Defra checks

Dunno if this is routine or if the evil HAG from next door has something to do with it, but I have just had a phone call from Animal Health Officer (I think) from Inverurie asking if I still kept quail and how many said 'yup and gave an estimate' Now there coming down in a few weeks to give my some of my quail blood tests for Bird Flu. There not interested in the ducks & chickens though .... Do you think this is just a normal random test ??

Suz

PS... for those who think I'm just being paranoid the story so far lol ...

I am registered with Defra have been for over a year, but I've been having trouble with my neighbour in the last few months she's sent the SPCA who were so pleased with my set up came back the following weekend to buy eggs, the councils Planning officer who told me I could quite easily fit another aviary & flight on my property leaving the me required 30% usable ground free, the Environmental Officer who was less nice and told me I had to move my compost bins as they were causing a nuisance (which I did with a grudge & moan)and when all that failed to get at me she phoned in the Child welfare (they left me with the kids & KP ) .... So that's the reason I was curious to whether it was normal for Random blood tests. Oh the joy's of having a miserable old spinster neighbours who try to steal part of your land for car ports lol.

Suz, have you had any alerts in the area?

I dunno Andy ... where would I check?

If you're registered with DEFRA and you've given them your mobile number, you get text alerts from them. I've only had one text alert. For something minor miles away from me.

I can't see why they'd want to check the quail but not the chickens/ducks...that seems really weird.

Seems a bit weird.....neighbours can be annoying at times! Where we used to live the neighbour said we kept our cats in a shed (actually a £200 cat pen, which they only went in when they meowed to go outside), but we got the kittens spayed for free out of it.

I wouldn't worry about it Suz, if your birds have passed what she's thrown at you before I doubt they'll fail this one , just think, it's increasing your popularity

Could be that you've bought a batch of quail from a source within a minor incident area and they are just following up.

p.s. Your neighbour actually called Child Welfare? Now that is pretty low and horrible thing to do. They have to deal with serious issues, if nothing else that's a waste of their time. Wonder if you can complain about her making unjustified petty complaints?

Might just mention it to the DEFRA guys when they come. I'm sure they get all sorts of complaints from unhappy neighbours with a grudge.

Hi Suz,

I think it's pretty normal for DEFRA to do random tests, they often turned up at farms I've worked on.

At the end of the day Suz, if you have your birds tested and the results come back negetive, it's a good result, you can put it in any adverts you do as DEFRA tested.

Derek.

Hi Suzzzzzzzzz I had nothing to do with it.

sorry to hear about yur neighbour suz.
like Derek said, what an opportunity for A* adverts!
can you not phone social services, and ask 'em to do a mental health check on your neighbour.

keef

Well I got a letter from the animal health office today. These test are random as part of the Avian Influenza Survey 2008, My quail have been singled out for get this ... most likely 'Yearly' Testing due to the limited flocks in the country. Explains why there not interested in my chooks or ducks.

So neighbour not guilty this time lol.

It seems a bit strange though when theres quail farms in the country and they are after a few kept in a garden?
I have a neighbour like yours but one way or another you can get your own back.

Jo