Permit for a amount of fowl. Uk

[Cornishboyraptor]

I'm in Cornwall UK and I'm wondering if I need a permit for an amount of chickens, I've searched it up and it says if I have more than 50 poultry in a flock? Does it mean an enclosure one flock is contained in or is the flock all the poultry in my possession.

 

[Perris]

If you keep 50+ birds (in any arrangement of enclosures or subflocks) you have to register them with the APHA within a month of getting to that number (you don't need their permission to keep birds). Guidance and forms here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-including-game-birds-registration-rules-and-forms
It is not as complicated as it looks, but most people stick to under 50 to avoid it all

 

[Cornishboyraptor]

If you keep 50+ birds (in any arrangement of enclosures or subflocks) you have to register them with the APHA within a month of getting to that number (you don't need their permission to keep birds). Guidance and forms here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-including-game-birds-registration-rules-and-forms
It is not as complicated as it looks, but most people stick to under 50 to avoid it all

Thank you. May I ask what getting people to registering with APHA does? Is it to estimate how many poultry there is in the UK? Its a fairly new development since my uncle had chickens a few years ago.

 

[Perris]

Don't mention it; happy to help.

It is for biosecurity purposes; APHA = animal and plant health agency. They want to know where large flocks are in case of disease outbreaks. And if you sign up for alerts, they'll let you know about any nasties passing by, like the AI outbreak brought by migrating wetland fowl just recently, and offer guidance on how to protect your flock.

I think there are different (more) rules if you've over 350 birds. The website is surprisingly easy to use, if you want to follow up on anything.