Bird flu: rules if you keep game birds
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-25)

How to manage game birds during a bird flu (avian influenza) outbreak.

In this guidance, game bird means any:
- pheasant
- partridge
- ptarmigan
- grouse or moor game
- black (or heath) game
- ducks bred for shooting
Check what zone you’re in

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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading).

In the AIPZ in England there are mandatory housing measures which mean you may have to house your birds.

If you have more than 50 birds you must house them. This applies to all types of birds, including game birds that have not been released or birds that have been caught and kept.

If you keep less than 50 birds and they are for your own use only (for example you do not sell or give away eggs, live birds or meat), you do not have to house them.

If you keep less than 50 birds but you do sell or give away their eggs, poultry products or live birds, you must house them. These birds are known as ‘poultry’.

You may be in a disease control zone where there are additional rules.

Check what zone you’re in using the bird flu disease zone map (https://defra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8cb1883eda5547c6b91b5d5e6aeba90d) and follow the rules for that zone (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu-cases-and-disease-control-zones-in-england).

Prevent bird flu spreading

You must follow the rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-how-to-prevent-it-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.

Report signs of disease

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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu). If you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.

Find out how to report dead wild birds (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds).

Feeding game birds

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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds) or by calling xx-xxxx-xxxx.

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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fallen-stock).

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
Releasing game birds into the wild

Once game birds have been released, they’re classed as wild birds for bird flu rules. The person who released the game birds is no longer ‘the keeper’ of the birds.

You must not release game birds into the wild in England. This is while the whole of England is in an AIPZ with mandatory housing measures.

Additional rules apply to the release of common pheasants or red-legged partridges on European sites or within 500 metres of their boundary (known as the buffer zone). These species may only be released under licence (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gamebirds-licence-to-release-common-pheasants-or-red-legged-partridges-on-european-sites-and-within-500m-of-their-boundary-gl43/gl43-licence-to-release-common-pheasants-or-red-legged-partridges-on-european-sites-and-within-500m-of-their-boundary).

Catching up game birds

You cannot catch up game birds from the wild outside the shooting season for the species (https://www.gov.uk/hunting/Birds).

If you bring caught up game birds together from more than one location you must follow the rules for bird gatherings (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-gatherings-licences).

Once caught up, previously wild game birds are classed as poultry. They are subject to all the same bird flu rules as other poultry.

In an AIPZ, you must not move wild game birds caught up in the open season for at least 21 days from the date of catching up. You must keep a record of both the:
- date of catching up
- number of birds caught up each day
The 21 day rule applies from the date the last bird was caught up or the date the last bird arrives at the premises where they’ll be kept.

Outside an AIPZ, you should still apply the 21 day rule to protect your birds and reduce the risk of bird flu spreading.

Game Farmers’ Association advice

Check the bird flu advice from the Game Farmers’ Association (https://www.gfa.org.uk/user_files/uploads/2023%20Bird%20flu%20and%20Gamebirds%20standing%20advice%20final.pdf).