Bird and poultry owners urged to take action after major law change

Amy Fenton & Kieran Isgin
·2-min read
Anyone who keeps birds outdoors will be required to register them
-Credit: (Image: LancsLive)


Birdkeepers who operate from their homes have only a few weeks left to comply with a new law that requires them to register.

Earlier this year, Defra announced changes that will impact those who keep any number of birds outdoors. Previously, the register was only applicable to those owning 50 or more birds.

The threshold for compulsory registration will be lowered from 50 birds to just one, meaning all poultry and captive bird keepers will be legally obliged to register their birds. Owners will also need to review their poultry register entry annually to ensure their details are current.

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This new legislation has been introduced to monitor outbreaks of avian influenza. Since October 2021, there have been over 360 cases across Great Britain, including a significant number of backyard flocks.

From October 1, birdkeepers will need to register their flocks but are being encouraged to fill out the online forms before the deadline. Birds such as budgies, parrots and canaries, which are kept indoors or in a dedicated 'bird house' without any outside access, will be exempt, reports LancsLive.

LancsLive reporter Amy Fenton, a birdkeeper, shared her own experience of registering a flock. She said: "As I have previously written about, I am the proud owner of my own backyard flock, which includes four chickens and two Campbell Khaki ducks.

"I managed to register my birds through Defra's website, a process that only took a few minutes. The form can be downloaded and filled out on your computer, then emailed directly to Defra using the provided address."

You're required to provide details about the number of birds you own, their species or breed (for example, chickens, ducks, emus, etc. ), and your contact information, as well as the address where the birds are housed.

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