[Aidy]

Seems the government are now updating  their registration for keepers of less than 50 birds.
Details here
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-to-help-protect-poultry-industry-from-bird-flu?fbclid=IwAR0C_tAMqD_Z4HMhVkZqvx7kTv-R8OSjyxQKHeCZ4M71Wnn9QyjVjYvdxo0

[New shoot]

Seems to be a pretty brief form to fill in.  I am guessing they will not really be interested in those just registering a few birds, but in the event of a major bird flu outbreak in your area, they might be looking at breeders or smallholders.  I can’t see aviary birds being too much of a risk.  Perhaps racing pigeons who fly free are more of one

My little lot have a roof over their head year round and are kept in when bird flu is about, because I don’t want them getting ill. I’ll register them, but I think I am a responsible poultry keeper anyway.  Sorry to be cynical, but it makes as much sense as the dog licence scheme.  When it was abandoned in the late 80’s it was estimated about half of dog owners didn’t bother.

[Aidy]

Agree New Shoot.

Can't see many backyard keepers registering  to be honest.  Like you mine have a covered run that wild birds can't get in etc.
I suspect it is more the industry trying to put hurdles up.

Not be long we will be have to register being potato growers when there is an outbreak of blight!

[New shoot]

Just a reminder that you are required to register your chickens with DEFRA by 1st October even if you have less than 50 birds.

https://poultryregistration.defra.gov.uk/

It is a very brief form and covers all kinds of birds, not just poultry. 

[pdblake]

I've just emailed mine now. They haven't done a very good job of advertising this. I only found out today from a colleague.

Saying that, how will the know if someone hasn't registered? They'll only know about the ones who do. Can't imagine they'll be sending the chicken police out to enforce it.

[snowdrops]

There’s an issue with any of the links to this and direct on gov.uk and you cannot register at present.

[pdblake]

Yeah I got an auto-response saying, in essence, that they're snowed under with it and it might take a while for them to get back to me. I was a bit worried about being late but the form doesn't ask when you started keeping birds so, as far as they're concerned, I could have got them yesterday.


ETA: this is a direct link to the form for less than 50 birds if anyone needs it. Just download it (it's editable), fill it in, and then email it to the address on the form.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66fc1a403b919067bb482a54/IRA82_Kept_bird_registration_form-_less_than_50_poultry_or_other_captive_birds.pdf

[snowdrops]

Yes after I posted I reread but then went round in circles on the link provided so I rang and got a nice lady, but I’m not sure that she wasn’t someone’s granny that hadn’t seen a computer until this week  . She finally managed to get my email address but wondered if I was able to look for it whilst we were on the phone to each other I’ve finally got the form but seem unable to type in the box from my iPad, but can from my phone. Should these idiots at gov.uk have anything to do with telling us how to live I wonder!

[New shoot]

I registered mine around the time I posted the reminder and got an email saying it may take a while to hear anything as they were busy.  I did get my official bit of paper in the end, but if they were struggling to keep up with applications mid September I expect they are completely swamped by now.

Can't imagine they'll be sending the chicken police out to enforce it.

I can’t either 

As far as I can see it is like most of this type of regulation.  A tick box exercise where you supply contact details and they issue alerts to you about bird flu.  Then it will only be an issue if you somehow manage to trigger some massive bird flu outbreak near you and either have not registered, or are flouting the rules about managing your flock when they ask you to house them and not let them have contact with wild birds.  I also suspect they are relying on neighbours or members of the public snitching on you 

[danfinn1]

Registered today as I heard the website had crashed in October and then forgot until I read about it again on here 

[pdblake]

Finally got my registration through. In the original form it asked how many birds you have, since then I've lost one (old age, they're all close to nine years old now), but the registration doesn't mention numbers nor does it ask you to tell them when you lose any. I presume you would if it's notifiable like bird flu.

Do you need to tell them when the size of your flock changes? I've only got two left anyway now.

According to this (and the notice they send you) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-as-a-keeper-of-less-than-50-poultry-or-other-captive-birds#after-you-have-registered

After you have registered
If your details have changed, you’ll need to tell APHA within one month when:

you no longer keep or own birds
your contact information changes
you change the species of poultry or other captive birds you keep
you change the purpose or purposes for which you keep birds
you start keeping 50 or more poultry or other captive birds

So, I think probably not myself.

[New shoot]

I think you will be fine if you have just lost 1. They would have to expect some changes in flock size over a year.