Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council are advising bird keepers in Blaenau Gwent that they need to register themselves with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) after it became a legal requirement earlier this month.
Previously, only keepers with 50 or more birds were legally required to register.
However, since 1 October 2024, the new legal requirement means keepers of poultry and other captive birds must register regardless of the size of their flock.
Animal Health Officers are urging bird keepers who haven’t register themselves with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to do so immediately. By registering you will receive updates and guidance if there’s a disease outbreak, such as bird flu, in your area.
You will also be helping to prevent the spread of disease and protect all kept birds, including backyard flocks.
Cllr Helen Cunningham, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Place and Environment, said:
“The new registration requirements will help bird keepers to protect their flocks and receive important updates and timely communications. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will contact bird keepers if there’s a notifiable disease outbreak in their area to inform them about actions they need to take to protect the health of their birds. All poultry, whether a large commercial flock or a few backyard pets are at risk of infectious diseases so please inform the APHA to protect the health of your birds should you suspect anything.”
Keepers will be required to review their entry on the register on an annual basis to ensure their details are up to date and any changes are recorded.
Some types of captive birds that are kept as pets and live solely indoors without any outside access, are exempt from registration.
To find out more visit www.gov.uk/poultry-registration