Poultry keepers can access funded biosecurity reviews as the risk of avian influenza rises — and industry advisers are urging them to book the assessments before the disease reaches their area.

The call to action targets every level of the sector, from commercial units to smallholder and backyard flocks. The reviews are paid for through existing support schemes, so keepers pay nothing for the on-farm assessment. The message from those promoting the scheme is simple: use the funding now, while the risk is rising but before an outbreak forces a reactive response.

Why biosecurity reviews matter now

Avian influenza circulates most heavily in wild bird populations during the colder months, and kept flocks catch it through direct and indirect contact with wild birds. Contaminated footwear, clothing, equipment, bedding and feed can all carry the virus onto a premises.

A biosecurity review puts an experienced pair of eyes on the practical weaknesses in a keeper's routine. Reviewers walk the site, examine how people, vehicles and equipment move on and off the premises, and check how effectively the flock is separated from wild birds.

For many keepers, the exercise surfaces problems they had stopped noticing: a gap under a shed door, a shared water source open to wild birds, a disinfection point that has fallen out of daily use.

What changes at the farm gate

The funded status of the reviews removes the cost barrier that often keeps smaller keepers from seeking professional biosecurity advice. Keepers who take up the offer receive a structured assessment rather than generic guidance, with recommendations tied to their own premises.

That distinction matters in an outbreak scenario. When avian influenza is confirmed nearby, movement restrictions and housing measures can arrive with little warning. Premises that have already identified and fixed their biosecurity gaps are better placed to protect their flocks through that period.

The urging to act now, rather than wait, reflects the timing of the risk. As bird flu risk rises, the window for preventive work narrows. A review completed before heightened risk measures are imposed can be acted on; one requested after restrictions land may come too late to prevent infection.

Advice for all flock sizes

The recommendation applies across the spectrum of poultry keeping. Commercial operators typically have formal biosecurity plans already, but an external review can still challenge assumptions and catch drift from written protocols.

Smallholder and backyard keepers, who often keep fewer birds with less formal infrastructure, stand to gain the most from a professional walkthrough — and they are frequently the least aware that funded support exists.

Basic measures remain the backbone of prevention regardless of flock size:

• Keep feed and water out of reach of wild birds
• Control rodent access around housing
• Clean and disinfect footwear and equipment before entering bird areas
• Limit visitor contact with the flock
• Report suspected disease promptly to veterinary authorities

A funded review sets those principles against the reality of an individual premises and identifies where the specific site falls short.

The public-health dimension

Avian influenza is primarily a bird disease, but it carries zoonotic significance, which is why national veterinary authorities monitor outbreaks closely and why keepers must report suspicion rather than manage it privately. Robust on-farm biosecurity reduces both the animal-health and the public-health exposure.

Keepers who want to use the funded reviews should move quickly. As risk levels climb, demand for assessments is likely to rise with it, and the greatest protective value comes from completing — and acting on — a review before the virus arrives in the surrounding area.