£35k raised for farmer who had to cull 5k hens due to bird flu
26th February 2025
A Devon farmer who was forced to cull 5,000 hens following a bird flu outbreak on his farm is “overwhelmed” after people from around the world fundraised £35,000 for his business in less than a week.
Jerry Saunders of Orchard Organic Farm in Stokeinteignhead said that last week his two hens were confirmed to have the avian influenza virus.
Following the news, a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been declared around his farm.
Mr Saunders told the BBC: “I’m really shocked as to how virulent and horrible the disease is – it’s something we mustn’t underestimate.”
He believes the virus was brought onto the farm by seabirds.
Mr Saunders added the business was “effectively gone as of today”. He explained that £10,000 worth of eggs had to be destroyed along with food bins full of £5,000 worth of chicken food.
The farmer also told the BBC that the farming business cannot afford the costs of a deep clean by Defra so the family is forced to leave the farm in quarantine for a year.
READ MORE: Government responds to new avian influenza cases by expanding housing measures
READ MORE: Avian flu prevention zone now in force across Wales
Overwhelming support
However, Mr Saunders has received an “overwhelming” support from people around the world who raised over £35,000 in less than a week.
He told the media that the money would be “the difference between ruin and survival” for the farm.
He added: “We are so, so lucky to have such a strong community.”
The farmer said that the money will allow the family “to breathe” until he figures out what to do next.
Mr Saunders explained that the governmental compensation would only have allowed the farm to restock about half of its birds, if they chose to.
Following the bird flu outbreak, the farmer and his wife had been able to keep their campsite and farm school open, however, they were forced to make two permanent members of staff redundant.
Mr Saunders added: “I’m still at the numb stage where the farm is empty and we’re trying to make plans,” BBC reported.
READ MORE: Details released on human case of avian flu in England
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