Do poultry keepers need to restrict access to land where their flocks roam?
It is sensible biosecurity practice that, as far as possible, access to poultry flocks should be limited, and visitors and vehicles kept away from poultry buildings and their pastures where poultry are kept in large numbers. Only essential visitors should have access to these areas and should make sure that they carry out biosecurity procedures both before and after contact with poultry farms and birds. This is because disease can be spread indirectly through contaminated clothing, footwear and vehicles where birds are confined in small areas. However, it is unlikely that contamination can be spread by walkers using fields where free range poultry are kept. Visitors must not give food to any farm animals or birds or leave food anywhere where they may get access to it.
