IN the wake of having its hens called after an outbreak of bird flu a farm on the outskirts of Newton Abbot says it has three options moving forward.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) culled all 5,000 of Orchard Organic Farm’s population of hens last week after avian-flu was found to be present at the Stokeinteignhead farm.
With its principle source of revenue now gone, the path forward for owners Jerry and Emma Saunders is not entirely clear.
But after a visit by a Ministry of Agriculture veterinarian on Wednesday, February 26, the couple say that, essentially, there are three possible options they could take.
The first involves paying a government contractor to clean and disinfect the farm, which has to be done twice.
‘This is the quickest option for most farmers, but is financially out of reach for us as it is prohibitively expensive’ Emma said in post to the farm’s page on Facebook.
But even if the farm had the means, the APHA have advised against given that the earth floors of Orchard Organic Farm’s chicken houses would make it next to impossible to collect the waste water from any potential clean-up.
The second option would see Jerry and Emma complete a clean themselves, which would run into the same problems as option one.
And, finally, option three.
The couple, essentially, do nothing.
Mothball the farm for no less than 12 months; no activity can take place whatsoever on any part of the farm within the controlled zone.
‘After the frenetic activity of last week, we now find ourselves with a deserted farm and more questions than answers’ Emma said.
Whatever path the couple choose to walk down, a GoFundMe, set up in the wake of the cull by Ellie Mitchell, will help ease the pressure.
Despite only launching on lsat week, the fundraiser has already raised more than £35,000.