New rules will be coming into place in Wales to protect the poultry industry from bird flu outbreaks.

The preventative measures, devised by the government, are set to roll out on October 1 with the aim of safeguarding the sector from any future avian influenza.

The changes demand that all bird keepers officially register their birds.

This covers owners of backyard flocks, birds of prey and pigeon fanciers.

However, caged pet birds like parakeets, canaries or budgies, kept solely within a home and only leaving for vet visits or other temporary periods, shall not be influenced by these changes. But any caged pet birds that are poultry species must be registered.

Registering birds will enable bird keepers to crucially access updates relevant to their situation such as information on bird disease outbreaks and biosecurity rules, providing a way to protect their flocks.

By doing so, the management of potential disease outbreaks like avian influenza and Newcastle disease could be effectively controlled and their spread limited.

The register's role is twofold as it will also aid in identifying bird keepers in disease control zones.

This will facilitate effective surveillance and help lift zones more swiftly, leading to a faster resumption of trade after an outbreak.

It signals better cooperation between bird keepers and the government to curb the spread of any such diseases in Wales.

Not only will the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) use this register to track the spread of these diseases, but they will also use it to contact bird keepers in the event of any notifiable disease outbreak in their area.

This will help in the swift containment of any such disease, ensuring the protection of flocks.

Keepers will need to provide details such as their contact information, the location of the birds, and specifics about the birds themselves.

Keepers in England and Wales are urged to register their birds ahead of the legal cut off date of October 1.

Registration can be done via the UK Government website.

For further advice, contact the Animal Welfare Team via the given email: awelfare@pembrokeshire.gov.uk.

Alongside registration, strict hygiene and biosecurity must be maintained to protect flocks from disease threats.