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RVC publishes chicken-keeping research
Study reveals London flock keepers lack fundamental knowledge

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has published its research into chicken-keeping this month in the journal British Poultry Science. The study has revealed that chicken-keepers around Greater London have a lack of disease knowledge and insufficient awareness of laws, which could potentially have implications on disease control and animal welfare.

To conduct the research, some backyard chickens were kept in the Greater London urban area from May to July 2010. Researchers proceeded to collect data on welfare, biosecurity and diseases. Additional data was collated, including information on keeper and flock characteristics, housing and husbandry practices and owners’ knowledge of health problems in chickens. A welfare assessment protocol was developed and the flocks were assessed accordingly.

Our findings clearly indicate a communication gap between authorities and chicken keepers
The study found that the chickens were generally provided with suitable living conditions that allowed them to perform their natural behaviours. However, around three quarters of the flock owners did not comply with the regulations set out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the feeding of catering waste.

It has been illegal to feed catering waste to farmed animals in the UK since 2001 because some disease agents can survive in food products and facilitate the spread of the disease.

The findings also show backyard chicken keepers lack knowledge about zoonoses. For instance, the presence of chickens shows a major risk factor for diarrhoea in children, due to the often-present disease agent Campylobacter jejuni, in their faeces. Since children were reported in more than a third of chicken-keeping households, they may be at risk.

Further findings concluded that almost half of the flock owners would not seek veterinary help in case of illness in the chickens. This raises questions regarding the adequate treatment of sick animals and related suffering in case of either incorrect or a lack of treatment.

Additionally, 40 per cent of the flock owners stated that they would dispose of dead birds by burying them in their gardens when proper methods, such as incineration, should be used to prevent disease spreading through groundwater and wild species.

Iveta Karabozhilova, an author of the study, said: “Our findings clearly indicate a communication gap between authorities and chicken keepers. Making information available and easily accessible through the most widely used channels is of high priority from a disease control perspective.

“Even though evidence from our study shows that flock owners provide enriched living conditions to the chickens, they ought to realise that their pets are a farmed species and are subjected to regulations.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.