Government vets imposed the order last autumn as cases of bird flu climbed.

The first case of the HPAI H5N1 strain of avian influenza of the 2025 to 2026 outbreak season was confirmed in England on October 11 last year.

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Since then 97 cases across the UK have been confirmed - 76 of them in England - and thousands of poultry and kept birds culled.

The AI season runs from October 1 to September 30 each year. In 2024/25 there were 821 cases, in 2023/24 six cases, in 2022/23, 208, and 2021/22 there were 158.

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Mark Gorton - managing director of Traditional Norfolk Poultry (TNP) which operates across Norfolk and Suffolk - described the news as "brilliant".

"This is great news," he said.

Mark Gorton, founder of Traditional Norfolk Poultry (Image: Newsquest)

"I think it’s a bit earlier than last year which is good.

"There haven’t been any cases in Norfolk since Christmas that I can recall so I think we should all be confident our birds will be safe but we must all still be vigilant and maintain the highest levels of biosecurity, as the threat of Avian Influenza (AI) never goes away.

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"Spring is here, the weather is getting warmer and the birds are ready to start enjoying the spring pastures."

The measures were introduced across the whole of England on November 6 last year to contain the spread of bird flu.

But government vets now say the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) levels in wild birds and poultry has reduced.

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Mandatory housing measures for birds in England is being lifted from April 9 (Image: Lucy Taylor)

But Avian Influenza Prevention Zone mandatory biosecurity measures will remain in place until the wild bird risk falls further, they add.

The lifting of housing measures applies to all areas unless keepers are in a Protection Zone or Captive Bird Monitoring (Controlled) Zone where there has been a recent HPAI outbreak.

Bird gatherings, such as fairs and markets, remain subject to either a general or specific licence.

Deputy UK Chief Veterinary Officer Jorge Martin-Almagro said: "With the threat of Avian Influenza receding, birds can now be allowed access to ranges and outdoor areas. 

"Although the risk to poultry has reduced, there remains a risk that poultry and other captive birds can still contract bird flu.

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"I urge keepers to take steps to prepare outdoor areas before letting birds out. It is still essential that bird keepers remain vigilant and implement rigorous and strict biosecurity."

As birds have been housed for several months, it may be necessary for them to be acclimatised and gradually released over a period of days to minimise welfare issues, vets say.

The public has been reminded that they must register within one month of keeping poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales.

© Eastern Daily Press