Mandatory housing order coming into place following rise of Avian Flu cases in England

04 November 2025

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has ordered a mandatory housing order to cover the whole of England from 0001 on Thursday 6^, November 2025, following the escalating number of confirmations of avian influenza in kept and wild birds.

The new measures mean bird keepers across the whole of England must house all poultry and captive birds if they keep more than 50 or if they sell or give eggs away.

A GB wide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is already in place and requires all keepers whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock to undertake enhanced biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease.

Bird keepers must continue to follow the strict biosecurity measures, including:

• Cleaning and disinfecting footwear and equipment
• Minimising movement in and out of bird enclosures
• Monitoring birds for signs of disease

The risk to public health remains low, and properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat. However anyone who suspects a case within the area or finds a dead bird is advised to report this to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The full details can be found on the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.