Change description : 2025-01-01 00:01:00: Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer. Updated licence condition 8 and the ‘Avian influenza’ information and advice note. [Guidance and regulation]
This licence lets you raise chicks from the incubated eggs of the following species for a limited period before you must register them:
honey buzzards
golden eagles
white-tailed eagles
peregrine falcons
goshawks
marsh harriers
Montagu’s harriers
merlins
ospreys
From the day they are hatched, you must ring and register these chicks within:
30 days for white-tailed and golden eagles
15 days for the other listed birds of prey
The chicks must have been bred in captivity. Their parents must have been in lawful captivity when the eggs were laid.
You must let Natural England, Defra or the police inspect the premises and chicks.
You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.
Updates to this page
Published 6 January 2020 Last updated 1 January 20242025
+ show all updates
Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer. Updated licence condition 8 and the 'Avian influenza' information and advice note.
There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.
Annual licence updates, valid from 1 January 2023.