Bird flu: rules if you keep game birds
How to manage game birds during a bird flu (avian influenza) outbreak.
Applies to England
In this guidance, game bird means any:
- pheasant
- partridge
- ptarmigan
- grouse or moor game
- black (or heath) game
- ducks bred for shooting
Check if youāre in a disease control zone
England is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures. You may also be in a disease control zone.Ā Ā
Check what zone youāre in using theāÆ. If youāre in a disease control zone you mustāÆfollow the rules for that zone.
Prevent bird flu spreading
You must follow theāÆrules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading on the premises, in rearing and release pens and any areas you feed released game birds.
The rules apply to all poultry and other captive birds.
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, youāre breaking the law.
Find out how to report dead wild birds.
Feeding game birds
To keep game birdsā feeding and watering stations clean you must:Ā
- place feeders in areas that are less attractive to wild birdsĀ Ā
- inspect them daily and clean as needed to remove faecal matter and feathersĀ
- cover them to avoid contamination from wild bird droppings ā including covering drinkers if possibleĀ
- move them regularly (and at least once a week) to avoid build up of faecal matter and feathersĀ around the stations
- remove spilled feed daily to avoid attracting wild birdsĀ and wildlife
You should check up to 50m around the release pen or feeding area daily for carcasses of dead game birds or dead wild birds. If you find any dead wild birds, including released game birds, you should report them to Defra online or by calling 03459 33 55 77.Ā Ā
Your report will be triaged and the carcases may be collected for testing. If the carcasses are not collected within 96 hours you must safely dispose of them.
Release pensĀ or released birds in an AIPZ
If you feed game birds in release pens, or birds that have been released, in an AIPZ you must feed them:
- at least 500m away from any poultry or other kept birdsĀ
- with at least one feeding station per 60 game birds Ā
- at least 50m away from any water bodies where ducks or geese congregate
Releasing game birds into the wild
Once game birds have been released, theyāre classed as wild birds for bird flu rules. The person who released the game birds is no longer āthe keeperā of the birds.
You must not release game birds into the wild if youāre 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.
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 theyāll 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 Farmersā Association advice
Check the .
Updates to this page
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Added guidance on feeding game birds in an avian influenza protection zone (AIPZ).
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The mandatory housing measures have been lifted in the AIPZ in England. We have removed the references to them in this guidance.
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The link to the latest bird flu advice from the Game Farmersā Association has been updated.
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The link to the latest bird flu advice from the Game Farmersā Association has been updated.
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Clarified rules on catching up game birds: outside an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ), you should still not move birds for 21 days after catching up.
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Updated to reflect that the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) has been lifted.
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Updated the section 'catching up game birds'. The AIPZ has been updated to introduce a 21 day standstill for all wild game birds caught up during the open season.
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Added a list of what game bird means in this guidance. Updated the āCatching up birdsā section with a link to the bird gathering guidance.
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First published.