- Scottish Kept Bird Register

Scottish Kept Bird Register

The Scottish Government has developed this online system for bird keepers in Scotland to register their birds. This system supports changes made to existing Scottish legislation by ( The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Amendment order 2024 ), the effect of which requires the location and certain details of all poultry and captive birds (with exceptions) to be registered with Scottish Government. This requirement applies to all captive bird sectors, including pet birds, poultry, game birds, racing pigeons, waterfowl, wild bird rehabilitation centres and zoos.

The registration requirement does not apply to birds on the premises that belong to the order Psittaciformes (parrot family, including budgerigars) or Passeriformes (perching birds, including jays and finches), which have no access to the outdoors i.e. they are kept inside dwellings or in fully enclosed outdoor structures.

However, any birds which are exercised or trained outdoors must be registered.

This register replaces the previously used GB Poultry Register (GBPR) for bird keepers in Scotland. Those previously registered on the GBPR must re-register on this system. Registration is free, quick and simple. Once registered, keepers can access their information online at any time.

The information you provide will be used by the Scottish Government and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to determine the size and location of the kept bird population in Scotland and for communication and disease control activities during notifiable avian disease outbreaks, particularly avian influenza (bird flu). Avian influenza can be devastating for birds and their keepers and by registering, you will be provided with information on how to keep your birds safe.

The person in charge of the day-to-day care of the birds (the keeper) should be the person to register them.

It is important that you keep your details up to date. The system will prompt you to check your details with annual update reminders. Legally you must update your records within one month if:

you no longer keep or own poultry;
the contact information you gave changes;
you change the species you keep

If you are a keeper of 50 or more birds at any premises, they must also update their records within one month if they have an increase or decrease of 20% or more in their flock.

The system will ask you to enter your County Parish Holding (CPH) number, if you have one. If you are not sure whether you have an existing CPH number, do not know your CPH number, or do not have a CPH number, then the system will automatically create one for you. You will see this number displayed once you complete your registration.

You will be asked by the system whether you keep fewer than 50 birds, or 50 birds and over. This question refers to the number of birds at a single location. If you have multiple locations, each with fewer than 50 birds, you should indicate that you have fewer than 50 birds.

This register is for bird keepers in Scotland. If you are a keeper in England or Wales please visit: gov.uk

Support and Information

For queries about registering your birds telephone: 01466 405101 or email skbr@scoteid.com.

For more information on registration, please visit https://www.gov.scot/register-your-birds

For more information on avian influenza visit https://www.gov.scot/avianinfluenza.

For anyone interested in animal diseases, not just diseases of poultry, they may wish to sign up for free text and/or email alerts on national disease outbreaks via APHA’s subscription service.

For issues regarding the health and welfare of your birds, please contact your private vet.

For issues regarding your own health and welfare, please contact the appropriate local health services.

Keepers please note:

For those who keep poultry flocks and sell eggs or chicken (i.e. eggs into retail or catering/wholesale or as free-range chicken meat, pullet rearers, hatcheries or breeder multiplier flocks) there is a legal requirement to also register their premises on the Avian Registration Hub (ARH) . Certain exemptions apply. For more information eggs_poultry_mailbox@gov.scot .

For those racing pigeon keepers who want to move pigeons to the EU or Northern Ireland for racing back to Great Britain there is a legal requirement to also register their premises (lofts) on the Scottish Pigeon Register and then apply for an Export Health Certificate (EHC) through the gov.uk website.

Regardless of whether they are registered on the Scottish Pigeon Register, all keepers must register on the SKBR. A CPH number issued by the Scottish Pigeon Register should be the same CPH that is subsequently used when registering on the Scottish Kept Bird Register (SKBR), or vice versa. For more information direct keepers to Racing pigeon register - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)