With Autumn has come the deadline for Registering your Poultry with DEFRA (and the APHA) under new regulations introduced to prevent the spread of Bird Flu.
Under the new legislation, all keepers of poultry in England and Wales, even if you just have two or three pottering around your allotment or garden, must register them with DEFRA before Tuesday 1st October 2024.
DO NOT WORRY! The Registration only requires your address, the number of birds you keep, and the type (e.g. chicken, duck, geese etc). It is an online registration form but you can email them if you prefer at customer.registration@apha.gov.uk
Under previous guidance, this was only applicable to those with 50 or more birds, but in the ongoing efforts to stem the spread of Bird Flu, this has been expanded to include all of us. Scotland has a later deadline of 1st December 2024, but registration is now available.
The online registration is easy - follow this link to the DEFRA Registration page - and it is simply so that, should incidences of Bird Flu or disease breakout in your area, they can inform you to keep your birds under cover.
We understand there have been issues for some of you trying to register by the deadline so the APHA (DEFRA) have given the following contact number and email for you to get help if needed.
If you do not register, or make efforts to register, your birds you could open yourself up to a hefty fine or 3 months imprisonment under the Animal Health Act 1981 (section 75).
This registration policy will keep any 'flockdowns' far more localised rather than, as in previous outbreaks, telling the whole country to keep their birds enclosed for months on end.
In our humble opinion, it is not a 'big brother operation' but rather it is to help us be informed and, for the welfare of everyone's birds. It does not mean the Animal Plant & Health Agency (APHA) is going to randomly come and cull all your birds!
NOTE, THE REGISTRATION IS DONE WITH THE APHA, NOT FLYTE SO FANCY!
If you have any queries or worries, however, you can MESSAGE US or call us on 01300 345229 and we will help as best we can.
