Fears over a potential bird flu outbreak are growing as Belgium gives out thousands of free chickens to combat landfill waste. Is it a wise move, or are organisers playing with fire?
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Fears over a potential bird flu outbreak are growing as Belgium gives out thousands of free chickens to combat landfill waste. Is it a wise move, or are organisers playing with fire?
As Belgium braces for yet another bout of commuter chaos with a week-long rail strike looming on the horizon, chickens are being given away en masse to tackle waste and supposedly cheer people up a bit, but watch out for bird flu. Read on to learn about the happenings in the land of Belgium.
Belgian towns and cities have hatched a novel plan to cut down on food waste: handing out free chickens to local residents. But, while getting two free chickens may sound like a dream come true, there’s a catch – you can’t eat them.
Belgium is giving away chickens
In a bid to reduce kitchen scraps going straight to landfill, municipalities across Belgium have been gifting pairs of hens to residents who promise not to eat them for at least two years. As reported by the BBC, Antwerp, Mouscron in Hainaut province, and areas of Limburg have all embraced feathery love towards the future drumsticks. In Limburg alone, more than 2,500 families adopted hens in a single year, while Mouscron distributed 50 pairs of chickens in the second round of its giveaway scheme.
Those taking part must also prove they have enough space in their gardens and agree to maintain proper poultry care. The incentives are clear: free eggs and the knowledge that each chicken can devour around 150g of kitchen waste per day, drastically reducing the amount of leftover food that ends up rotting in landfills.
Deadly strain of bird flu H5N1 on the rise
Organisers are keen to stress the benefits: free eggs at a time when egg prices have soared, but there are concerns that it breeds fertile ground for the deadly strain of bird flu known as H5N1. The illness has already been detected in the US and several other countries, leading to a global bird flu poultry slaughter to avoid it spreading to humans.
So, despite the chicken giveaway fun, experts have warned organisers that they could be playing with fire. Alarm bells are ringing. Avian influenza remains a big worry for both farmers and authorities.
In Belgium, three poultry farms reported the virus in the past month, prompting the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA/FAVV) to advise private chicken owners to shield their birds from contact with wild fowl – by keeping them inside or covering outdoor runs.
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