Are you medium or large scale poultry producer in Aberdeenshire or Fife? Researchers at the James Hutton Institute are seeking views about biosecurity and avian influenza as part of a new project focusing on Aberdeenshire and Fife poultry producers. The research, funded by the Scottish Government, aims to shed light on views of biosecurity, the challenges producers face and how any future outbreaks should be managed - particularly in relation to the recent outbreaks of avian influenza in 2016/2017. The research involves an interview, lasting about an hour, at a time and place convenient for the interviewee. To get involved or for more information please contact Orla Shortall or Carol Kyle.

You can also read the report from a similar project, conducted in late 2016 and early 2017, which focused on smaller-flock or backyard poultry keepers. The report is available online and can be downloaded here: Understanding backyard poultry keepers and their attitudes to biosecurity: preliminary report

SRUC have also recently published their research into small/medium egg producers and 'backyard' keepers of poultry, which has highlighted to the Scottish Government that their engagement with both on disease prevention and biosecurity, needs to be improved.

Did you know that you can sign up for free information alerts about exotic notifiable disease in GB? Just quickly and easily register your details for the APHA Alerts Service to subscribe for disease alerts via email or SMS. You can specify which country (Scotland, England or Wales) you would like to receive updates about, and even which diseases you are specifically interested in.

•        Foot and Mouth
•        Bluetongue
•        Avian Influenza
•        Newcastle Disease
•        Classical Swine Fever
•        All notifiable Horse / Equine Diseases

If your poultry produce eggs, you need to be aware of how and when contamination could occur, and how to ensure they are safe to eat.

• Avoid dirty eggs by providing inviting laying areas, cleaning housing regularly and collecting eggs shortly after laying.  Collect any dirty eggs last, and keep them separate.
• Washing eggs (for consumption) can be harmful and will increase risk of contamination. Commercial eggs produced in the UK are not permitted to be washed.
• Buy pullets/chickens which are vaccinated against Salmonella.
• Your vet needs to know; prescribed medications may not be suitable for laying hens. (Frontline contains fipronil)

Incorporating disease prevention into your husbandry activities will make it easier to protect your poultry from bird flu, or Avian Influenza (AI).

Use this poster (right) to identify easy changes and improvements you can make to your routine or set-up, to reduce the risk of AI to your flock.