Protecting your flock from bird flu this winter

I'm a small poultry flock owner and recently I have upgraded the flock to breed some pure breeds and I'm getting some good prices. I am starting to think I am breeding good stock and I am terrified of losing my breeding birds to avian flu. I think I need to really get to grips with biosecurity, so I'm looking for some serious advice on how to try to keep avian flu away from my birds.

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A Following a spate of summer outbreaks, Avian Influenza (AI) remains a serious risk. With winter approaching smallholders must take proactive steps now to strengthen biosecurity ahead of the peak season. Amy Davies, a biosecurity advisor at Livetec and smallholder herself, stresses the importance of ensuring strong defences are in place to safeguard birds all year-round. It's easy to overlook small things that could potentially jeopardise your flock's safety. AI can be introduced to your poultry flock by a variety of means, including infected wild birds, contaminated equipment, or even through people moving between premises," she explains.

"When reviewing biosecurity practices, ask the right questions to help you identify areas for improvement and avoid inadvertently introducing AI or other harmful diseases."

SIMPLE STEPS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FLOCK'S BIOSECURITY

Amy offers this step-by-step guide to assessing your current biosecurity measures, with questions to consider for each area.

• Are my birds and equipment kept separate from other animals?