Bird flu: rules if you keep game birds
How to manage game birds during a bird flu (avian influenza) outbreak.
Applies to England
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 or prevention zone
Check if you’re in a zone on the bird flu disease zone map.
If you’re in a disease control zone you must follow the rules for that zone.
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
- an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) with housing measures
You can release game birds into the wild in an AIPZ in areas:
- without housing measures
- 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
In a disease control zone or AIPZ:
- you can continue to feed and water released game birds except within 500m of a premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept
- you should minimise the chance of other wild birds accessing your released birds’ food and water
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.
Last updated 5 January 2024 + show all updates
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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 ‘Catching up birds’ section with a link to the bird gathering guidance.
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First published.