Yorkshire farm takes drastic steps to mitigate business against bird flu risks

This means that should bird flu be detected in the hens, it comes under a different farm number according to Defra and the farm shop and cafe can continue to trade.

The new location means that the birds, the public and the shop and cafe can be kept completely separate.

The family business, taken over by Ben and Emma Mosey in 2015 when it was known as Minskip Farm Shop which started in 1979, is now being turned into a brand.

It employs around 30 people and was spurred into taking action after seeing businesses and farms affected by bird flu last year - including their friends at Herb Fed Poultry in Easingwold who had to cull their entire flock of more than 30,000 chickens and turkeys.

Emma said: “It is a decision we had to make, they would have shut the whole business. In terms of birds and people, we can be completely closed off.

"Even before we heard about Herb Fed, there were so many last year it became quite scary knowing we had birds there. Not just for the business but we didn't want to get that and the birds to die."

However, knowing that danger but still continuing to trade makes you “quite stoic”, added Emma.

“You have to be comfortable with that. We had months knowing they could get it and it could end the business - you have to get comfortable with that feeling. We became quite stoic, if everything did go wrong, we would start again.”

In March, Ben spent a month building himself the new barn that the hens will be housed in and it also creates opportunity for other business ventures.

They have recently opened a dog walking field, submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to have a new early years children’s nursery and hope to open a play barn after a successful trial of events during the Easter holidays

Emma explained: “My husband physically built this from pieces like flatpack, but a much bigger size. It was a mental challenge to build from thousands of pieces and two photos of a finished barn so he had to work it out and physically build it. It was intense.”

The couple are also involving staff more in business ideas and planning.

She added: “We have engaged the team with coming up with ideas and a strategy meeting to see what should go in there and involved the whole team in the future of the farm. That is a big step forward because we usually talk about it over the kitchen table.

"We have 20 to 30 really engaged barons that can all help us grow the business. It is great for them to have more autonomy and enjoy the job more.”

Last month, Yolk Farm was crowned the Best Large Retailer in the North East at the National Farm Shop & Deli Awards 2023 where they beat Mainsgill Farm Shop.

In 2020, they opened the world’s first egg restaurant on a free range hen farm where they focus on making unique egg dishes with a healthy twist, also using seasonal produce grown in their own market garden.

As well as the flock of chickens there are three rare breed Kunekune pigs, four greedy goats and seven alpacas at the farm.