Mandatory housing measures for all kept birds and poultry are to come into force across Northern Ireland (NI) from 00:01 on Thursday 06 November 2025.
This is to mitigate against any incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) into our domestic poultry sector.
The housing order supplements the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) introduced on 1 November 2025 and legally requires all bird keepers, including owners of pet birds, commercial flocks, backyard and hobby flocks, to keep birds indoors or otherwise separate from wild birds.
A ban on the gatherings of galliforme (including pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey, guinea fowl), anseriforme (including ducks, geese, swans) and poultry will also be implemented.