Register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds

In England and Wales you must register up 49 poultry or other kept birds by 1 October 2024. This includes any birds you keep as pets.

You’re breaking the law if you do not register.

You do not need to register psittaciformes or passeriformes (such as budgies, parrots, cockatiels and finches) if they are both:

• fully housed in a dwelling (your home or another indoor structure)
• kept indoors at all times with no access to outdoor spaces

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

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)

Registration should take about 5 minutes.

Start now

After you have registered

You’ll need to tell APHA about any changes to:

• the details you’ve provided
• the number and species of birds you keep

Email your changes to poultry.registration@apha.gov.ukCustomer.Registration@apha.gov.uk.

Other ways to register

You can also register by email or post using the form register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds (PDF, 572 KB, 4 pages).

Registering 50 or more birds

It’s a legal requirement to register if you are the keeper of 50 or more birds. You must complete the form to register to be a keeper of 50 or more poultry or other captive birds.

Registering a racing pigeon establishment

Registering a racing pigeon establishment is voluntary, unless you want to move pigeons to the EU or Northern Ireland for immediate release for racing back to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).