Guidance

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

Register if you keep up to 49 birds, including any kept as pets.

Applies to England and Wales

Our online service is currently unavailable due to technical issues.

You can still register by:

We are experiencing an extremely high volume of applications. We currently aim to process applications within 30 days.

If you have already submitted an application, do not submit another. There is no penalty for registering after 1 October.

As of 1 October 2024, in England and Wales, you must register if you keep poultry or other captive birds. This includes any birds you keep as pets.

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

When you do not need to 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)
  • with no access to the open air

You do not need to register an exempt bird to visit a veterinary practice.

If your birds are taken outdoors at any time, for example to be exercised, trained, or taken to bird gatherings or shows, they must be registered.  

How to register

If you have a County Parish Holding (CPH) number

You can register in 2 ways, either by:

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)

Our online service is currently unavailable due to technical issues.

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

After you have registered

If your details have changed you’ll need to tell APHA within one month when:

  • you no longer keep or own birds
  • your contact information changes
  • you change the species of poultry or other captive birds you keep
  • you change the purpose or purposes for which you keep birds
  • you start keeping 50 or more poultry or other captive birds

Email customer.registration@apha.gov.uk or call on 03000 200 301. Lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

Get help

If you need help registering contact APHA:

Keeper of 50 or more birds

It’s a legal requirement to register. You must complete the relevant form to register premises where the birds are kept.

Updates to this page

Published 12 December 2023
Last updated 1 October 2024 + show all updates
  1. We've added an updated version of the form 'register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds' in English.

  2. Our online service is currently unavailable due to technical issues. You can still register by using the form 'register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds' or emailing customer.registration@apha.gov.uk.

  3. We've added an updated version of the form 'register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds' in English and Welsh. We've also added a Welsh version of the page.

  4. We are experiencing an extremely high volume of applications. We currently aim to process applications within 30 days. If you have already submitted an application, do not submit another.

  5. Added information about what to do if you have a CPH number or have already registered. Also updated the PDF form. Welsh translations of the form and other information will be available soon.

  6. Updated the email address under 'After you have registered'.

  7. Updated the page with information about registering your birds before 1 October 2024.

  8. We are experiencing a high volume of applications to register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds. We aim to process your application within 10 working days.

  9. First published.

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