UPDATED 13th November 2025
From 6th November in England and 13th November in Wales, hen keepers will be under a mandatory housing order to protect their birds from Avian Influenza. However, this does not apply if you keep less than 50 birds and do not plan to give away or sell their eggs.
Typically, AI rears its head at this time of year as temperatures drop and birds begin to migrate. However, the UK has remained under an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) since 27th January 2025 and measures will potentially become stricter as winter approaches and the risk increases.
Several outbreaks have already taken place and, as a result, protection zones have been put in place to protect birds in these areas – for more explanation as to what these zones mean for you, please keep reading.
So, what does this mean for backyard hen keepers?
At present ALL hen keepers across the country must adhere to increased mandatory biosecurity measures as part of the AIPZ. These include:
- Regular cleansing and disinfecting of equipment, footwear and vehicles to prevent the spread of the disease
- This includes a foot dip containing a Defra-approved poultry disinfectant at the entry and exit of all housing areas
- Storage of feed and water should be undercover to prevent access by wild birds
- Ensure your hens do not have contact with poultry or captive birds on neighbouring premises
- Vermin control to be carried out where your hens live
- Hard areas should be disinfected regularly
- Keep the movement of people to and from the area where your hens are housed to a minimum
Do you have to house your birds?
If you are in England and keep more than 50 hens and / or sell their eggs, your birds must be housed.
If you are within any of the following zones, your birds must also be housed:
- 3km Protection Zone
- 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone
If you are within one of the following zones, your birds do NOT have to be housed if you keep less than 50 and do not give away / sell their eggs, but there is a requirement to maintain high biosecurity levels to protect them.
- Avian Influenza 10km Surveillance Zone
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone with housing measures
As of 6th November 2025, if you are in England, your birds only need to be housed if you keep 50 or more and / or you plan to sell / give away their eggs. This means anyone who is part of a BHWT Egg Club must either stop putting their eggs out or adhere to the mandatory housing order.
How should you house your birds?
If you already have a run area set up for your hens this can simply be covered with a small gauge mesh or tarpaulin so as to prevent wild birds accessing it and coming into contact with your hens.
Other ideas include:
- An enclosed area such as a large garage, outbuilding or greenhouse makes a perfect winter garden for your hens
- A house within a netted outdoor area, using netting small enough to prevent wild birds accessing, and a cover or tarpaulin over the top to prevent droppings falling through into the coop makes for a nice conservatory for your pet poultry
- An existing fruit cage covered with a tarpaulin to prevent droppings falling through and / or a polytunnel can be used to provide a covered exercise area for your birds and they’ll enjoy scratching around the undergrowth
- Any existing wired hen run can be made compliant by adding small gauge mesh or netting sides and providing a cover to prevent droppings falling through
How should you entertain hens if they are housed?
While housing your hens may seem like an arduous task, it can be fun coming up with enrichment ideas to keep them entertained.
These can include:
- Pecking blocks – make sure you don’t overfeed them though, pecking blocks are treats (and fattening)
- Straw bales – please don’t use hay as they may be tempted to eat it and it could impact their crop
- Grit in litter or on the ground – always great for scratching around
- Perches – useful for a spot of preening or daytime snoozing
- Coloured string hanging up so they can peck and tug it – great fun for hens
- A dust bath – this can be made from a child’s sand pit, a plastic storage box, or a large litter tray. Use dry soil, sand, wood ash, diatomaceous earth, or all these mixed together
- A cabbage hung up – another thing for them to enjoy pecking at. Of course, it can’t have come through your kitchen but one that has been bought specifically for your hens and not seen the kitchen is fine
- Hanging CDs up by string will keep them entertained for a long time
What if the situation changes?
Every poultry keeper, regardless of how many birds they have, must be registered with APHA, meaning they will alert you to any new outbreaks of disease. We will also keep supporters updated of any major amendments via our social media.
