Keepers’ chance to flock together

After enduring the misery of last year’s lock-down and movement restrictions due to fears over bird flu in the wild bird population, anticipation is running high amongst chicken keepers for this weekend’s Scottish National Poultry Show (SNPS).

Cancelled last year due to disease fears, the event which takes place at Lawrie & Symington’s Lanark market will see a total of 3,600 birds compete in Scotland’s largest display of poultry - and will feature hundreds of different classes of chicken from breeders and fanciers across the length and breadth of the UK.

SNPS secretary, Robert Mcdonald said the show was one of the biggest events in the poultry showing calendar and he expected the normal camaraderie and sense of community to be even higher than normal this year after last year’s privations.

Willie Mcculloch, Lawrie and Symington’s event manager said the market had hosted the event since 2010:

“Despite last year’s concerns and the restrictions around bird flu, the show is well back on track and we are expecting the number of visitors in attendance to be high over the course of the two-days.” l While the low incidence of avian influenza in the wild bird population so far this year has not resulted in country-wide restrictions, the disease is known to be circulating on the continent – and last week the H5N6 strain was confirmed in wild birds in Dorset.

Chief vet, Nigel Gibbens warned keepers to be on their guard and remain vigilant for any signs of the disease - regardless of flock size.