Keeping other animals and animal disease

Keeping birds and poultry

Keeping hens in the back garden to provide year-round eggs is becoming more popular. There are no laws preventing you keeping hens, provided they are looked after properly and their welfare is taken seriously. However, it is advisable to check your property deeds or consult your landlord to make sure there are no covenants preventing the keeping of livestock.

It is important to ensure that a high standard of cleanliness is maintained as food, water and chicken coops can attract rats and mice. Poorly maintained chicken coops not only attract vermin, but can cause strong odours and flies, especially during the summer months, which can cause complaints from neighbours.

Cockerels

Cockerels are not required when keeping hens for their eggs. Cockerels can be very noisy and can cause noise complaints. Carefully consider before deciding to keep a cockerel and how you will control noise from affecting your neighbours.

The RSPCA provide guidance on keeping chickens.

Registering

You need to register if you own captive birds or poultry, regardless of how many you keep. This includes backyard flocks, birds of prey and pigeons. 

You will get important updates including:

• local disease outbreaks
• guidance
• information on biosecurity rules

You don't need to register caged pet birds (excluding any poultry species) that are always kept inside a domestic property (e.g. parrot, canary or budgie) other than to visit a vet or another short-term period.

You should register birds within one month of their arrival at your premises.

Last updated 04 February 2025