Denmark: DVFA Orders Poultry `Indoors', Cancels All Bird Shows

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As H5N8 continues to spread rapidly across Europe - carried by migratory birds - governments are formulating ways to mitigate its impact on their poultry industry.

Today Denmark's DVFA has ordered poultry owners to bring in all chickens, and has ordered a ban on bird and poultry shows.  Ducks, geese and game birds are excluded.

Germany, reportedly, is considering similar options. This from the DVFA.

Bird flu threat gets Food Administration to tighten rules

Chickens and other captive birds must be behind the fence and under the roof to prevent bird flu from moving from the countryside and into the Danish herds.

Press release , Published: November 14, 2016

To avoid the bird flu, which in recent days has been found in wild birds in several places in Denmark spreads, it will be from midnight mandatory for the country's chicken and poultry farmers to have their animals indoors or under the fence and fixed roof. Ducks, geese and game birds are excluded, since they can be kept indoors.

The requirements will help to reduce the risk of the dreaded avian flu H5N8 spread from wild birds to poultry flocks both hobby and commercial poultry. If that happens, says Denmark to lose export revenues in the millions, because many countries will immediately halt their imports of, among other Danish poultry meat.   

"Unsuspected whether you are a private hobbyist or professional eggs or poultry producer, the new rules mean that the owners are from now on obliged to protect the animals from bird flu," explains deputy head Stig Mellergaard, DVFA. "It is very important that everyone helps to live up to their responsibilities, so that together we can help to ensure that H5N8 does not get a foot in Danish herds," says Stig Mellergaard.  

Facts about bird flu

Avian influenza H5N8 is spreading rapidly in wild birds and has hit poultry farms in several EU countries, and is now found in wild ducks, gulls and swans several places in Denmark. The disease is not dangerous to humans but is highly contagious among birds and can cause high mortality if it spreads to poultry farms.
Read more at the DVFA website Fødevarestyrelsen.dk