How to keep your hens happy, healthy – and legally safe – during “flockdown”
Winter means frosty mornings and mud-caked wellies. This year, it also means stricter precautions for bird flu. Great Britain is currently under an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), which means some tighter winter biosecurity rules will apply.
In England, a national housing order has been in place since November 6th meaning anyone who keeps more than 50 hens must keep them under cover. The rules can sound daunting, but for small BHWT-style flocks, they’re largely practical, common-sense steps.
Here’s how to keep your girls safe – and make “cooping up” just a little kinder for them.
What is avian influenza?
Avian Influenza is a viral disease carried mainly by wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese. It spreads through droppings, feathers, and contaminated surfaces, and can infect domestic poultry and pet hens. Because the virus is highly contagious, every keeper – however small their flock – can play a part in preventing the spread.
Do all hens have to be housed?
It depends where you live – and the size of your flock. In England from 6th November 2025 and in Wales from 13th November 2025, you must house your birds if you keep more than 50, or if you sell or give away any eggs, poultry products or live birds, even if your flock is smaller.
If you keep less than 50 birds purely for your own household – which is most BHWT rehomers, luckily – you are not legally required to house them, but you must still prevent wild-bird contact and follow all AIPZ biosecurity rules.
In Scotland, an AIPZ is also in force with mandatory biosecurity for all keepers, but no routine national housing requirement applies unless you are inside a local disease-control zone.
A good rule of thumb is to always check the APHA interactive disease map before making changes, as different rules can apply in different areas.
What does “wild-bird proof” look like?
Whether your hens are indoors or in a contained outdoor run, the goal is no wild-bird contact. And, not to put too fine a point on it – the main mode of transmission is poo.
Openings such as vents in the coop should be covered with mesh or netting with holes no larger than 25 mm × 25 mm, strong enough to keep wild birds – and predators, of course – out.
Keep feed, water and bedding under cover, repair leaks promptly and clear up spilled grain.
Biosecurity: the everyday habits that really matter (for everyone)
Whether you have two hens or two hundred, biosecurity is all about establishing good habits. Place a foot-dip containing DEFRA-approved disinfectant at the entrance to your hen area and use it every time – and keep a dedicated pair of “hen-only” boots.
Store feed, bedding and water indoors or under cover. Limit unnecessary visitors, just for now, and movement of equipment. Keep vermin under control. Regularly clean and disinfect housing and hard surfaces such as paths and concrete runs.
These simple routines are the backbone of disease prevention.
Keep an eye on health – and know when to escalate
Bird flu is a notifiable disease. As in, you must tell the authorities if you suspect a case.
Contact the APHA team if you notice any signs consistent with Avian Influenza, a sharp rise in illness or deaths, or a noteworthy drop in egg production, feed or water intake compared with the previous week. Prompt reporting protects your birds and others nearby. They’ll put you in contact with their vets if you need extra advice and support.
Registration and simple records
Registration is now mandatory for all bird keepers in England, Wales and Scotland, including those with fewer than 50 birds, within one month of keeping them.
What records? As part of the AIPZ currently covering England, Scotland and Wales, you must keep a brief record of new arrivals, losses and movements of birds or eggs – a notebook or phone note is fine – so you can show anybody who asks what changed and when.
Make “cooping up” kinder (and a bit more fun)
A secure coop or netted run doesn’t have to be dull. Hens thrive on curiosity and variety, so add a few boredom-busters: hang old CDs where they glint and swing, play a radio quietly, offer extra perches or low platforms, scatter a handful of pellets to encourage foraging, or swap in a dry leaf pile for a weekly rummage.
These touches ease tension, reduce pecking and make “flockdown” feel more like a cosy winter retreat than an irksome Covid-esque restriction. Remember, enrichment ideas like these are welfare-friendly additions – they should sit alongside, not instead of, your legal biosecurity.
Welfare first, always
If you’re unsure how the rules apply to your set-up – particularly the England under-50 exemption, 25 mm netting, or Scotland’s AIPZ – please refer to your national guidelines. With a few steady habits and a touch of creativity, your hens can stay safe, content and happily “cooped up” through the winter’s flockdown.
