Indian Runner Duck Club

25/11/2025

IN THE COMMENTS - So why were millions of captive pheasants allowed to be released for shooting if this is the case? One rule for poultry in lockdown and another rule for the blood sport community.

The risk of in GB has increased.
‼️It's 'very high' in wild birds
❗It's 'very high' in poultry and captive birds with poor biosecurity

Follow our biosecurity guidance to protect your birds www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading

01/11/2025

Latest bird flu situation: OUTBREAKS ARE IN COMMERCIAL POULTRY UNITS
1 November 2025
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in the following:
- a large commercial poultry unit near Honington, West Suffolk, Suffolk (AIV 2025/79)
- a large commercial poultry unit near Donington, South Holland, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/80)
31 October 2025. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in the following:
- a large commercial poultry unit near Ormesby St Margaret, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (AIV 2025 76)
- a large commercial poultry unit near Uckfield, Wealden, East Sussex (AIV 2025 77)
- a large commercial poultry unit near Swineshead, Boston, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/78)
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed by the chief veterinary officer (CVO) for Wales in poultry at a second premises near Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales (AIV 2025 75)

Find out about the latest bird flu situation in England and guidance for bird keepers and the public.

28/10/2025

"From October 30 ... it will be a legal requirement for all keepers of over 50 birds [in certain areas of England] ... to house their birds. "
Meanwhile, commercial pheasants fly free all over the countryside and AI outbreaks occur in large commercial poultry sheds.
Full text in the link

In response to the significant increase of findings of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, housing measures to protect poultry & captive birds from are coming into force in Cheshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Tyne & Wear and West Yorkshire from 00:01 on Thursday 30 Oct 2025.

This means that from this time it will be a legal requirement for all keepers of over 50 birds and all keepers who sell or give away eggs, meat or poultry (even if they keep fewer than 50 birds), in these areas to house their birds. Keeping your birds undercover away from wild birds is vital to minimise the risk of them becoming infected with avian influenza by wild birds.

If you are currently in a Protection Zone outside of these areas, you must continue to house your birds.

Please check GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-measures-introduced-to-protect-poultry-and-other-captive-birds for more info.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures is also in force across Great Britain: https://www.gov.uk/animal-disease-cases-england/bird-flu-regional-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-east-of-england

25/10/2025

The image says it all.
It's crawling with pheasants in our area - they are squashed on the roads and roaming in flocks over everybody else's land as 'wild birds'. It's a cruel and irresponsible 'sport' on this scale - generating cash of course. The big picture is that this brings money to the countryside – but thousands of birds are shot in the UK and their carcasses wasted. I’ve no problem with small rough shoots – but this is basically shooting domesticated birds. They are tame. They don’t fly away because they are used to people feeding them. It’s illegal to go round shooting at domesticated animals. So why is this different? Money of course.
In many recorded cases of AI, pheasants are infected. They are crowded in holding pens and susceptible to disease. Then they are released and move onto other properties [belonging to people that don’t want them] and are a huge risk for spreading AI. The keepers often feed the grain quite close to the roadside because it’s convenient – and the pheasants are killed on the road.
This activity benefits a few rich people spending money on clothes, guns and accommodation compared with the large number of people breeding rare breeds of poultry – and the associated activities in holding shows, trade stands, hiring premises and staff, hotels, catering etc. There has been a huge loss of business here which is difficult to quantify.

17/09/2025

04/09/2025

Indian Runners are included on the Duck Stamps, as well as Call ducks, the Aylesbury and large Silver Appleyard

🦆Quack-tastic news! 🦆
Ducks are taking over stamps!

Available from 11th September, you can pre-order your set today. Click the link in the comments 👇

09/08/2025

Cases of bird flu are still cropping up in the UK
A good source of info is this NFU page - Defra does not seem to be alerting bird keepers as it used to do, despite registration.

The NFU's AI case finder allows poultry keepers to find cases of avian influenza near you. You'll find all the important information about cases, including the restrictions that apply in the disease control zones around the infected premises.