LATEST INFORMATION ABOUT AVIAN INFLUENZA
nd April 2026: the APHA have just announced it will be lifting the Bird Flu Prevention Zone (AIPZ) measures in England and Wales from midnight 9th April. Mandatory biosecurity measures remain in place, however.
11th Nov 2025: The APHA have announced that due to an increase in cases of Bird flu, they have extended the housing measures, like England below, to cover Wales from 00.01 on 13th Nov.
There are some areas in the AIPZ in England where you already have to house your birds. From 00.01 on 6th November 2025, mandatory housing measures will be extended to the whole of England (for the criteria below^).
Note again: You do not have to house your birds if you keep fewer than 50 birds and their eggs or poultry products are for your own use only.
28th October 2025: Just to clarify APHA announcement today ...
^You must house your birds IF:
- You live in the counties which are listed on gov.uk here,
AND:
- You have 50 birds or more.
- You have less than 50 birds and SELL or GIVE AWAY your eggs, live birds or birds as food (meat products).
APHA actually states on their website: "From 00:01am on Thu 30 October 2025, there will be some areas of the AIPZ in England where you must house your birds if you keep either:
* more than 50 birds of any species
* any number of poultry (meaning birds that are kept to give away or sell eggs, poultry products or live birds).
You will not have to house your birds if you keep fewer than 50 birds, and their eggs or meat are for your own use only.
These additional housing measures will apply in the high-risk counties listed to help protect your birds from bird flu." Link to Gov.uk website for list.
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How to care for your flock during a Bird flu restriction
Our Ask Phill video number 6 sets out our top tips for taking stock and preparing yourself and your flock to beat Bird Flu this winter (filmed in 2017).
Some of the products mentioned are no longer available, so please visit Avian Influenza page for the latest. New 2025 video here.
It seems to be the case that every winter we have a Bird flu announcement or lock-down period. This is where we are being told by The Animal & Plant Health Agency (under DEFRA) to keep up with bio-security measures and remain vigilant to keep our birds safe, or contain them within a covered run area.
For more information on recognising Bird Flu, how to deal with it and what the APHA mean when they say Protection Zone; Surveillance Zone; Housing Order; etc - visit our page Bird Flu Hints & Tips
