Bird flu: rules if you keep game birds

You must follow the rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading. The rules apply to all poultry and other captive birds, including game birds which have not been released.

In this guidance, game bird means any:

• pheasant
• partridge
• ptarmigan
• grouse or moor game
• black (or heath) game
• ducks bred for shooting

Report signs of disease

You must check your birds regularly for signs of disease. Contact your vet immediately if you have any concerns.

If you suspect bird flu in captive birds, you must report it immediately. If you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.

Find out how to report dead wild game birds.

Check if you’re in a bird flu disease control zone

Check what zone you’re in on the bird flu disease zone map.

If you’re in a disease control zone you must follow the rules for that zone.

Feeding game birds in release pens

In an AIPZ you must feed placed pheasants:

• at least 50m away from any water bodies regularly visited by ducks or other waterfowl
• with feeders you place in areas they like to feed but are less attractive to other wild birds

In an AIPZ you must feed placed game birds:

• in release pens at least 500m away from any poultry or other kept birds
• with at least one feeding station per 60 game birds

For feeding and watering stations you must:

• inspect them daily and clean as appropriate to remove soiling with faecal matter and feathers
• cover them to avoid contamination from wild bird droppings – including covering drinkers if possible
• move them regularly (and at least once a week) to avoid accumulation of faecal matter and feathers
• remove any spilled feed that could attract wild birds daily

Releasing game birds into the wild

Once game birds have been released, they’re classed as wild birds for bird flu rules. The person who released the game birds is no longer ‘the keeper’ of the birds.

You must not release game birds into the wild if you’re in a disease control zone.

You can release game birds into the wild in an AIPZ where no disease control zones are in force.

Additional rules apply to the release of common pheasants or red-legged partridges on European sites or within 500 metres of their boundary (known as the buffer zone). These species may only be released under licence.

Feeding released game birds outside release pens

In a disease control zone or AIPZ:

• you can continue to feed and water released game birds exceptbut withinit must be at least:
  • 500m ofaway from a premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept
  • you50m shouldaway from watercourses where ducks and geese congregate

  You must cover feeders and take steps minimise the chance of other wild birds accessing your released birds’ fooddrinkers.

  Check for dead birds near where you’re feeding game birds

  In an AIPZ, if you feed and water

If you find any dead game birds, gulls, waterfowl or birds of prey you should report dead wild birds.   

The report will be triaged and the carcases may be collected for testing. If the carcasses are not collected within 72 hours you must safely dispose of the carcasses.

Catching up game birds

You cannot catch up game birds from the wild outside the shooting season for the species.

If you bring caught up game birds together from more than one location you must follow the rules for bird gatherings.

Once caught up, previously wild game birds are classed as poultry. They are subject to all the same bird flu rules as other poultry.

In an AIPZ, you must not move wild game birds caught up in the open season for at least 21 days from the date of catching up. You must keep a record of both the:

• date of catching up
• number of birds caught up each day

The 21 day rule applies from the date the last bird was caught up or the date the last bird arrives at the premises where they’ll be kept.

Outside an AIPZ, you should still apply the 21 day rule to protect your birds and reduce the risk of bird flu spreading.

Game Farmers’ Association advice

Check the bird flu advice from the Game Farmers’ Association.