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If you keep poultry, including game birds, pets or other captive birds anywhere in GB, you should take steps now to review your biosecurity. This is particularly important if you are in or close to a higher risk area.
We encourage all keepers to follow our biosecurity advice in captive birds, as it represents good practice - whether you have commercial flocks, smaller flocks, game birds, or pet birds.
There is a legal requirement for all poultry keepers with 50 or more birds to register their premises on the Great Britain Poultry Register. The voluntary registration of premises with fewer than 50 birds is highly encouraged.
Animal Health and Welfare
Scottish Government
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Saughton House
Edinburgh
First published:13 Feb 2021Last updated:18 Feb 2021 - show all updates
Latest situation information updated.
Updated to include information about highly pathogenic strain, PZ and SZ specifications and general licence on mammal movement.
Latest situation information updated re declaration of two Temporary Control Zones in Glenrothes.
Latest situation information updated.
Wild bird surveillance information updated.
Updated the licencing page to say the licence has been revoked.
Latest situation information updated.
Update adding link to end of surveillance zone protection declaration, and additional locations for presence of H5 vaccine
Duck, geese and gamebirds poster added as well as link to Avian Influenza Prevention Zone poster.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Added new section on licencing for Protection and Surveillance Zones.
Updated latest information section.
Information about disposing of dead wild birds found on private property added.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
information added to the dead or sick wild birds: what to do section
Latest situation information updated to include Avian influenza H5N8 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) has been confirmed in poultry and captive birds at a premises near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situated information updated to reflect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the H5N8 strain has been confirmed in broiler breeder chickens at a premises near Leominster in Herefordshire.
Latest situated information updated to reflect the declaration of an Avian influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across the whole of Scotland as of 17:00 on 11 November 2020.
Latest situation updated to reflect two unrelated confirmed cases of avian influenza in England and increasing reports of avian influenza affecting flocks in mainland Europe.
Pathogen information updated to reflect latest results.
Latest information updated to include links to 2 new outbreaks of Avian Influenza in Cheshire and Kent.
Latest situation updated to reflect the fact that here are currently no restrictions.