Bird flu: from 13 November poultry across England must be housed. Are chicken and eggs still safe?

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, announced on 11 November a national housing order covering the whole of England. From 00:01 on Friday 13 November 2026, anyone keeping 50 or more birds must house them — and so must anyone who sells or gives away eggs, poultry products or live birds, whatever the size of their flock. Exemptions are narrow, such as for certain zoo birds.

The reason is a rising number of confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in kept birds and findings in wild birds. Several new cases were confirmed over the past week alone; the latest on a commercial farm near King's Lynn, Norfolk, on 9 November.

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If you keep a few hens in the garden

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is already in force across England. It applies to every bird keeper — commercial farms, pet birds and backyard flocks alike. The mandatory measures: cleanse and disinfect footwear, clothing and equipment before and after contact with birds; keep feed and water out of reach of wild birds; keep birds away from ponds and watercourses, in fenced or enclosed areas; control vermin; keep records and report any drop in egg production.

Bird flu is a notifiable disease: report any suspicion immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Do not touch dead wild birds, especially waterfowl and gulls — report finds via the GOV.UK service.

Chicken and eggs in the shops

Nothing changes for consumers. The Food Standards Agency confirms that properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat, and the UK Health Security Agency rates the risk to human health as very low.

No Christmas turkey shortage is expected either: the UK produces around 8 million turkeys a year and Defra does not anticipate any overall impact on seasonal poultry. Under current rules, free-range egg labelling is kept throughout mandatory housing.

A similar order ran last season — introduced on 6 November 2025, it was lifted only on 9 April 2026. The new one applies until further notice and will be kept under regular review.