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, you바카라 사이트檙e breaking the law.
Find out how to report dead wild game birds.
Check if you바카라 사이트檙e in a bird flu disease control or prevention zone
Check if you바카라 사이트檙e in a zone on the .
If you바카라 사이트檙e 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, they바카라 사이트檙e classed as wild birds for bird flu rules. The person who released the game birds is no longer 바카라 사이트榯he keeper바카라 사이트� of the birds.
You must not release game birds into the wild if you바카라 사이트檙e 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 birds바카라 사이트� 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 they바카라 사이트檒l 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 Farmers바카라 사이트� Association advice
Check the .
Updates to this page
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The link to the latest bird flu advice from the Game Farmers바카라 사이트� Association has been updated.
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The link to the latest bird flu advice from the Game Farmers바카라 사이트� 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 바카라 사이트楥atching up birds바카라 사이트� section with a link to the bird gathering guidance.
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First published.