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Guidance

Register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds

How to register if you keep up to 49 birds, including any you keep as pets.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published:
12 December 2023
Last updated:
30 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. We've updated the section, 'After you have registered'. You do not need to update your kept birds record if the number of birds you keep changes but you still have fewer than 50 birds.

  2. Clarified the wording of the registration requirements for gatherings.

  3. Added a link to a new online service to confirm changes to your details or the details of birds you keep.

  4. Added canaries to the list of birds you do not need to register if they are fully housed in a dwelling with no access to the open air.

  5. Updated the Welsh version of the guidance to reflect recent updates to the English version.

  6. Added links to the legislation that underpins the requirement to register.

  7. The online service to register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds is now available. It was unavailable for a temporary period because of technical issues.

  8. Updated introduction to clarify that you must register within one month of keeping poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales.

  9. Updated information about the online registration service, which is currently unavailable, and when you must register.

  10. Updated English and Welsh versions of the guidance to temporarily remove the option to register via the online portal.

  11. The online service to register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds is now available. It was unavailable for a temporary period because of technical issues.

  12. We've added an updated version of the form 'register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds' in English.

  13. Our online service is currently unavailable due to technical issues. You can still register by using the form 'register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds' or emailing customer.registration@apha.gov.uk.

  14. We've added an updated version of the form 'register to be a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds' in English and Welsh. We've also added a Welsh version of the page.

  15. We are experiencing an extremely high volume of applications. We currently aim to process applications within 30 days. If you have already submitted an application, do not submit another.

  16. Added information about what to do if you have a CPH number or have already registered. Also updated the PDF form. Welsh translations of the form and other information will be available soon.

  17. Updated the email address under 'After you have registered'.

  18. Updated the page with information about registering your birds before 1 October 2024.

  19. We are experiencing a high volume of applications to register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds. We aim to process your application within 10 working days.

  20. First published.

Applies to England and Wales

You must register within one month of keeping poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales. This includes:

  • any birds you keep as pets
  • if you regularly sell or deal in birds from the premises (check the gatherings guidance to see whether you also need a gatherings licence)

You’re breaking the law if you do not register.

Read different guidance if you keep a total of 50 or more poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales.

When you do not need to register

You do not need to register psittaciformes or passeriformes (such as budgies, parrots, cockatiels, canaries and finches) if they are both:

  • fully housed in a dwelling (your home or another indoor structure)
  • with no access to the open air

You must register if you take your birds outdoors at any time – for example, to exercise or train them. You do not need to register to take an exempt bird to a veterinary practice. You may need to register to take birds to a bird gathering – check with the organisers to find out what their licence requires.

How to register

If you have a County Parish Holding (CPH) number 

You can register in 2 ways, either by: 

If you do not have a CPH number 

You can register online – it should take about 10 minutes. 

We’ll ask you for: 

  • your contact details 
  • details of the owner of the birds (if this is not you) 
  • the location where you keep the birds 
  • details of the birds you keep (species, number and what you keep them for) 

Start now

By registering:

  • the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will contact you with updates and guidance if there’s a disease outbreak (such as bird flu) in your area
  • you’ll help prevent the spread of disease and protect all kept birds, including back-yard flocks

Get help

If you need help registering contact APHA:

After you have registered

You must confirm your details and the details of the birds you keep to APHA every 12 months.

If your details or the details of birds you keep have changed, you must tell APHA within 30 days. This includes when you:

  • change your contact details
  • no longer keep or own birds
  • change the species of birds your keep
  • change your main purpose for keeping birds
  • start keeping 50 or more birds

You can update your kept bird record online or:

Legislation 

The requirement to register within one month of keeping poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales is set out in the: 

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