More than five million free-range chickens in the Netherlands were confined indoors yesterday because of fears that wild birds migrating from Russia to Europe would spread the lethal H5N1 virus westwards. German farms have been told to take similar precautions by September 15.

However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said that Britain had no plans to follow suit, despite growing concern among farmers and scientists that chickens, ducks and turkeys could be at risk.

Scientists who study bird flu described the Dutch measures as wise, and urged the Government to consider carefully whether similar steps should be taken in Britain.

“Overall, it’s better to take precautions beforehand than to stand there wringing your hands afterwards,” Professor John Oxford, of Queen Mary School of Medicine in London, said. “These birds do overfly Norfolk and other parts of the UK. It is not out of all possibility that we could be at risk.”

Professor Hugh Pennington, of Aberdeen University, said the Dutch measures were sensible. “One has to take precautionary measures when we think they’re appropriate,” he said. “There’s no vaccine that can be given to the birds, there are no medicines we can use, so basically it’s a precautionary approach we have to take.”

Defra said: “We don’t expect to give that kind of advice because the evidence as it is shows the risk to be low. We don’t think that is proportional to the risk. It is a contingency if the risk grows higher, but at the moment we are urging a high level of vigilance.”

The Dutch and German moves were prompted by fears that migrating wildfowl from Russia could carry H5N1 flu with them. Confining poultry indoors would prevent mixing with wild birds.

Defra still rates the risk from migrating birds as low, though it accepts that the spread of the virus to southern Russia may have increased this risk. The National Farmers’ Union, which is meeting officials today to discuss the issue, said it would support any move to impose restrictions, although it was concerned at the effect on Britain’s free-range and organic sectors, which are much greater than in the Netherlands.

Charles Bourns, chairman of the union’s poultry board, said the Government should guarantee free-range status for farmers who are forced to bring their flocks inside through no fault of their own, or provide financial compensation.

“As the disease gets closer to us, we may need to take action like this and we would be fully supportive of that,” he said. “The costs of avian influenza striking here just don’t bear thinking about. But if we have to bring free-range birds in during the migration season, will they be allowed free-range status in the egg industry?

“We are talking about 20 to 30 per cent of the flock, and a 20p premium per dozen eggs, even more for organic status. I think consumers would understand why eggs sold as free-range aren’t being raised in the normal fashion, but we need help to maintain that status.”

The Dutch move will require less than 5 per cent of the total flock of 105 million to move indoors.

In the UK, however, about 33 per cent of the UK laying flock of 30 million is free-range and would have to be moved inside, along with about 2 to 3 per cent of the 150 million broiler chickens raised for meat.

To be considered free-range, at least an acre of field must be provided per 400 chickens, and the birds must have access to it during the day. John Widdowson, vice-chairman of the British Free-Range Egg Producers Association, said: “If we shut them up, legally they won’t be free range without authorisation from a vet — and that is only for a short period of time. What is the consumer going to think, who pays a premium for free range eggs?”

Peter Melchett, of the Soil Association, which represents organic farmers, questioned whether it would be practical to confine Britain’s flock indoors. “Avian flu is a serious disease but there are some serious objections to keeping chickens indoors,” he said. “It would be a nightmare from a cost, welfare and disease point of view.

“It would be prohibitively expensive. These are birds that often have nowhere to be shut up, their only indoor access is for sleeping. Shutting them up might combat them getting bird flu, but would increase the chance of other diseases spreading. Outdoor birds are highly mobile and inquisitive, and for welfare reasons it would be unfair to keep them inside.”

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