Bird flu alarm: Farmer fights for his 1000 animals in the stable!

Bird flu alarm: Farmer fights for his 1000 animals in the stable!

In the Werra-Meißner district, a new arrangement for housing poultry is causing a stir among farmers and animal owners. The farmer Burghard Ernst, who keeps 800 geese and 200 chickens, is affected by an official decision that orders the animals to be locked up. Since the last week of October, the animals have had to stay indoors to prevent the bird flu from spreading further HNA reported.

For Ernst and other poultry farmers, keeping the animals in a species-appropriate manner is at the top of the list despite the obligation to keep them indoors. His geese and chickens live in spacious, light-flooded sheep pens, while the sheep are allowed to stay outdoors. Hygiene standards have been tightened to avoid any contact with wild birds. To prevent stress among the animals, the radio is even turned on to calm them down.

Growing threat of bird flu

The veterinary sector is extremely concerned because all federal states in Germany are now affected by bird flu. Dr. Berthold Langenhorst from the Nature Conservation Association (NABU) in Hesse warns urgently to keep your distance from sick animals. This situation could soon be expanded to other regions. In a further step, the Jade-Weser Veterinary Office has ordered the housing of poultry for the districts of Friesland, Wittmund, Wesermarsch and Wilhelmshaven from November 17th in order to increase safety. That's what she reports NWZ.

As is well known, poultry farmers have to implement two standard options for housing: either in a closed stable or in a special protective device against wild birds. Higher biosecurity measures apply when a barrier is used that minimizes access by wild birds.

Prices and supply of poultry meat

Despite the tense situation, the all-clear has been given: Edeka Hessenring assures that the supply of poultry meat and eggs in the region continues and that no delivery bottlenecks are to be expected. In addition, the price per kilo for Christmas geese from the region remains at 22.50 euros, which attracts curious buyers. Ernst expresses skeptical concerns about the mass culling of animals and criticizes the fact that the natural defense reaction of farm animals is not taken into account.

The developments shown impressively show how much bird flu influences the everyday lives of farmers. The upcoming measures focus on safety, but also raise concerns about how the situation will develop for affected animal owners and the supply of consumers.