EAST Hampshire poultry farmers ready for the big Christmas rush on their birds aren’t getting in a flap over an outbreak of bird flu more than 100 miles away.

Following the discovery of the virus at a Lincolnshire farm, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said flocks should be kept indoors until the all clear is given.

But flock at Denmead Poultry on Hambledon Road is more likely to die of boredom than the H5N8 flu virus, says owner Karen Rafferty.

The farms free-range chickens are now indoors to prevent them from having any contact with wild birds who maybe carrying the virus.

But neither Karen, or husband Andy, is especially worried, with the chance of their birds catching it being very small, but they have given advice to customers with chickens.

Karen said: “A lot of customers have phoned DEFRA because it’s been on the news and a lot of people have chickens in their back garden.

“One told us this morning that their chickens are going mad because they’ve been kept indoors for days. They can’t wait for the precautions to be lifted.”

And avian bird flu wasn’t a real worry at Ashford Farm in Steep which produces high quality Christmas turkeys.

A farm spokesman said the birds had been culled ready before there was any chance of them picking up the virus.

She added that the turkeys had been kept indoors for three days after the DEFRA advice was issued, then they were slaughtered ready for customers.

Meanwhile at the Birdworld attraction at Farnham the birds being kept in doors and regularly checked, but again there was no real concern.

A spokesman said: “We are doing everything DEFRA advised. We will be open as normal over Christmas, and if anyone is worried they can check our website for the latest news.”

DEFRA says the virus poses little risk to humans, and the Food Standards Agency is adamant that it isn’t a food safety risk, nor will it impact on the supply of turkeys or other birds this Christmas.