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

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• any number of poultry (meaning birds that are kept to give away or sell eggs, poultry products or live birds)

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You ifmay you’rebe in a bird flu disease control zone

where there are stricter rules.  

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

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

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  Feeding game birds

ForTo keep game birds’ feeding and watering stations clean you must:must: 

• place feeders in areas that are less attractive to wild birds  
• inspect them daily and clean as appropriateneeded to remove soiling with faecal matter and feathersfeathers 
• cover them to avoid contamination from wild bird droppings – including covering drinkers if possiblepossible 
• move them regularly (and at least once a week) to avoid accumulationbuild up of faecal matter and feathersfeathers around the stations
• remove any spilled feed thatdaily couldto attractavoid attracting wild birdsbirds and dailywildlife

Releasing

You gameshould birdscheck intoup theto wild

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FeedingRelease pens or released game birds outsidein releasean pensAIPZ

InIf ayou diseasefeed controlgame zonebirds orin AIPZrelease youpens, canor continuebirds tothat feedhave andbeen waterreleased, releasedin gamean birdsAIPZ butyou it must befeed at least:them:

• at least 500m away from aany premises where poultry or other captivekept birdsbirds 
• with areat keptleast one feeding station per 60 game birds  
• at least 50m away from watercoursesany water bodies where ducks andor geese congregate

You

Releasing mustgame coverbirds feedersinto and take steps minimise the chance of other wild birds accessing your birds’ drinkers.

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Once forgame dead birds nearhave wherebeen you’rereleased, feedingthey’re gameclassed as wild birds

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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.