Measures suggested are; provide food and water for your birds indoors, this will help to prevent contamination of the feed/ water by wild birds and other animals. It will make your premises less attractive for wild birds to visit if a food source is not immediately obvious to them, so clean up any spilled food or litter. Food should be purchased from a reputable supplier (operating under Defra and Agricultural Industries Confederation Codes of Practice), clean fresh drinking water should be available. Keep your site clean and tidy. Always try to keep your birds away from wild birds and pets, control any vermin such as rats or mice.
If visitors have to come into close proximity to your birds make sure they clean their hands, clothes and footwear before and after contact with the birds. You should obviously be doing the same! However try to keep visitors away from your birds as far as possible. Remember that dirty vehicles can also spread disease so vehicles of visitors should be kept away if possible, make sure any vehicles which do go near your birds are clean (including your own!).
Any equipment used for your birds should be clean and in good order (old tatty equipment is much harder to keep clean). Avoid sharing any equipment but if you have to do so make sure it is cleaned and disinfected before and after contact with your birds.
If you purchase new birds or take your own of your premises isolate them for a time and watch out for any signs of disease before introducing them to the rest of your flock. Use a reputable source for your new stock. Be constantly vigilant and watch out for signs of disease in your birds. Signs of disease may include a fall in egg production, an unexpectedly high number of deaths, and signs of respiratory (breathing) problems.
If you suspect your birds are sick contact your vet. If the disease does turn out to be a notifiable one such as Avian Influenza or Newcastle Disease it would have to be reported to your local Divisional Veterinary Manager. It would almost certainly result in the destruction of your birds if such a disease were confirmed.
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