu. These include:

• Keep the area where birds live clean and tidy, control rats and mice and regularly clean and disinfect any hard surfaces.
• Keep chickens and turkeys completely separate from ducks and geese.
• Conduct regular maintenance checks on their sheds.
• Clean moss off the roofs, empty gutters and remove vegetation between sheds where birds are kept.
• Draw up contingency plans for storing bedding and dealing with pests.
• Place birds’ feed and water in fully enclosed areas that are protected from wild birds, and remove any spilled feed regularly.
• Put fencing around outdoor areas where birds are allowed and limit their access to ponds or areas visited by wild waterfowl.
• Clean and disinfect footwear before and after entering premises where birds are kept.
• Avian influenza is not air-borne, except over very short distances. It is spread by movement of infected birds or contact with respiratory secretions and in particular faeces, either directly or through contaminated objects, clothes and vehicles.

View full Shropshire Council press release 26.01.2024: New restrictions for all Shropshire bird keepers from 27 January - Shropshire Council Newsroom

Earlier press release 21.01.2025: Bird keepers and public to be alert following outbreak of Avian Flu in North Shropshire - Shropshire Council Newsroom