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Guidance

Hold a bird gathering in England

Understand which licence you need to bring together captive birds, and the rules you must follow to prevent the spread of bird flu.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published:
14 May 2015
Last updated:
25 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated information in section 'When to apply for a specific license' and added new section 'How APHA assesses applications for bird gatherings' and updated section 'Notify APHA of a bird gathering' with link to the bird gathering license service.

  2. Updated the bullet list that tells you when you can hold a bird gathering - deleted 'do not have any other types of birds, chicks or hatching eggs (that are close to hatching) at your gathering'.

  3. Updated guidance on when you can hold a gathering, when to apply for a specific licence and when to notify APHA of a bird gathering.

  4. Updated to reflect that the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) has been lifted.

  5. Updated guidance to reflect that from 21 April 2026 a new general licence is in place for poultry. You can use the general licence to hold gatherings of galliformes and ratites.

  6. Updated guidance to reflect the changed general licence. You can use the general licence to hold a gathering including columbiformes, passeriformes, psittaciformes and birds of prey. You must apply for a specific licence to hold a gathering of galliformes, anseriformes or ratites.

  7. Clarified that you can hold a bird gathering with a mix of psittaciformes, birds of prey or racing pigeons, if you follow the conditions in the general licence. You can also have these birds at a gathering if you are granted a specific licence for a gathering of poultry and other captive birds.

  8. Updated guidance and links to licences. You can use a general licence to hold a bird gathering of psittaciformes, birds of prey and racing pigeons in England. You must apply for a specific licence to hold a gathering of poultry and other captive birds (passeriformes, columbiformes and ratites) in England.

  9. Updated the guidance under the 'How to hold a bird gathering in England' heading.

  10. Updated guidance to explain that you cannot hold a bird gathering for most types of poultry if you're in an area of the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) where you must house your birds.

  11. You can apply for a licence to hold a bird gathering of poultry in England if you're not in a disease control zone.

  12. You can now apply for a licence to hold a bird gathering of ratites (such as ostriches, emus and rheas) in England if you're not in a disease control zone.

  13. The guidance has been updated to include what activities do not count as gatherings.

  14. Updated section on ‘what counts as a bird gathering’ for clarity.

  15. From Monday 10 February 2025 you cannot hold bird gatherings of poultry, galliforme or anseriforme birds in England. This includes ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl.

  16. The page has been updated to clarify information around bird gatherings.

  17. Updated to reflect that from 26 April 2023, gatherings of all poultry and other captive birds, including ducks, geese and swans are permitted. You need to follow the requirements of the poultry gathering general licence and notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at least 7 days before the event.

  18. Galliforme birds from premises located in Wales are permitted to attend galliforme gatherings in England from 16 February 2024.

  19. The general licence for poultry gatherings in England has been amended. Galliforme poultry kept at registered premises in Scotland can attend shows and gatherings held in England from 5 February 2024.

  20. Updated to reflect that from 23 August 2023 gatherings of galliforme poultry and galliforme birds are permitted in England. You must follow and meet the conditions of the general licences and notify APHA of the gathering.

  21. Updated the information under the 'Notifiable avian disease risk' heading and other minor changes.

  22. Updated to reflect changes to the bird gatherings general licence. From 8 November 2021 no gatherings of poultry, galliforme birds or anseriforme birds are permitted.

  23. Updated to reflect that the new bird gatherings general license is in force from 12:00 on 15 May 2021.

  24. Updated guidance to reflect changes to the bird gatherings general licence.

  25. Updated to reflect that some captive bird gatherings are now permitted.

  26. Updated the guidance under the 'What counts as a bird gathering' heading.

  27. Updated to reflect that bird gatherings are currently not permitted.

  28. Page now available in the Welsh language

  29. Updated licence published: gatherings are not banned in the Higher Risk Areas put in place today. Definition of ‘vehicle’ added to licence.

  30. Updated licence published: gatherings are not banned under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone arrangements put in place in England today.

  31. Updated notes as the Prevention Zone in certain areas of Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside has now been lifted.

  32. Updated with the new general licence which applies from 15 May 2017.

  33. Updated with plans to lift the ban on gatherings, across England from 15 May, except in certain areas of Lancashire and Cumbria.

  34. Updated following the announcement that the ban on poultry gatherings will be lifted on 15 May 2017.

  35. We've added more information about what does or doesn't count as a bird gathering.

  36. We've added some clearer information about what does or doesn't count as a bird gathering.

  37. Added biosecurity advice for bird gathering organisers (licencees) and participants.

  38. Updated following the announcement of a temporary suspension on certain bird gatherings from 20 December 2016.

  39. Removed reference to vet assessment as this is a general licence and is therefore not carried out on a case-by-case-basis.

  40. First published.

Applies to England

Check what counts as a bird gathering

Gatherings involve the collecting together of poultry or other captive birds. They include (but are not limited to):

  • bird fairs
  • markets
  • shows
  • sales
  • exhibitions
  • some premises used for dealing or internet sales
  • vehicles used to transport live birds where the birds are brought together from multiple premises (known as ‘many-to-one’ or ‘many-to-many’ activities)
  • the bringing together of birds, or incubating eggs that are close to hatching, from more than one premises where they will return to the same or different premises

What activities do not count as gatherings

The following activities are not classed as bird gatherings:

  • birds which are brought together from different locations onto one premises, but where no birds leave that premises until more than 14 days have passed since the last bird arrived on the premises
  • an activity where all of the birds have come from the same premises and then return to that same premises afterwards
  • a sale of birds which have all come from the same single premises (for example, a dispersal sale or ‘re-homing’) even if the birds go to multiple new locations

When you can hold a gathering

Anseriformes include ducks, geese and swans.

Galliformes include turkeys, chickens, quail, partridges and pheasants.

Psittaciformes include parrots, budgies, parakeets, macaws and cockatoos.

Birds of prey include hawks, eagles, kites, ospreys, falcons and caracaras.

Passeriformes include canaries and finches.

Columbiformes include fancy pigeons, doves and racing pigeons.

Ratites include ostriches, emus and rheas.

You can hold a bird gathering of any of these birds (or a mix of these) if you:  

If you’re racing pigeons from Northern Ireland and the EU to England, you also need to comply with the EU regulations for the export of captive birds.

When to apply for a specific licence

When there’s an increase in the risk levels for bird flu (avian influenza), you may need to apply for a specific licence to hold a gathering. You may need to do this if it includes certain types (orders) of birds. 

You do not currently need a specific licence for a gathering.

If your gathering is covered by a general licence, you do not need to apply for a specific licence. You must meet all the conditions of the general licence and notify APHA at least 7 days before the event.  

If your gathering includes birds that are not covered by a general licence, you must apply for and be granted a specific licence before the event takes place.  

Use the bird gathering licence service at least 20 days before the event. Include a copy of your written contingency plan, which must have been signed by a vet.

How APHA assesses applications for bird gatherings

APHA can only grant bird gathering licences if the gathering and the transport of birds to and from it would not significantly increase the risk of the spread of bird flu. 

APHA will consider each application and any risks associated with the proposed gathering. Based on this, licences that are granted will include conditions to mitigate (reduce) the risks. 

To increase the chances of being issued a specific licence, make every effort to minimise the risk associated with the event. For example, only include lower-risk species and limit the number of birds or premises represented.

Notify APHA of a bird gathering

In England you must notify APHA at least 7 days before a bird gathering.

You can use the bird gathering licence service to notify APHA that you are operating under a general licence.

APHA will notify the local authority about the gathering on your behalf.

Keep records for 3 months

You must keep records of bird gatherings for at least 3 months after each event, including:

  • name, address and contact number of anyone moving birds to and from the gathering
  • types and numbers of birds exhibited, raced, transported, bought or sold at the gathering

APHA or the local authority may ask you for this information. Consult the licence conditions for definitive requirements on taking and retaining records of bird gathering.

Follow the conditions of your licence

By law you must meet the conditions listed in your licence at the bird gathering.

You may be sent to prison or have to pay an unlimited fine if you do not follow the conditions of your licence at the bird gathering.

The Local Authorities Animal Health Function (LAAHF) work with APHA to check that bird gatherings meet their licence conditions. The LAAHF is normally part of the Trading Standards or Environmental Health Service of a local authority.  

If a bird gathering is breaking the law, you can report this to your LAAHF. Use the postcode tool to find details of how to contact your LAAHF.

Risk of bird flu (avian influenza) at bird gatherings

The status of the bird gathering licences will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of notifiable avian disease.  

Defra will make any decisions on granting, amending or withdrawing licences based on the most up to date information about the risk of bird flu transmission which is available to Defra. This includes the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.  

Defra could withdraw or amend a bird gatherings licence with immediate effect if the risk of notifiable avian disease increases.

You can find further information on the latest disease situation for avian influenza, Newcastle disease and paramyxovirus guidance.

If you suspect bird flu or any type of notifiable disease in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by calling:

Bird flu is a notifiable disease in poultry and other captive birds. If you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.

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