Register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-19)

How to register if you keep up to 49 birds, including any you keep as pets.

You must register within one month of keeping poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales. This includes:
- any birds you keep as pets
- if you regularly sell or deal in birds from the premises (check the gatherings guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-gatherings-licences) to see whether you also need a gatherings licence)
You’re breaking the law if you do not register.

Read different guidance if you keep a total of 50 or more poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-including-game-birds-registration-rules-and-forms)

When you do not need to register

You do not need to register psittaciformes or passeriformes (such as budgies, parrots, cockatiels, canaries and finches) if they are both:
- fully housed in a dwelling (your home or another indoor structure)
- with no access to the open air
You must register if you take your birds outdoors at any time – for example, to exercise or train them, or to take them to bird gatherings such as exhibitions or shows. You do not need to register to take an exempt bird to a veterinary practice.

How to register

If you have a County Parish Holding (CPH) number

You can register in 2 ways, either by:

using the form to register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66fc1a403b919067bb482a54/IRA82_Kept_bird_registration_form-_less_than_50_poultry_or_other_captive_birds.pdf) (PDF, 177 KB, 4 pages)

emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

If you do not have a CPH number

You can register online – it should take about 10 minutes.

We’ll ask you for:
- your contact details
- details of the owner of the birds (if this is not you)
- the location where you keep the birds
- details of the birds you keep (species, number and what you keep them for)
Start now (https://poultryregistration.defra.gov.uk/?culture=en-GB)

By registering:
- the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will contact you with updates and guidance if there’s a disease outbreak (such as bird flu) in your area
- you’ll help prevent the spread of disease and protect all kept birds, including back-yard flocks
Get help

If you need help registering contact APHA:
- by email at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- by phone on xx-xxxx-xxxx (lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday)
After you have registered

You must confirm your details and the details of the birds you keep to APHA every 12 months.

If your details or the details of birds you keep have changed, you must tell APHA within 30 days. This includes when you:
- change your contact details
- no longer keep or own birds
- change the species or number of birds your keep
- change your main purpose for keeping birds
You can update your kept bird record online (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/update-your-kept-bird-record) or:
- email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- call xx-xxxx-xxxx – lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday
Legislation

The requirement to register within one month of keeping poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales is set out in the:

Exotic Disease (Amendment) (England) Order 2024 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/558/article/4/made)

Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2024/795/regulation/3/made)