Cracknell, who has been farming for more than 50 years, said an eradication of avian influenza would be difficult due to wild birds.
“The way it’s going, they’re knocking out breeder flocks and it’s going to be difficult buying day-old chicks. That’s going to decimate the industry,” he said.
“We’re battling the weather, we’re battling the health of the birds, we’re battling just about everything.”
The birds at Cracknell’s Farm – about 250 ducks and 1,000 chickens – have not yet tested positive.
But in recent months, a large neighbouring farm near Ashcott experienced an outbreak and was ordered to cull all of its poultry.