PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS REGULATION 2012 - REG 24 Pinioning of birds' wings

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS REGULATION 2012 - REG 24

24 Pinioning of birds' wings

(cf clause 4 2006 Reg)

(1) Clipping short the primary feathers of one of a bird's wings, or taping or brailing one of the bird's wings, is prescribed for the purposes of section 4 (2A) of the Act if--

(a) it is carried out in a manner that inflicts no unnecessary pain on the bird, and

(b) it does not result in both of the bird's wings being disabled.

(2) A person is exempt from sections 5 (1), (2) and (3) (a) and 6 of the Act in respect of cutting off the pinion of a bird's wing if--

(a) the owner of the bird holds an authority within the meaning of Division 4 of Part 3 of the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 , and

(b) the bird is a member of one of the following taxonomic orders--

(i) Anseriformes,

(ii) Ciconiiformes,

(iii) Gruiformes,

(iv) Galliformes (excluding pheasants), and

(c) the bird is under 3 days of age, and

(d) cutting off the pinion is carried out in a manner that inflicts no unnecessary pain on the bird, and

(e) cutting off the pinion will not result in both of the bird's wings being disabled, and

(f) the pinion is cut off by--

(i) a veterinary practitioner, or

(ii) the owner of the bird, or an employee of the owner, in a manner that a veterinary practitioner has advised the owner is appropriate.

(3) A person is exempt from sections 5 (1), (2) and (3) (a) and 6 of the Act in respect of cutting off the pinion of a pheasant's wing if--

(a) the pheasant is no more than 24 hours old, and

(b) cutting off the pinion is carried out in a manner that inflicts no unnecessary pain on the pheasant, and

(c) cutting off the pinion will not result in both of the pheasant's wings being disabled, and

(d) the pinion is cut off--

(i) with a beak trimming machine, or

(ii) by a veterinary practitioner (whether or not with a beak trimming machine).

(4) In this clause--


"brailing" a bird's wing means attaching a thin, pliable leather strap to the wing to prevent the bird from flying but still allow limited movement of that wing.


"pheasant" means a member of the genus Chrysolophus, Lophophorus, Lophura, Syrmaticus or Phasianus.