September 2024 Newsletter

MANDATORY REQUIREMENT – Bird registration to combat bird flu

As keepers will be all too familiar with, since 2021 the UK has seen its largest ever outbreak of avian influenza, or ‘bird flu’. In a significant move to strength defences against avian influenza (AI), the British government announced new mandatory bird registration requirements on the 19th March 2024. This policy expands registration to all bird keepers, regardless of flock size whereas previously only those keeping 50 or more birds were required to register their flocks.  Bird keepers in England and Wales are asked to register their birds as early as possible before the official deadline of 1st October 2024. Scottish bird keepers will be able to register their flocks starting 1st September 2024 with the introduction of the new Scottish Kept Bird Register.  For more information please visit https://vets.blog.gov.uk/2024/08/22/new-mandatory-bird-registration-what-do-keepers-need-to-know/

 

IMPORTANT CHANGES For FarmIQ online training courses

 

With immediate effect the time period in which our online courses need to be completed is 90 days.  This is due to a change of the hosting platform which PHS have no control over.  FarmIQ will automatically send out a reminder 30 days before expiry to make sure that you complete the course and download the certificate.  If you do not complete your courses within 90 days you will need to pay to re-register on the platform.

Red Mite Monitoring Service

The Newbridge Scientific laboratory in Sheriff Hutton (York) can send you the traps that you need to monitor the levels of red mites in your sheds. This is a very cost effective way of being proactive and knowing the levels of mites in your sheds before they become out of control, which can lead to losses.  The kits consist of

Mite traps

Submission forms

Pre-paid envelopes to the lab

Alongside the supply of kits, we can provide practical advice on their use to ensure the most effective monitoring.  You can then place the traps as advised and assess mite populations. The traps are sent to the lab to count the mites and the lab will then produce a report that is uploaded in Digiflock and will be sent to you with the vet interpretation.

The vet will discuss with you the most cost effective method of controlling the mites based on the levels found in the traps.

 

For more information or to order the kits, please email [email protected] or ring 01347 820366.

 

Charity Hike

 

THIS MONTH: On the 14th of September 2024, Friends and colleagues, Meaka, Kirstie, Abbie and Laura from our Sheriff Hutton Branch, Lucia from our Tarporley branch and Cosmin from our Edinburgh branch, will be taking on the Mighty Hike along the beautiful Northumberland coastline to raise money for people living with cancer.

The hike will start in Alnwick and finish at Bamburgh Castle (26 miles down the Coast)

We have pledged to raise £1000 and would appreciate any support.  You can donate here via our just giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/1721120281720?tm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2F1721120281720&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

 

Date’s for your diary

 

Tuesday 3rd September 2024

NFU Autumn Turkey Meeting, 7.30pm @ Safety Centre, Lymm, Warrington WA13 OTE. To book please email [email protected]

 

Thursday 5th September 2024

Poultry Network Live 2024, a live Face-to-Face Conference @ Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire. For more information please visit https://poultry.network/poultry-network-live/

Friday 18th October 2024

Poultry Club of Scotland Dinner 2024 @

DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro. To

book please follow the link

https://www.poultryclubofscotland.com/

 

Thursday 28th November 2024

BFREPA are delighted to host the 2024 British Free Range Show at the Telford International Centre  PHS will have a stand in this year’s event.

For tickets and more information please follow the link below

 

https://www.bfrepa.co.uk/tickets

Advertise with us for free

Do you have a vacancy? Or want to sell equipment? Are you struggling to recruit? In Spring 2022, we launched the new PHS ‘Classifieds’ section – an online space for advertising jobs, equipment, services, and more for the poultry and gamebird industry in the UK. Please contact your local PHS branch for more information or to send us your advert. This service is available for free to PHS clients and for a small fee to non-clients.

 

Social Media

Social media is a great way for us to keep you up to date with what’s going on at PHS. We also like to share the occasional funny post, so if you’re a scroller then look us up! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter (@Poultryvets), and LinkedIn.

Our new Promo code!