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

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:

• using the form to register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds (PDF, 201177 KB, 4 pages)
• emailing customer.registration@apha.gov.uk

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)

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:

• by email at customer.registration@apha.gov.uk
• by phone on 03000 200 301 (lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday)

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.