IE Explains: What does a housing order for poultry mean?

All owners of poultry and captive birds are to adhere to a compulsory housing order which will be implement from November 10, as directed by the Department of Agriculture.

Poultry owners must exercise strict biosecurity protocols and will now have to adhere to a compulsory housing order from November 10.

It was announced this week that all poultry and captive birds are to comply with a compulsory housing order from November 10.

The announcement came from Minister of Agriculture, Martin Heydon and his department, to help prevent the spread of bird flu among poultry populations, but what does it actually mean for the Irish poultry industry?

What does a poultry housing order mean?

A compulsory housing order means any and all poultry and captive birds whether free-range turkeys or two backyard ducks, must be confined within a secure building in an effort to stop the spread of bird flu.

The compulsory housing announcement came just weeks after the minister announced enhanced biosecurity measures to come into effect on November 1. A previous housing order on poultry implemented in February of this year was lifted on May 10, following outbreaks earlier in the year.

Why is a compulsory housing order in place?

There have been several reported cases of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in the country. The most recent confirmed case occurred on November 5, in a turkey flock in Kells, Co Meath, which has led to the humane culling of all remaining poultry on the site and restriction zones implemented around the area.

Commenting on the Meath-based outbreak, minister Heydon said: “This second outbreak underlines the ongoing presence of avian influenza in wild birds across the country. The introduction of the housing order will further strengthen our national protection measures to help mitigate the ongoing risk.” 

Other outbreaks of HPAI have been reported in Carlow, Cork, Donegal and in Tyrone, with the department also confirming 41 cases of HPAI in wild birds in the first nine months of 2025.

HPAI outbreaks in Ireland are reported to the European Commission and to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Can this bird flu affect humans?

The virus strain currently circulating is considered low risk to public health by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSE-HPSC) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC).

Minister Heydon also reminded the general public that the disease poses no food safety risk to consumers of well-cooked poultry products and eggs.

The housing effort aims to minimise contact between poultry and captive birds, as well as between poultry and wild birds, to minimise any risk of spreading the disease.

Under these regulations, it is also not permitted to organise or participate in events that involve the assembly of live birds from different premises, such as shows, fairs, markets, or sales, to protect the birds themselves from the risk of infection.

Biosecurity continues to remain the number one method in disease prevention and control.

What sort of biosecurity measures are in place?

Flock and bird owners will have to adhere to stricter biosecurity measures covering areas such as securing housing, fencing, disinfection of vehicles and equipment and strict monitoring and disinfection of personnel entering a premises where birds are present.

The department has issued two main categories of increased biosecurity protocols. Schedule 1 applies to all land or premises that keep poultry or other captive birds. Schedule 2 is an additional protocol that only applies to land or premises that have over 350 poultry or other captive birds.

Key protocols all poultry owners must abide by are fencing off or surrounding poultry housing with netting, poultry having no access to waterlogged, open or standing water, which can attract wild foul, having feeding and watering points indoors, and implementing bird deterrents such as bird scarers, flutter tape or scarecrows.

Strict disinfecting protocols of vehicles entering the premises, which house poultry or staff vehicles to be parked off the premises, keeping the environment clean, regular disinfection of concrete walkways, paths and surfaces that poultry or wild birds could have access to.

Disinfection of footbaths and premises-specific clothing and footwear. No other animals or pets should be allowed within poultry or captive bird housing; all equipment should be thoroughly disinfected and not shared between farms. Only essential visitors should be allowed on the premises and should be provided with farm or disposable overalls and footwear.

Records of all visitors, vehicles, bird or egg movement on the premises must be catalogued to aid in containing disease spread if an outbreak were to occur.

The department also reminds all poultry owners, including those who keep only one or two birds, of their legal obligation to register their premises with the department.

Poultry includes all birds that are raised or kept for the production of eggs, meat or other products, including breeding birds and restock gamebirds. Examples of these birds include: Chickens, hens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pheasants, quail, guinea fowl, partridge, grouse, ostriches and emus.

Captive bird owners are also encouraged to register their birds, as they are also susceptible to disease. Captive birds are birds which are kept in cages or enclosures that are not used for meat, eggs or other products and may be kept as pets for showing, exhibiting or racing. These birds can include racing pigeons, parrots, doves or birds kept in pet shops that are not poultry.

Poultry owners must keep their registration details up to date, including informing the Department if they no longer have poultry.