Conservationists and chicken owners’ concerns in South West grow as avian flu thereat looms in horizon

Avian flu ripping though Victoria has breeders and conservationists concerned about a potential outbreak in WA.

Victoria has been battling an outbreak of the disease since its detection on a farm near Meredith on May 22.

Since then the disease has infected eight commercial egg farms in the surrounding area.

WA experienced a short scare when the disease was detected on a South West poultry farm last month, but it was said to be a low pathogenic strain and an outbreak was avoided.

However, with the Victorian outbreak continuing to grow, conservationists and breeders are concerned about the looming threat.

South West conservation group FAWNA president Suzanne Strapp said there was a risk of avian flu being brought into the State by migratory birds.

She said the group recently had a brown skua, an Antarctic seabird, come into care with a snapped wing.

“We have no way of knowing if that bird has been infected with avian flu when in Antarctica,” she said.

South West Poultry Club president James Hughes said he was prepared to travel to Canberra for this year’s national poultry show, but with the outbreak decided it would be best to avoid the Eastern States.

“Getting genetics from over east into WA has become harder, so it’s pretty sad to see what’s happening and I hope it all gets sorted soon,” he said.

“It wouldn’t be good to go over there and risk bringing something back.”

Waroona Poultry Club president Ken Landwehr said with the threat of avian flu transmitting from wild birds to his own chickens, he was having to restrict their movement to keep them safe.

“It’s really important that we preserve the breeds that we’ve got in this country and we need to be vigilant as a poultry community to try and help minimise the spread into these purebred populations,” he said.

“The best thing you can do is keep your poultry away from wild bird populations and keep them housed.”