The obligation for poultry in Hersfeld-Rotenburg to be lifted from Sunday!

The obligation for poultry in Hersfeld-Rotenburg to be lifted from Sunday!

Poultry farmers in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district can look forward to positive news. District Administrator Torsten Warnecke has repealed the general decree on avian influenza, so that the obligation to keep poultry in stables will no longer apply from next Sunday. This decision was made due to an easing of the avian influenza situation, which was previously triggered by the detection of the H5N1 virus in the Rhäden nature reserve near Wildeck-Obersuhl. During this event, around 60 dead cranes were found, which underlined the need for immediate action, as Hna.de reports.

The general housing obligation came into force on November 2, 2025 and required that domestic poultry be kept in closed stables or secured facilities protected from wild birds. Competitions and exhibitions for poultry were prohibited during this time in order to minimize contact between wild and farmed poultry and prevent the virus from being introduced. Despite the lifting of the stable requirement, the veterinary office recommends that poultry farmers continue to do so voluntarily. The situation will continue to be monitored closely to ensure that the virus does not strike again.

Background to avian influenza

Avian influenza spread early and intensively in autumn 2025, particularly among wild birds. Between September and October, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute registered several outbreaks of the highly pathogenic H5N1 in Germany. The federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Brandenburg are particularly affected. In order to prevent further spread, over 500,000 domestic and wild birds were killed, and several slaughterhouses had to give up animals as a precaution, as RND.de describes in detail.

The virus is highly contagious, especially for chickens, ducks, geese and quails, and usually leads to the death of the infected animals. Transmission occurs both through direct contact with infected wild birds and through indirect contact via contaminated objects or water sources. Hobby owners are well advised to keep a close eye on their animals. Any suspected case should be reported immediately to the veterinary office. But even if the risk to pets such as dogs and cats is rare, you can stay on the safe side with preventive measures.

A look into the future

The fact that the stable requirement has now been lifted does not mean that the issue is a thing of the past. The protection of animals and the management of poultry stocks must remain the highest priority. Visitors to poultry markets and exhibitions can breathe a sigh of relief, but every poultry farmer is still responsible for protecting their animals and observing the recommended measures. If you are unsure, you should always take a look on the Internet - current information on avian influenza can be found on the websites of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.