All bird keepers in Scotland will be legally required to register their birds to aid the government in tracking and controlling bird flu more effectively.

If you keep domesticated species, such as hens, ducks, or geese, you must register, or re-register, the locations where your birds are kept. This registration period runs from 1 September to 1 December 2024.

The Scottish government emphasises that registration will be ‘free, quick, and simple’, and details must be updated at least annually.

Currently, only those who keep 50 or more birds are required to register on the Scottish Kept Bird Register. However, from September 1, all bird keepers, regardless of the number of birds, will need to register.

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Exceptions apply to keepers of specific species like parrots, budgerigars, finches, or other perching birds, who are not required to register.

Penny Middleton, NFU Scotland’s poultry policy manager, noted that during past avian influenza outbreaks, it was challenging for the government to communicate directly with small backyard keepers.

“These registration changes are a necessary step to help protect the health of kept birds and the general public from future avian disease risks," she said: “From September 1, 2024 it will become compulsory for all keepers of birds in Scotland to register their flocks, even if they only have a single bird, and to keep their records updated annually.

She added that the new Scottish Kept Bird Register will replace the existing poultry register.

By registering, bird keepers will ensure they receive crucial updates, such as information on local outbreaks and biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. The data collected will also help identify bird keepers within disease control zones, allowing for more effective monitoring and ensuring that zones can be lifted as quickly as possible, minimising trade disruptions following an avian disease outbreak in Britain.