Well, finally the text message that all poultry people have been waiting for. With the birds having been locked up in their houses since last year, it has been a long time in coming.
As we all know, the birds – and especially the ducks – are better outside.
Tuesday, April 26, my phone beeped and in came the following message:
“Poultry and captive birds will no longer need to be housed from Monday, May 2, 2022. Please prepare for the release of your birds.
“Scrupulous standards of biosecurity remain essential
as infection may still be
circulating.
“AIPZ remains in force and all poultry gatherings remain banned.”
This has been a long awaited email and we are hoping that the summer shows will now all get the go ahead, as we await the poultry gatherings ban to be lifted.
It was sad to get the note that Balmoral had to cancel their poultry show, but all is not lost.
I spoke to Robert McKibben earlier this week and he has informed me that there will be a display of poultry, approximately 150 birds of various breeds, and these will be in the same tent as the rabbits.
This is great to hear as a lot of people love to see the poultry at the summer shows and I am sure this year there will be the same huge amount of people coming to see the display of birds from the McKibbens. Hope to see you all at the show.
Now to next week – we all look forward to seeing the birds back in the gardens and out in the fields, both commercial and backyard flocks.
n See DAERA hub for more details www.daera-ni.gov.uk/ai
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