Avian influenza (bird flu)
Mandatory housing measures lifted from 9 April 2026
Mandatory housing measures for poultry and other captive birds will be lifted in England and Wales from 00:01am on Thursday 9 April 2026.
As birds may have been housed for several months, keepers should follow the guidance on preparing to let birds outside again, including cleansing and disinfecting hard surfaces, fencing off ponds or standing water and reintroducing wild bird deterrents.
Birds must still be housed if you're in a protection zone or captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone. All keepers must continue to follow strict biosecurity measures to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.
The housing measures are being lifted because bird flu risk levels have reduced.
Mandatory biosecurity measures remain in place in England, Scotland and Wales.
There are currently no changes to the rules for bird gatherings, which still require an individual licence from the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Rules for bird gatherings are due to be reviewed by Defra in light of the reduced bird flu risk level.
Visit GOV.UK to find out about the latest avian influenza situation in England.
Avian influenza (bird flu) is a contagious disease of birds caused by the Influenza A virus.
The virus generally affects birds, but pigs and humans can also become infected. There are 15 sub-types of the virus but the H5N1 strain poses the greatest threat to humans.
The disease has only passed to humans who are living or working in close physical contact with live, infected birds.
The UK does not currently have outbreaks of the H5N1 strain in poultry or other captive birds. The current risk to poultry is low in Great Britain. H5N1 continues to be found in wild birds in Great Britain and across Europe with outbreaks occurring in poultry and other captive birds in several countries in Europe.
Keepers should remain vigilant and practice stringent biosecurity to protect the health and welfare of their birds. Visit GOV.UK to find out how to prevent bird flu and stop it from spreading.
Spotting and reporting bird flu
Visit GOV.UK to find out how to:
Mandatory Kept Bird Registration
You must now register any kept birds
If you're a bird keeper, you must register your birds on the Kept Bird Register. This applies regardless of how many are kept, and even if they're kept as pets. The requirement has been in place since 1 October 2024.
There's now a requirement for all bird keepers in England to officially register their birds on the Kept Bird Register. This applies regardless of how many are kept, and even if they're kept as pets.
By registering, you'll receive important updates. Registering will help to manage potential disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and limit any spread. It will also help the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to manage potential disease outbreaks.
Keepers who are currently registered do not have to re-register.
Keepers of Psittaciformes (such as parrots, cockatiels and budgerigars) and Passriformes (such as jays and finches) do not need to register if these birds are housed on the premises fully within a dwelling or within a bird house with no access to open air or outdoor spaces.
Visit GOV.UK to find out how to: