Bird Flu and Hygiene
02-05-2007 - The recent outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza in the United Kingdom has once more raised issues of general hygiene around feeding garden birds.
The H5N1 bird flu virus is primarily an infection of domestic poultry, ducks, geese and swans, It has not been recorded in other species of birds, and garden birds in particular are considered to be very low risk.
So it is safe to continue to feed the birds - and even more vital for them now as the coldest weather of this winter hits us - but a few simple precautions make sense.
The bird flu virus is shed in birds' droppings and nasal secretions, so effective hygiene is essential.
We strongly recommend the following approach:
1. Thoroughly clean feeders, bird tables and particularly seed trays on a regular basis as most diseases are transmitted via infected droppings.
2. Observe strict personal hygiene when handling bird feeders and tables. As bird flu and certain other infections can be transmitted to humans, we recommend that you wear rubber gloves when cleaning, and wash your hands, wrists and forearms thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.
3. Do not clean feeders indoors or near food preparation areas.
4. Use effective, veterinary recommended cleaning solutions.
5. Keep feeding surfaces clean. Sweep and scrape bird tables daily, and regularly change the areas where you scatter food on the ground.
6. Use dedicated implements, such as table scrapers and cleaning brushes that are used for no other purpose and clean these thoroughly after use.
7. Regularly clean up areas underneath feeders and make sure that food is not left out on the ground at night as this can attract other unwanted critters...
8. Clean away any uneaten or moldy food and dispose of it. Feeding high quality foods will minimize waste.
9. If water is provided in birdbaths or other containers, change it regularly and disinfect and rinse these containers on a regular basis.
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