by Gráinne Connolly
Hundreds of Tyrone poultry farmers and householders with chickens are feeling the strain of the bird flu threat.
After two wild swans were found dead and tested positive for the disease, poultry has been restricted to indoors.
The Department of Agriculture has ordered all chickens to be kept inside to avoid any contact with wild birds.
For farmers in the area, this is having quite an impact. Most of their chickens would be free- range, therefore keeping them inside would add to the cost and add more feeding.
Some people in the area may not be lucky enough to have sheds to keep the chickens in or ones that are big enough, which is proving problematic.
The Prevention zone restrictions in Northern Ireland will remain in place until March 16.
Even when birds are housed there is still a slight risk of contaminating them; therefore all clothes should be disinfected before and after contact with them, the movement of the poultry should be kept to a minimum and there should be no interaction with wild birds.
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