Bird Welfare and Nuisance Birds

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a disease of birds which presents a very low risk to human health but a significant threat to the UK’s poultry industry and kept bird populations, and a threat to natural biodiversity through its impacts on wild birds.

It's vital that people who keep birds to continue to practice good biosecurity to prevent further outbreaks and their birds from becoming infected with this disease.

Whether you own a few pet chickens or ducks, 1000s of poultry on commercial premises, or farm gamebirds, you all need to implement high standards of biosecurity. This is the key to preventing the spread of this disease. Although wild birds have introduced the disease, it is often humans that cause the spread to their birds.

If you suspect bird flu in poultry or other captive birds, you must report it immediately by calling 03000 200 301 if you're in England.

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

• Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England
• Bird flu (avian influenza): how to spot and report it in poultry or other captive birds
• Bird flu (avian influenza): housing your birds safely
• Bird flu (avian influenza): how to prevent it and stop it spreading
• Report dead wild birds

All birds in England are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and this is enforced by the police. When dealing with nuisance birds it is an offence to do any of the following without a licence:

• Kill
• Poison
• Catch alive
• Take from a nest
• Damage or destroy eggs
• Harm, or attempt to harm in anyway

Dudley Council do not take action regarding pigeons or other wild birds.

There are a range of techniques that are available to deal with nuisance caused by birds.

• Using a scarecrow or other visual scarer
• Noise deterrents or audible scarers, such as the birds' own alarm call or loud bangs
• Restricting food access, such as cleaning up food spills immediately and keeping rubbish in secure bins
• Using netting or bird-spikes, also known as 'proofing'. This prevents the birds landing or accessing areas where they're known to cause problems

The law recognises that in some circumstance you may need take action that would otherwise be seen as illegal.

These are:

• to prevent serious damage to crops, vegetables and fruit
• to kill or take certain birds to preserve public health or safety

You must have a licence to take action and you cannot use this licence to kill birds because they are damaging your property, or are being a nuisance.

View the range of bird licences available and how to apply for them.

All keepers of birds must register their premises. The exception are birds such as budgies, parrots, cockatiels and finches, where birds are fully housed with no access to the open air.

• Register as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds
• Register as a keeper of 50 or more poultry or other captive birds

If you need help to register:

• Email: customer.registration@apha.gov.uk
• Telephone: 03000 200 301

Feeding birds in public areas can cause birds to expect food from people. This may also cause large breeds, such as gulls, to swoop and can cause injury.

Feeding can also greatly increase populations of birds like waterfowl and pigeons.

If you are concerned about the welfare of any birds, the RSPCA investigates complaints of cruelty or neglect.

• RSPCA: Report a Concern