RSPCA issues reminder to pet poultry owners to follow Avian Influenza guidance

POULTRY keepers have been urged to provide extra enrichment for their pets as Government requirements see areas of Great Britain under preventative Avian Influenza measures.

Parts of England have already been legally required to keep their birds indoors. This includes:- East Yorkshire, Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire as part of Avian Influenza Protection Zones following outbreaks in those areas. From since:- Sunday, 16 February 2025, further areas will be under housing restrictions including:- Cheshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Worcestershire.

The rest of Great Britain is also required to follow enhanced biosecurity, but there is currently no mandatory housing order.

The RSPCA strongly recommends that owners and keepers in England and Wales follow fully the UK Government and Welsh Government�s biosecurity advice and keep up-to-date as this can change on a daily basis.

Kate Parkes, poultry expert at the RSPCA, said:- �We are sadly once again in the midst of a bird flu outbreak which has seen governments in the UK take preventative steps; including:- a housing order for some areas of England as well as enhanced biosecurity across Great Britain. Keeping hens has become increasingly popular in recent years so it�s important that owners follow official biosecurity advice, staying vigilant for signs of disease and ill health in their flocks, and seeking veterinary advice if they have any concerns for their birds. It�s also important to report any suspected outbreaks of avian influenza to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). All pet poultry owners in England and Wales must register their birds with the APHA within one month, so they can contact owners if there�s a disease outbreak in their area.�

The RSPCA is urging pet owners to keep their flock:- �hentertained� whilst the housing orders are in place; and beyond. From straw bales to hanging pieces of corn on the cob and tyres with sand in the middle, there are plenty of easy ways that pet owners can keep their birds happy indoors.

Kate added:- "Moving cockerels and hens indoors, who have previously had access to the outside, can be quite stressful for them which is why it�s really important to make sure they have lots of enrichment to keep them happy. Having nothing to do can lead to boredom, stress and contribute to problems such as feather pecking. Fortunately, there's loads of great things keepers can do to keep their animals, hentertained."

Top Tips:-

Provide perches - hens naturally like to access raised perches where they will rest during the day and preen their feathers
Straw bales and vegetables - providing these items give the hens something to peck at to encourage them to exhibit their natural behaviour and keep them active, so it is:- "important do not feed kitchen scraps to poultry."
Tyres filled with sand in the middle - this is a nifty way of encouraging hens to dust bathe which is something they�d usually do outside
Make a puzzle feeder out of old egg cartons or balls with a hole in the middle
Verandas - if it is possible create a veranda for your:- �hen house� this allows them to have more space, get natural light and fresh air while still keeping them safe from bird flu. Ensuring there is a solid cover on the roof such as perspex will reduce the risk of wild birds droppings entering the run.

For more information on what bird keepers need to do, please visit Defra's website .

For those who are looking to bring a new pet bird into their lives, visit:- RSPCA.Org.UK for more information.

Piling, demolition and welding - full speed ahead for Woodside Ferry Terminal revamp!

PILING works in the river, demolition works on land and welding in warehouses� it�s all go on the Woodside Ferry Terminal regeneration scheme at the start of 2025!

It took 5 days to install 2 piles 8 metres into the Mersey�s riverbed, using a barge with specialist drilling equipment. Made of steel and painted with water resistant coatings, the piles are 2 metres in diameter and 35 metres tall � as high as the North Stand at Everton�s new stadium.

The piles will allow the new landing stage to move up and down with the tide, with minimal sideways movement. They also remove the need for a connecting boom and chains and anchors, reducing the level of maintenance required.

Sections of the new 52 metre long landing stage pontoon are being constructed in a warehouse in Liverpool, prior to them being welded together at Huskisson Dock before they are transported across the river and attached to the new piles.

Passers-by will also have noticed the ticket office has been demolished and will be replaced with a new modern facility.

These works all follow on from the removal of the 39 year old landing stage, 110 tonne linkspan bridge and 45 tonne connecting boom in November last year.

The �9m plus investment will help secure the long-term viability of the important cultural asset as part of a major regeneration project to transform the area into a �vibrant and unique waterfront destination� led by Wirral Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Councillor Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Transport Committee, said:- �I�m delighted to see how much progress has already been made on the Woodside Ferry Terminal revamp after the removal of the old structures back in November. This a major engineering project which our team is delivering alongside our partners, to make sure services can return to Woodside as soon as possible. We're really pleased to be playing our part alongside Wirral Council in the transformative regeneration that will be taking place over the next few years. Alongside our plans for a new ferry, these works highlight our commitment to the Mersey Ferries and their importance as a much-beloved cultural asset for our City Region."

Cllr Paul Stuart, Leader of Wirral Council, said:- "Woodside Ferry Terminal is a cornerstone of our ambitious regeneration programme for Birkenhead and Wirral. It's fantastic to witness the significant progress on the ferry terminal. Mersey Ferries are not just a mode of transport; they are a symbol of our rich maritime heritage. The investment and broader plans for the Woodside area are bringing about a remarkable transformation, revitalising our waterfront and creating a vibrant, thriving community for years to come."

The regeneration scheme is being made possible by Levelling Up Funding from Wirral Council, which in 2024 consulted on a Masterplan to breathe new life into the area at the heart of which sits the �20m plus Woodside infrastructure and active travel project to connect the Woodside Waterfront with Birkenhead Town Centre.

The Woodside Masterplan proposals includes:- a vision for 1,700 homes, 2 new hotels, a major cultural attraction and an outside event space wrapping around the Ferry Terminal building.

The new landing stage and linkspan bridge is due for completion in summer 2025 and follows the multi million pound refurbishment of Seacombe Ferry Terminal, which reopened in 2022.

The upgraded terminals will be ready to welcome the new �26m Mersey Ferry due to be launched by the summer of 2026.

News reports located on this page = 2.

RSPCA issues reminder to pet poultry owners to follow Avian Influenza guidance

Piling, demolition and welding - full speed ahead for Woodside Ferry Terminal revamp!