The UK’s chief veterinary offices are encouraging poultry keepers to take action now in order to reduce the risk of avian flu as winter encroaches.

While the UK is currently free from avian flu, over the last year 26 outbreaks have been confirmed in kept poultry and captive birds and in over 300 wild birds.

As the cold season sets in the risk of migratory wild birds infecting domestic poultry rises.

“Avian flu is a continued threat to all poultry keepers, and as winter approaches we need to be ready for the increased risk of disease that migrating birds pose to our flocks,” said the UK’s four chief veterinary officers in a joint statement.

“Making these tasks a regular fixture of your disease control plans now will make a significant difference in the fight against avian flu this winter and for years to come.”

Several measures can be taken to help keep flocks disease free, which include:

Echoing this message, Jane Howorth, founder of The British Hen Welfare Trust said:

“For those of us that enjoy keeping a few pet hens in our gardens, now is the time to start gearing up to protect them during the migration season when avian flu becomes more of a threat.

“It’s no more taxing than having to book any other family pet in for an annual health check, but is so important both for the safety of your own birds as well as that of the national commercial flock.”

The government continually monitors for incursions of avian flu. When a case is confirmed, restrictions on the movement of all birds and products of animal origin around the premises are put in place.

These restrictions also impact farms in the surrounding area.