Poultry producers across the country are facing renewed stress and worry as avian influenza circulates and the second housing order of 2025 takes effect from today, November 10, 2025.
Providing clarity for both commercial and small-scale producers at this time of uncertainty, Teagasc Poultry Advisor, Rebecca Tierney shared some key advice through an appearance on the This Week programme on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday, November 9.
As to the feeling among producers, Rebecca Tierney said: “It’s a mental stress, it’s constant, walking into a house every morning, not knowing what they are going to be faced with.”
Given the risks associated with the virus, including high morbidity rates, flock destruction and the associated financial burden, Rebecca Tierney reminded poultry producers – both commercial and backyard – that vigilance and strict biosecurity measures are a must.
She explained: “All birds must be housed. All of the commercial units will have that ability to house birds 100% of the time. It is limiting their interaction with any wild birds…it is not just about mingling with wild birds; it is about good biosecurity and management around that as well.”
In the case of smaller flocks or backyard producers where the necessary infrastructure may not be present to achieve 100% housing, Rebecca Tierney stressed the importance of limiting captive birds’ interactions with wild birds.
“If it is not possible to house them indoors 100%, fence them off into a small area, covering that with some mesh or plastic to avoid any wild birds mingling with your own domestic poultry and also no feeding or watering of your poultry birds outside if you cannot house them.”
In the case of backyard poultry, she added: “These birds maybe pets and for the welfare of those birds, while you feel it may be better for them to be outside, it is actually much safer to keep them indoors to avoid them contracting this deadly virus.
“There is only one fate for those birds and to protect their health and welfare they need to be indoors.”
To limit the risk of infection spread, Rebecca Tierney noted that a great deal of cross-border co-operation is ongoing, with the departments of agriculture – both north and south – working closely together to limit the impact of the virus.
Advice to the public
To members of the public, Rebecca Tierney advised against panic over the supply of turkeys this Christmas as “our producers are doing everything possible in terms of biosecurity” to ensure there should be a sufficient supply.
If members of the public come across sick or dead wild birds, she urged them to avoid handling and to contact either the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or a Regional Veterinary Office so that testing can be conducted to verify the cause – whether avian influenza or something else.
“This is a zoonotic disease, and it is important to note that. Unless you are handling the birds and dealing with them on a very close basis, it is unlikely that someone will contact avian influenza, just avoid any sick, wild birds and just contact the right person around that.”