In an effort to protect poultry from the risk of avian influenza, a compulsory housing order for poultry and captive birds will take effect from Monday, November 10, 2025.
Announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, yesterday, November 5, the action was taken to reduce the threat to both the industry and poultry farmers.
“Poultry and captive birds must, from Monday 10 November, be housed or confined in such a manner that they do not have access to other poultry, captive birds, or wild birds. Reducing the opportunity for contact with potentially infected wild birds is crucial as this is one of the main ways in which the virus can spread,” Minister Heydon said when making the announcement.
As a means of preventing the spread of the virus, Minister Heydon galvanised the importance of biosecurity, noting: “Biosecurity remains the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks.
“All those who have poultry or kept birds must take strict precautions and exercise the highest standards of biosecurity to protect their flocks from the threat of avian influenza, and to protect the poultry sector in Ireland,” Minister Heydon added.
The above is in addition to strict new biosecurity measures for poultry that were introduced at the start of November. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has reminded members of the public not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead birds.