02 September 2022
Samples sent for testing, after six chickens died at a property in St Lawrence, have proved positive for avian influenza (bird flu).
A new 3km radius protection zone will be introduced around the property in the Mont Felard area, requiring, by law, keepers to house their birds. Owners are encouraged to act as soon as possible to ensure separation from wild birds.
Keepers in the existing 3km zone centred around a farm in St Peter are already required, by law, to house their birds, while all other owners Island-wide are strongly encouraged to do so.
In Jersey, anyone with more than 30 poultry must register with the States Vet. However, with the increase in reports of dead wild birds, and following the case in St Lawrence, the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Caroline Terburgh, is calling on all poultry keepers to register at www.gov.je/poultry regardless of the size of the flock.
Ms. Terburgh said: “Registering with us ensures that we can easily keep you up to date with details about bird flu outbreaks, guidance on how to best look after flocks, and legal information and movement restrictions.
“We urgently need the help of all birdkeepers in the Island to help keep this outbreak in check, and this means taking this seriously and ensuring birds are housed, whether you’re a major poultry keeper or have just a few that normally roam your back yard, for example. By ‘housing’, we mean the flock should be under a roof or impermeable material, and well separated from potential contact with wild birds.”
A new registration form for keepers of smaller flocks is currently being produced, but in the meantime all keepers can use the existing form on the website.
Islanders who come across dead or sick birds are asked to call 441600.
Ms.Terburgh would also like to clarify that the Government of Jersey is not asking visitors to the Ecrehous or Minquiers to collect dead birds, as has been previously reported by some media outlets.
gov.je