Spring is upon us after a mixed bag of weather at the start of this year and now is the time for chicks, new lambs and new beginnings. However, avian flu still putting a slight dampener on things.

There are still restrictions in place in certain prevention zones, and these restrictions need to be adhered to so that we can tackle this threat. Poultry keepers are required to take various actions to protect their birds from the disease, which is being spread by wild birds.

DEFRA has full guidelines on its website, please refer to these if you have any concerns:

https://www.gov.uk/ guidance/avian-influenza-birdflu

Taking care of your birds during this time is still important, as they will be cooped up for longer in the restricted areas and will need extra stimulation to alleviate boredom.