Schmalkalden-Meiningen district: It is now mandatory to keep stables due to bird flu!

Schmalkalden-Meiningen district: It is now mandatory to keep stables due to bird flu!

In the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district, a requirement for poultry farmers to have stables has come into force. This measure was ordered on October 22, 2025 and is intended to counteract the spread of the dreaded highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Loud insuedthueringen.de Affected birds must be kept in closed houses or under special protective devices to minimize the risk of the disease spreading further.

As of October 29th, 35 HPAI cases had already been reported in Germany and over 500,000 animals had to be killed as a precautionary measure due to bird flu. While nationwide stable requirements have been installed in cities such as Hamburg and Saarland, in Thuringia specific regulations apply to certain places such as Schmalkalden, Wasungen and Meiningen. These requirements also affect various districts and require strict hygiene and control measures from poultry farmers.

Strict requirements for poultry farmers

The obligations for poultry farmers in the affected areas are clearly defined: They must ensure that access to their stables is carried out with shoe disinfection, wash and disinfect their hands after entering and wear protective clothing. In addition, feeding pets outdoors is prohibited to minimize the risk of infection. A daily check of the animal population for illnesses is also mandatory, and the number of animals kept and those that died must be reported to the responsible authority.

These measures are of immense importance not only to prevent the disease, but also to secure poultry production in Germany. The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry has already made clear demands for compulsory housing due to the tense situation. President Hans-Peter Goldnick emphasizes that waiting is not an option in this situation, as open keeping of laying hens and turkey flocks is particularly affected. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute also points to the dominance of the H5N1 subtype in wild birds, which is increasingly transmitted to poultry.

Challenges for the industry

The current situation presents many poultry farmers with major challenges. Agrarheute.com reports that without an official order, the installation of free-range poultry is viewed as a violation of marketing standards, which can also have an impact on insurance issues. This creates massive uncertainty in an industry that is already under pressure.

In the meantime, affected poultry farmers could use information provided by, for example, the U.S. Small Business Administration. This organization helps smaller businesses find out about financing options and loans, which can also be relevant for local farmers. You can find out more about these options on the SBA website, which supports small businesses every day to ensure their liquidity and growth. Information about this can be found at sba.gov.

The situation remains tense and those responsible are required to make decisions that take into account both the protection of the animals and the economic stability of poultry production in Germany.