Danish chickens allowed outdoors after 5 months under quarantine

Risk of bird flu has decreased and Danish eggs remain salmonella-free

After five months under quarantine, Danish chickens are finally allowed to get out the doors, reports the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA).

Since November 2016, poultry farms in Denmark had to keep the domestic birds locked indoors as a preventive measure to stop the spread of the avian flu H5N8.

“There will always be a risk of bird flu, but it is now lower than before,” stated Per Henriksen, the veterinary director at DVFA.

“Moreover, many chickens have been kept indoors for a long time, often in conditions that are not suitable for them when the weather gets warmer.”

READ MORE: Danish poultry back in shops in South Korea

Denmark less affected than rest of Europe
Henriksen said the difficult decision to put the chickens under quarantine for so long has worked as Denmark has been much less affected by bird flu than other European countries.

Over 8 million birds have had to be killed in Europe, according to Henriksen, while Denmark only had two outbreaks in small flocks and 81 wild birds have been found dead due to the disease since the preventative measure came to force.

Although the first outbreak of bird flu in Denmark meant that all exports of poultry were stopped, on February 22, the country was once again declared a bird flu-free zone and exports to a number of countries, including South Korea, have since resumed.

READ MORE: Danish salmonella infections hailing from abroad

Salmonella-free Easter eggs
With the Easter break starting tomorrow and the tradition to blow and decorate eggs and eat them afterwards, it is also good to know that Danish eggs are salmonella-free.

Last year, no-one was diagnosed with salmonella poisoning after eating eggs in Denmark, according to figures from Statens Serum Institut.

Most Danes, who were diagnosed with the disease in the past, got infected after eating pork or brought the infection home from holiday in countries such as Turkey, Thailand and Spain.

Although the DVFA has not issued any warning against the use of fresh, raw eggs in homemade ice-cream and cakes since 2013, children and older people are still advised to consume pasteurised eggs.




  • Today is 10 years from Copenhagen terrorist attack

    Today is 10 years from Copenhagen terrorist attack

    On February 14 and 15, the last terrorist attack took place in Denmark. Another episode occurred in 2022, but in that case, there was no political motive behind it

  • Enter Christiania: how the Freetown works

    Enter Christiania: how the Freetown works

    We all know Christiania and have been there at least once. But how does the Freetown work? How are decisions made? Can a person move there? Is there rent or bills to pay? British journalist Dave Wood wrote a reportage on Christiania for The Copenhagen Post.

  • The struggles of Asian women in Denmark’s labour market

    The struggles of Asian women in Denmark’s labour market

    Isha Thapa unfolds her research “An Analysis on the Inclusivity and Integration of South Asian Women in High-Skilled Jobs within the Danish Labor Market”. Thapa describes the systemic and social challenges these women face, ranging from barriers in social capital to cultural integration.

  • Parents in Denmark reject social media monitoring 

    Parents in Denmark reject social media monitoring 

    Most parents in Denmark reject using social media parental controls despite knowing about them. A new study questions the effectiveness of these tools in ensuring children’s online safety.

  • Analysis: we need a different education system for international children in Denmark

    Analysis: we need a different education system for international children in Denmark

    Data analyst Kelly Draper Rasmussen highlights that Denmark sees peaks in international migration during early childhood and high school years. However, with only one international education option, many families are forced to leave to secure different opportunities for their children.

  • Danish Refugee Council to lay off up to 2,000 staff

    Danish Refugee Council to lay off up to 2,000 staff

    After the anticipation from The Copenhagen Post, a press release by DRC has confirmed the plan to lay off thousands of employees in response to the recent halt of foreign aid spending by the Trump administration.