Bird flu: rules if you keep game birds

Imported from official source

November 04, 2022 00:00

Safety Classified by Officially

England is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ). By law you must follow strict biosecurity and hygiene rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.

Check if you are in a zone using the bird flu disease zone map.

If you are in a disease control zone you must follow the rules for that zone.

You should follow the rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading on the premises, in rearing and release pens and any areas you feed released game birds.

The rules apply to all poultry and other captive birds.

You must check your birds regularly for signs of disease. Contact your vet immediately if you have any concerns.

If you suspect bird flu in captive birds, you must report it immediately. If you do not report it, you are breaking the law.

To keep game birds’ feeding and watering stations clean you must:

place feeders in areas that are less attractive to wild birds

inspect them daily and clean as needed to remove faecal matter and feathers

cover them to avoid contamination from wild bird droppings – including covering drinkers if possible

move them regularly (and at least once a week) to avoid build up of faecal matter and feathers around the stations

remove spilled feed daily to avoid attracting wild birds and wildlife

You should check up to 50m around the release pen or feeding area daily for carcasses of dead game birds or dead wild birds. If you find any dead wild birds, including released game birds, you should report them to Defra online or by calling 03459 33 55 77.

Your report will be triaged and the carcases may be collected for testing. If the carcasses are not collected within 96 hours you must safely dispose of them.

Release pens or released birds in an AIPZ

If you feed game birds in release pens, or birds that have been released, in an AIPZ you must feed them:

at least 500m away from any poultry or other kept birds

with at least one feeding station per 60 game birds

at least 50m away from any water bodies where ducks or geese congregate

This is an extract. The publication continues at the source.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence

Read the original at the source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-rules-if-you-keep-game-birds

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Organization: Animal and Plant Health Agency — imported from official source
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency.atom ATOM
Imported: November 11, 2026 12:01
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Identity: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-rules-if-you-keep-game-birds#2026-11-11T11:35:42Z