From 01 October 2024 if you are in charge of the day to day care of poultry or other captive birds of any number you must register them with the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA). This includes any birds you keep as pets.
If you have been a keeper prior to 1 October 2024, you must now register immediately if you have not done so already and if you become a new keeper after 1 October 2024, you must register the birds within 30 days. Once registered the APHA will be able to contact you with updates and guidance if there’s a disease outbreak (such as bird flu) in your area and you’ll help to prevent the spread of disease and protect all kept birds, including back-yard flocks.
You do not need to register budgies, parrots, cockatiels and finches if they are both fully housed in a dwelling (your home or another indoor structure) and have no access to the open air. If however your birds are taken outdoors at any time, for example to be exercised, trained, or taken to bird gatherings or shows, they must be registered.
Further guidance, including a list of the poultry and bird species that need to be registered can be obtained on the Gov.UK webpage: Register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If you need help registering, please contact APHA by email at customer.registration@apha.gov.ukor by phone on 03000 200 301 (lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday)
If in the future you no longer keep or own birds you’ll need to tell APHA within one month of this change.