New Poultry Registration Requirements

On 1st October 2024 new legislation came into force requiring poultry keepers with any number of birds to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Under previous rules, registration was only required for a person keeping 50 or more birds.

I fall into the new registration category, albeit in a very small-scale, hobbyist kind of way. I have a few chickens, which lay me a few eggs every now and then (when they feel like it).

They are kept in a secure run at the top of the garden, which is totally contained and separate from the external world. That being the case, they do not interact with any of the local wild bird population.

I've had them for years and they've never been a bother to anyone, so one might question the right of the state, particularly when my birds are isolated from the wider world, to interfere in this most therapeutic and enjoyable of pastimes.

I have to admit that as a hobbyist I rarely keep up to date with the latest poultry keeping news. For that reason it took me by surprise when someone mentioned the new rules just yesterday. Sure enough, it was true - poultry keepers with any number of birds are now required to register the fact with APHA.

I hope the authorities are feeling benevolent, because technically I have fallen foul (fowl?) of the rules by registering a couple of days later.

The legislation in question is regulation 7 of the Avian Influenza (Preventative Measures)(England) Regulations 2006, as amended by order 4 of the Exotic Diseases (Amendment)(England) Order 2024.

Under regulation 7 a person who keeps poultry needs to notify the Secretary of State in writing of:

• the address of the premises at which the poultry is kept;
• the name and address of the poultry keeper;
• if different, the name and address of the person who owns the premises at which the poultry are kept;
• the species of poultry kept at the premises;
• the number of poultry of each species kept at the premises;
• the purpose or purposes for which each species of poultry is kept at the premises.

The poultry keeper needs to notify APHA of any changes to their circumstances within 30 days; and, if no such notification has been made, confirm their registration details every 12 months.

There are additional requirements for keepers of 50 or more birds.

Contravention of this regulation is an offence under section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981, which has a maximum penalty on summary conviction of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine.

APHA is currently inundated with poultry keepers trying to register, so much so that their online system has been overwhelmed.

They are still accepting registration by email, but say that processing could take weeks.

That being the case I'm hoping they won't notice my tardiness!