Detailing the onset of the crisis, the owner explained that at this age of the flock, a farmer would normally see only the odd death, but on Friday a worker messaged at night to report that 39 had died. Despite the high cost of the outbreak estimated at more than £100,000, the owner affirmed that she was not going to sit back and let it beat us.
The first farmer in England hit by bird flu this season has described the loss of 32,000 egg-laying birds as an emotional roller coaster likely to cost her business more than £100,000.
Farmers are still waiting for the results of a recent government trial of a bird flu vaccine in turkeys.
Describing the scene inside the facility, she stated that normally opening a hen shed door reveals 16,000 birds looking out, but seeing them all lying dead as a carpet of dead birds is quite shocking. The outbreak struck an operation supplying a range of UK supermarkets, where the flock normally produced 28,500 eggs a day before the virus began killing the birds a week ago.
An APHA spokesperson said the agency expected colder temperatures and the arrival of migratory birds to drive a rise in infection cases, emphasizing the importance of robust biosecurity measures to limit the spread of the disease.
She said despite the high cost of the outbreak - which she estimated would be more than £100,000 - she was"not going to sit back and let it beat us".
A farmer hit by England's first outbreak of avian flu this season has said the loss of 32,000 egg-laying birds is likely to cost her business more than £100,000.
An APHA spokesperson said it expected colder temperatures and the arrival of migratory birds"to see a rise in infection cases, which is why it is so important that bird keepers have robust biosecurity measures in place to limit the spread of this devastating disease".