Captive bird housing requirements lifted 9 April 2026
Whilst Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) remains in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), mandatory housing measures for poultry and flocks of more than 50 captive birds were lifted from Thursday 9 April 2026 in England and Wales.
Birds can now be let out again but you must continue to follow strict biosecurity and hygiene rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.
Spotting symptoms
Be aware of the symptoms of Bird Flu and check your birds regularly for these. Advice on symptoms and how to report concerns is on the GOV.UK website.
Symptoms include:
- Swollen head
- Blue discolouration of neck and throat
- Loss of appetite
- Respiratory distress such as gaping beak, coughing, sneezing, gurgling, rattling
- Diarrhoea
- Fewer eggs laid
- Increased mortality
Report disease symptoms in your own birds
If your birds have any symptoms of Bird Flu, you are required by law to report these to DEFRA’s Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200301. Bird Flu is classified as a ‘notifiable disease’.
Visit the GOV.UK website to familiarise yourself with how to spot and report Bird Flu symptoms.
Register your birds
It is also a legal requirement to register all captive birds, even a couple of hens in the garden, with the exception of birds you keep in your home.
Register your birds on the DEFRA website.
Reporting dead wild birds
DEFRA welcomes reports on dead wild birds so that it can monitor how the disease is spreading. Not all dead birds will be collected.
You should either:
- Call DEFRA to report the bird(s) on 03459 33 55 77
- Complete DEFRA's online form on the GOV.UK website
We strongly advise the public not to touch dead wild birds or their feathers, droppings etc. If you do come into contact with these, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water. The risk of Bird Flu passing to humans is deemed ‘low’.
Visit the NHS website for information about Bird Flu.
Register for Bird Flu updates
The Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) runs a free disease alerts service for bird keepers. This keeps you up to date with the latest Bird Flu developments.
Sign up to receive animal disease alerts from APHA on the GOV.UK website.