RSPCA Assured also launches video <https://youtu.be/AMX5UulNnyc> on what
people can do to help

The RSPCA has highlighted the impact a national housing order
<https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain>
on birds could have on poultry and what people can do to make sure they’re
still buying higher welfare, as the government in England reintroduces
strict rules to try and tackle the rise of Avian Influenza (AI).

Over the past year, the UK has experienced the worst outbreak of Avian
Influenza (AI) ever seen with high numbers of sick and dying birds being
reported. It’s been devastating for the RSPCA - and animal lovers across
the country - to see birds perish from this awful disease.

This has also had an impact on the farming industry, with all birds being
housed indoors for the first five months of the year in order to prevent
the spread of disease.

This week, a compulsory housing order has been extended across England,
with Scotland and Wales keeping this measure under review, meaning all
poultry and captive birds must be moved inside. Many people will
understandably be concerned about the welfare impact these restrictions
might have on poultry and what this means for the chicken, turkey, duck and
egg products they buy in supermarkets.

Kate Norman, poultry expert at the RSPCA, said: “Keeping birds indoors
helps prevent potential contact with migrating wild birds that could be
carrying the disease. Similar to our previous lockdowns to help prevent
Covid-19, these ‘flockdowns’ prevent birds from going out and mixing with
others and spreading the disease.

“However, moving free-range birds - who could previously go outside -
indoors can be very stressful for them. So it’s really important that
poultry keepers make sure they have extra provisions, such as additional
environmental enrichment items, and that they are observing their birds
more frequently to help better safeguard their welfare.

“They love straw and Alfalfa - a flowering plant - to peck and pull at and
good quality litter is also key in providing excellent enrichment for the
birds, as it promotes foraging and dustbathing which are natural
behaviours. Keeping up good litter management and replenishing these
enrichment items more frequently will help maintain the birds’ interest.

“These enrichments will also need to be stored under cover to avoid wild
animals coming into contact and transferring the disease.

“Where it is feasible, we also recommend that poultry keepers consider
building verandas - for both indoor and free-range birds - as they can
offer many welfare benefits and provide free-range birds with natural
light, fresh air and more space during periods of mandated confinement.

“The reality is that we are likely to see housing orders becoming more and
more frequent in the future as AI continues to impact wild and domestic
birds in the UK. Investing in building these covered porches where they can
enjoy natural lighting and a bit of fresh air, could make a huge difference
to their welfare long-term.”

What does this mean for the public?

Free-range laying hens can still be labelled free-range for up to 16 weeks
after a housing order has been put in place. After this, the derogation
ends and they must be labelled as ‘barn’.

Kate added: “This can be confusing and concerning for people who are
committed to buying free-range eggs. It’s a little more complicated for
meat chickens as they can still be labelled free-range so long as they have
spent a minimum of half their lifetime with access to the outside, or
housed during the fixed 12-week grace period. This is why it’s important
that people always look for higher welfare labels so they know that even if
the birds have been kept indoors, they have had a much better quality of
life.”

Concerned consumers are urged to consider buying higher-welfare products
such as those labelled RSPCA Assured. Any RSPCA Assured free range chicken
or turkeys that are brought indoors, due to the housing order, will have
double the amount of space than specified by industry labels and will
continue to benefit from higher welfare conditions such as natural light
and enrichment. They will also continue to exclusively be slower-growing
breeds, so they will be able to comfortably move around the barns, while
displaying their natural behaviours.

RSPCA Assured laying hens, which account for over 90% of all UK free-range
eggs, will benefit from more enrichment items such as raised perches inside
the barn to allow hens to peck, forage and express their natural behaviour.

Mike Baker, CEO of RSPCA Assured, said: “Free-range birds will return to
the outdoors as soon as governments across the UK consider it is safe to do
so. In the interim, we would urge people to continue supporting higher
welfare farmers by choosing RSPCA Assured labelled products.

“People who buy RSPCA Assured products can rest assured that whether the
birds have been reared indoors or outdoors, they will continue to benefit
from being cared for to the RSPCA’s higher welfare standards throughout the
housing order and beyond.”



RSPCA Assured has recently launched a video on what people can do to help
during Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks - ‘What is Avian Influenza?
<https://youtu.be/AMX5UulNnyc>’.

For more information visit their website:
https://www.rspcaassured.org.uk/news-and-updates/posts/what-is-avian-influenza/