Saarland: Stables are mandatory for birds from Thursday - alarm mood!

Saarland: Stables are mandatory for birds from Thursday - alarm mood!

Saarland is sounding the alarm: From Thursday, October 30, 2025, all birds, whether kept privately or commercially, must be housed in closed stables. This stable requirement was decided today by the Saarland Ministry of the Environment and affects all types of poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and even more exotic birds such as pheasants and quails. The move follows a confirmed case of an infected wild bird with the high virulence H5N1 virus, immediately taking the health risk seriously. The Saarland Prime Minister and the State Office for Consumer Protection are urging people to be vigilant and stressing the responsibility of owners to adhere to the new regulations in order to contain the spread of bird flu. Again daily news Reportedly, at least eleven wild birds have already become ill and a further 18 are under observation.

The general order states that trade fairs and markets for poultry are temporarily prohibited in order to avoid crowds of people and a possible spread of the virus. This is particularly painful for the poultry industry, which had already been pushing for a nationwide solution before the stable requirement was ordered. There is great uncertainty among poultry farmers: violating the regulations could result in severe fines of up to 30,000 euros. These financial concerns are particularly acute for laying hen farms, which could suffer greatly from possible follow-up measures such as mass slaughter. Another crucial point is that thousands of dead animals have already been discovered near crane resting places in Brandenburg - a worrying signal.

Health measures and recommendations

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute strongly recommends staying away from wild birds and reporting dead animals immediately. This information is important not only for poultry farmers, but also for the general population to prevent the virus from spreading. Experts emphasize that the risk of infection for people is considered to be very low, but precautionary measures should still be taken seriously.

The stable requirement will initially apply for four weeks and will be assessed at regular intervals. The situation remains tense and the Saarland Ministry of Agriculture estimates that the situation will continue for several weeks if no significant changes occur. With over half a million livestock killed due to bird flu, it is clear that the threat to agriculture and especially poultry farmers is enormous. The star highlights that transparency and communication are essential during this critical period and that keepers should keep their birds in safe conditions.

It remains to be seen whether the stable requirement will also follow in other federal states. Experience has shown that quick measures are often necessary to prevent greater damage. In the meantime, those affected need to stay calm and keep their eyes and ears open.