Deadline nears to register all English and Welsh poultry

Small-scale poultrykeepers in England and Wales – including those with just one bird – have two weeks left to register their birds with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha).

Previously, only keepers with 50 or more birds were required to register, but the increasing prevalence of avian influenza in recent years has encouraged governments to tighten controls.

See also: Scots poultry keepers have new register for small flocks

The expanded register – which is already open and must be completed by 1 October – will be used to inform keepers what they need to do in the event of a disease outbreak.

It will also allow for more effective surveillance in disease control zones, allowing quicker lifting of restrictions and for trade to resume swiftly.

Richard Griffiths, the British Poultry Council chief executive, described the addition of small flocks to the poultry register as “another tool in the toolbox”.

“Alongside stringent biosecurity, registration means all birdkeepers should receive important updates and timely communication, amplifying efforts to safeguard bird health as we move into the colder months,” he said.

Welsh requirements

The same legal requirements will apply in Wales, where more than 2,000 keepers of small flocks have already registered, ahead of the legal deadline on 1 October.

Richard Irvine, the chief veterinary officer for Wales, said that as well as registering all birds, “scrupulous hygiene and biosecurity remain essential to protect flocks from the threat of disease”.

Keepers will be required to review their entry on the register each year, to ensure their details are up to date.

Bird flu free

Great Britain has declared itself free of highly pathogenic avian influenza since 29 March 2024.

“However, HN51 [avian influenza] continues to be found in wild birds in Great Britain and across Europe, and keepers should remain vigilant and practice stringent biosecurity to protect the health and welfare of their birds,” said an Apha spokesperson.

The register for England and Wales can be found online here.

In Scotland, registration became a requirement from 1 September, with a new register set up from that date. Poultrykeepers have until 1 December to complete the process.