Can you keep backyard chickens in Scotland, UK?
Keep chickens in Scotland, even as pets? New keepers must notify the Scottish Ministers within three months, then notify again every year. Never feed them catering waste, household waste included.
Read from 9 official sources39 passages quotedChecked October 26, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
Country keeping rule
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
A sourced reading of the law in Scotland, UK, not legal advice. Local bylaws and zoning, property or tenancy rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local rules before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.
Registering as a poultry keeper
Rule identified for the scope below
Jurisdiction: Scotland
Applies to: People who keep chickens in Scotland, including pets and small backyard flocks, under article 5 of The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Order 2007 (as shown on legislation.gov.uk on 26 October 2026, which listed no outstanding changes).
Outside this finding's scope
- The only exception found is for Psittaciformes or Passeriformes kept fully indoors with no access to the open air; it does not cover chickens.
What the checked sources say
- Anyone who becomes the keeper of birds at any premises after 1 September 2024 must notify the Scottish Ministers in writing within three months.
- Make the annual notification within one month after each one-year period following the initial notification.
- If you have already made a notification under the rule, notify changes to the specified keeper, owner or occupier names and addresses, or to bird species, within one month.
- If you have already made a notification under the rule, notify within one month if you stop keeping birds or become covered by the specified registration exception.
- If you have already made a notification under the rule and keep 50 or more birds at a premises, notify within one month if the number of any individual species kept or having outdoor access there changes by 20% or more, except usual management fluctuations.
- Usual management fluctuations mean emptying poultry houses or hatcheries for immediate restocking, or seasonal stocking.
Thresholds
- Notification applies to new keepers of any birds, not only flocks of 50 or more.
- At 50 or more birds at a premises, additional information for that premises is required, including husbandry system, hatchery capacity, seasonal variations and outdoor-access numbers.
Exemptions and their limits
- The exception is limited to Psittaciformes or Passeriformes kept without open-air access; it does not exempt a chicken flock.
Authority: The Scottish Ministers
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
There are currently no known outstanding effects for The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Order 2007.
Changes to legislation · Checked
(4) A person who becomes the keeper of— (a) any birds at any premises after 1 September 2024 must notify the information referred to in paragraph (1); (b) 50 or more birds must notify the information referred to in paragraph (2); to the Scottish Ministers in writing within three months.
Article5(4) · Checked
(a) the address and holding number (if it has one) of the premises; (b) that person’s name and address and, if different, those of— (i) the owner of the birds; and (ii) the occupier of the premises; (c) the species of bird kept at the premises;
Article5(1)(a)–(c) · Checked
(b) the incubator capacity of any hatchery; (c) details of any seasonal stocking variations which might result in significant differences in the number or species of bird on the premises; (d) the number of each species of bird with access to the open air.
Article5(2)(b)–(d) · Checked
A person keeping any birds at any premises must make a notification under paragraphs (1), (2) or (4) annually, within one month of the end of each period of one year subsequent to the initial notification.
Article5(5) · Checked
A person who has made a notification under paragraphs (1), (2), (4) or (5) of this article must notify the Scottish Ministers in writing within one month of the following—
Article5(6) opening · Checked
the person is no longer a keeper of any birds at any premises or has become a keeper to which article 5A (requirement to notify premises where birds are kept: exceptions) applies;
Article5(6)(a)(ii) · Checked
where the person is the keeper of 50 or more birds at any premises, an increase or decrease of 20% or more in a number referred to in paragraph (1)(d) or (2)(d), unless this is due to usual management fluctuations.
Article5(6)(b) · Checked
(9) In this article, “ usual management fluctuations ” means— (a) the emptying of poultry houses or hatcheries for immediate restocking; (b) seasonal stocking.
Article5(9) · Checked
(a) belong to the order Psittaciformes or Passeriformes ; and (b) are housed fully within a dwelling or within a structure on the premises with no access to the open air.
Article5A(a)–(b) · Checked
(d) the number of each species of bird kept at the premises; (e) the purpose for which the birds are kept.
Article5(1)(d)–(e) · Checked
the husbandry system in use at the premises, including whether any poultry are kept and if so whether for the production of—
Article5(2)(a) · Checked
(i) a change to the information referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (c);
Article5(6)(a)(i) · Checked
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
An official current-status link has not been established.
Orders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.
Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-10-26
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Conditions apply to this finding
Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence, within the limits listed under “Outside this finding’s scope” below.
Jurisdiction: Scotland
Applies to: Avian influenza prevention zones and restrictions notices under article 6 of The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Scotland) Order 2006 (as shown on legislation.gov.uk on 26 October 2026, which listed no outstanding changes), and GOV.UK guidance on housing in disease control zones, which applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
Outside this finding's scope
- Housing is required only where a declaration, notice or zone requires it; these powers do not require birds to be housed everywhere at all times.
- Whether any housing requirement applies to a particular place now was not established, and no official Scottish status page could be read for this page.
What the checked sources say
- Under article 6, the Scottish Ministers may declare an avian influenza prevention zone in all or part of Scotland, or serve a restrictions notice on the occupier of premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept. Their powers include requiring poultry and other captive birds to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds.
- GOV.UK says that if you are in a protection zone or a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone you must house your birds, check your zone on the bird flu disease zone map and follow the rules for that zone. You remain responsible for your birds’ welfare while they are housed.
- Whether a housing requirement applies to your premises now was not established; the Scottish Ministers make prevention-zone declarations and restrictions notices.
- Checked
- Recheck due
Historical evidence, as checked
These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.
There are currently no known outstanding effects for The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Scotland) Order 2006, Section 6.
Changes to legislation · Checked
(a) declare an avian influenza prevention zone in all or part of Scotland; (b) serve a restrictions notice on the occupier of any premises where poultry, other captive birds or any specified categories of poultry or captive birds are kept;
article 6(1)(a)–(b) · Checked
(3) The Scottish Ministers' powers under paragraph (2) include powers– (a) to require poultry and other captive birds to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds;
article 6(3)(a) · Checked
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
page header · Checked
If you’re in a protection zone or a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone, you must house your birds. Check what zone you’re in using the bird flu disease zone map and follow the rules for that zone .
Opening operational guidance · Checked
You are responsible for the welfare of your birds while they’re housed.
Welfare of housed birds · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Rule identified for the scope below
Jurisdiction: Scotland
Applies to: People responsible for chickens in Scotland, including owners of pets and small backyard flocks, under Part 2 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006: sections 16 to 18 as shown on legislation.gov.uk on 8 October 2026, and section 24, which legislation.gov.uk showed on 26 October 2026 as up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before that date.
Outside this finding's scope
- The Act does not apply to an animal in its foetal or embryonic form, and the duty below does not apply to destroying an animal in an appropriate and humane manner.
- Welfare regulations and codes for poultry were not read, so no numerical standard is stated.
What the checked sources say
- Part 2 of the Act covers vertebrates other than man; an animal of a kind commonly domesticated in the British Islands, under human control or not living in a wild state is a protected animal. An owner is always treated as responsible for their animal, and abandoning an animal does not by itself end that responsibility.
- A person commits an offence if they do not take reasonable steps in the circumstances to make sure the needs of an animal they are responsible for are met to the extent required by good practice. Those needs include a suitable environment and diet, being able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, being housed with or apart from other animals, and protection from suffering, injury and disease. The relevant circumstances include any lawful purpose for which the animal is kept and any lawful activity undertaken in relation to it.
The official wording
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, Section 24 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 October 2026.
Changes to legislation · Checked
In this Part, “ animal ” means a vertebrate other than man.
Section16(1) · Checked
In this Part, an animal is a “protected animal” if it is— (a) of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Islands, (b) under the control of man on a permanent or temporary basis, or (c) not living in a wild state.
Section17(1) · Checked
For the purposes of this Part, a person who owns an animal is always to be regarded as being a person who is responsible for it.
Section18(3) · Checked
A person commits an offence if the person does not take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal for which the person is responsible are met to the extent required by good practice.
Section24(1) · Checked
(a) its need for a suitable environment, (b) its need for a suitable diet, (c) its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns,
Section24(3)(a)–(c) · Checked
(d) any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals, (e) its need to be protected from suffering, injury and disease.
Section24(3)(d)–(e) · Checked
For the purposes of this Part, a person does not relinquish responsibility for an animal by reason only of abandoning it.
Section18(5) · Checked
(2) But this Part does not apply to an animal while it is in its foetal or embryonic form.
Section16(2) · Checked
(2) The circumstances to which, for the purposes of subsection (1), regard is to be had include— (a) any lawful purpose for which the animal is kept, (b) any lawful activity undertaken in relation to the animal.
Section24(2) · Checked
(4) This section does not apply to the destruction of an animal in an appropriate and humane manner.
Section24(4) · Checked
Rules on keeping poultry
Rule identified for the scope below
Jurisdiction: Scotland
Applies to: Chicken keepers in Scotland, including people keeping chickens as pets: the ban on feeding catering waste to farmed animals in Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 as it applies in Great Britain (as shown on legislation.gov.uk on 26 October 2026, which listed no outstanding changes), and GOV.UK guidance that applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
Outside this finding's scope
- Local planning and other local rules on where and how chickens may be kept were not read; GOV.UK says to check with your local planning authority before building any bird housing.
What the checked sources say
- Feeding farmed animals with catering waste, or with feed containing or derived from it, is prohibited. A farmed animal includes any animal kept by people and used for producing food or other products or for other farming purposes, and GOV.UK guidance says farm animal species kept as pets also count.
- GOV.UK says you must never use catering waste as farm animal feed, whether it is vegetable or meat based and whether it comes from restaurants, households or other sites. The Animal and Plant Health Agency warns smallholders not to feed catering or kitchen waste to poultry, even when they are kept as pets.
- GOV.UK says planning rules differ for commercial poultry keepers and people who keep birds as pets, and that you must check with your local planning authority before you build any bird housing.
The official wording
There are currently no known outstanding effects by UK legislation for Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Article 11.
Changes to legislation · Checked
The following uses of animal by-products and derived products shall be prohibited:
Article 11(1) · Checked
the feeding of farmed animals other than fur animals with catering waste or feed material containing or derived from catering waste;
Article 11(1)(b) · Checked
‘farmed animal’ means: (a) any animal that is kept, fattened or bred by humans and used for the production of food, wool, fur, feathers, hides and skins or any other product obtained from animals or for other farming purposes;
Article 3(6)(a) · Checked
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
page header · Checked
any farm animal species kept as pets, for example sheep or exotic pig breeds
When ABPs are farm animal feed · Checked
You must never use catering waste as farm animal feed, regardless of whether it’s vegetable or meat based or whether it comes from restaurants, households, or other sites.
ABPs you cannot use · Checked
The Animal and Plant Health Agency is warning farmers and smallholders not to feed catering or kitchen waste to livestock such as pigs and poultry, even if they are being kept as pets.
Opening paragraph · Checked
Planning permission regulations are different for commercial poultry keepers and those who keep birds as pets. You must check with your local planning authority before you build any bird housing.
Planning permission for bird housing · Checked
Elsewhere in the UK
Every region on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Scotland, UK?
- Registration: required. The finding covers: People who keep chickens in Scotland, including pets and small backyard flocks, under article 5 of The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Order 2007 (as shown on legislation.gov.uk on 26 October 2026, which listed no outstanding changes). Notification applies to new keepers of any birds, not only flocks of 50 or more. At 50 or more birds at a premises, additional information for that premises is required, including husbandry system, hatchery capacity, seasonal variations and outdoor-access numbers. Outside this finding's scope: The only exception found is for Psittaciformes or Passeriformes kept fully indoors with no access to the open air; it does not cover chickens. Exemptions and their limits: The exception is limited to Psittaciformes or Passeriformes kept without open-air access; it does not exempt a chicken flock. Authority: The Scottish Ministers.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Scotland, UK?
- The sources we read don't settle it, and we haven't identified who decides. Check your local rules before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in Scotland, UK?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. We haven't confirmed an official current-status page for it.
Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.
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