Lincolnshire poultry keepers see free-range birds return outdoors after bird flu restrictions lifted

Poultry keepers across Lincolnshire can once again allow free-range birds outside after avian flu housing restrictions were lifted on 9 April. The rules had required birds to be kept under cover during the higher-risk winter period, affecting farms, smallholders and other keepers across the county. Their removal means free-range flocks in Lincolnshire are now able to return to open runs and fields, a change likely to be welcomed in an area with strong links to poultry and egg production. Lincolnshire has a significant agricultural sector, and poultry remains an important part of the county's rural economy. For producers selling free-range eggs, the return of outdoor access is likely to ease some of the pressure created when birds must be housed for long periods. Smaller keepers may also welcome the change after months of keeping birds indoors. During the housing measures, keepers had to reduce contact between captive birds and wild birds, which can carry avian influenza. The restrictions were part of seasonal disease controls aimed at limiting the spread of infection. Although birds can now go back outside, the risk has not disappeared entirely, and keepers are still being urged to maintain strong biosecurity. That includes practical steps such as keeping feed and water protected from wild birds, maintaining clean enclosures and monitoring flocks for signs of illness. For Lincolnshire keepers, those routine precautions remain important even as the rules are eased. The change will be watched closely by poultry businesses across the county, where disease controls can have financial as well as animal welfare implications. Extended indoor housing can create extra work for producers and may affect how free-range systems operate day to day. The return to outdoor access should bring some relief, but it does not remove the need for caution. Deputy chief veterinary officer Jorge Martin-Alamagro said: "With the threat of avian influenza receding, birds can now be allowed access to ranges and outdoor areas." He also warned that there is still an ongoing risk to poultry and other captive birds and said keepers should remain alert for signs of disease while continuing to follow biosecurity guidance. For Lincolnshire's farming communities, the lifting of the restrictions marks a notable moment after months of tighter controls. Poultry keepers will now be able to restore more normal routines, while remaining aware that avian flu can still pose a threat. The easing of the housing measures is likely to be seen as positive news across the county, particularly for those whose livelihoods or daily routines depend on managing healthy flocks. For many in Lincolnshire, it is a practical change that brings both reassurance and a reminder that vigilance remains part of keeping birds safe.