GovWire

In this guide, poultry and other captive birds includes:

• chickens
• turkeys
• aviary birds
• birds of prey
• cassowaries
• ducks
• emus
• geese
• guinea fowls
• kiwis
• ostriches
• partridges
• pheasants
• pigeons
• psittacines (for example parrots, budgies and cockatiels)
• quails
• rheas

Youre a bird keeper if youre in charge of the day-to-day care of birds, including any you keep as pets.

Compulsory registration 50 or more birds

You must register using the compulsory registration form within one month of keeping 50 or more birds on your premises. Youre breaking the law if you do not register. The law applies if you keep:

• 50 or more birds captive for any period of time
• flocks made up of different species, such as chickens, ducks or geese
• birds for the consumption of meat and eggs, restocking of game birds, other commercial purposes or breeding for any of these 3 purposes

Youll need this information to complete the form:

• your contact details
• details of the person or company that owns or rents your site
• your sites location and county parish holding (CPH) number - (find out how to get a permanentCPHnumber in England, Scotland and Wales)
• details of the birds you keep and how you farm them (species, number you usually keep, what you keep them for, your farming system)
• how many birds of each species you usually keep each month (your stocking arrangements)
• details of any businesses you supply with your poultry
• a list of other livestock you keep on the site

Voluntary registration less than 50 birds

You can register 49 birds or less, including any you keep as pets. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) encourages you to register even though you do not have to by law.

By registering:

• APHAwill be able to contact you if theres a disease outbreak (such as bird flu) in your area
• youll help prevent the spread of disease and protect the national poultry flock

Youll need this information to complete your application:

• 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)

You can register online by either:

• using the service Register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds
• completing and submitting the voluntary poultry registration form

Where to send your application

Send your application by email to customer.registration@apha.gov.uk or send it by post to:

Alternatively, you can call the Animal and Plant health Agency (APHA) on 03000 200 301 and apply over the phone.

For the voluntary registration of less than 50 birds you can also use the online service.

Get help

If you need help completing the forms, contact the Great Britain Poultry Register helpline:

• by phone on 0800 634 1112 - lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday
• by email at Customer.Registration@apha
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