[peartreewoodlandsmallholding]

Just wondering what peoples views are on keeping under or having over the 49 poultry bird limit before having to register with defra, What are the pro,s/cons of doing so?, and what  extra restrictions/laws etc come into force if i decide to register and keep poultry numbers above 49. (It is 49 birds isn,t it!!!) many thanks  Apologies if this has been asked many times before!!!

[lachlanandmarcus]

I dont think there are more restrictions as such - all the rules apply to everyone who keeps chickens, but because of disease etc they absolutely want to know where all the larger/more commercial sized flocks are. So it wouldnt let it put me off going over the threshold, since if theres a disease outbreak they will come for the birds whether we like it or not I suspect.....

[Hermit]

They only need a record to control bird flu etc, so they know where the poultry is, if it can be isolated from wild birds , whats actually out there in other words. You just fill in a 'head count' form and they ask you to update it every year, they even provide you with a stamped addressed envelope. It is a requirement if you have over fifty bird stock but no hassle and no regulations.The regs come with the Egg marketing and free range accreditation boards

[Womble]

Yes, as Hermit says.

The only con from our point of view was that they wouldn't accept "organic slug control" as the reason for us keeping ducks  .

[chrismahon]

No cons as far as I remember Abe1980. Pros are that with a registration number you get a check by Animal Health free and the agri-suppliers will sell you creosote as you are now 'trade'. Not to be confused with the regulations regarding selling eggs if you have more than 50 laying hens (I think it was 50, we've left all that admin behind now). We had 76 at one stage but only 30 laying hens -rest were pullets, cockerels, cocks and non-laying pensioners!

[Ina]

As far as I know, they look at the total number of chooks - my friend's very free and easy ranging bantams increased massively one year ( the foxes must have had a set back...), and the "official" lady said - oh, you have more than 50, this is a commercial flock - to which my friend replied - we still have to buy eggs for our family, as we never find more than one or two (this being the reason why there were so many chickens in the first place!). So rather than have the hens registered, she opted for giving away and in the end culling a lot of them. They don't "keep" hens, the hens just live there.

(Sod's law, next year the foxes recovered and she ended up with only 3 or 4 hens herself, plus one cockerel...)

[jaykay]

I'd just gone over the limit so registered mine when I knew I was getting an 'inspection'.

Can't see any benefits whatsoever from having registered (apart from making that visit go more easily) and I have to fill in a stupid form now every year. Together with being pathologically opposed to anyone official having any more info about me than strictly necessary I wish I hadn't bothered. But hey, it's done now.

[manian]

hi
we registered when we only had 15!!!
now got more as more than 50 (addictive... I know! )
it's ALL birds whether layers or not
we have not had an inspection;    yet
but no issues about it
at least they let you know of any problems etc and as we are registered for lambs/pigs etc
Mx

[Hermit]

Yes its over fifty of anything feathered! ducks , turkeys etc meat or eggs or show birds.

[jacoblambuk]

hi if i register my hens ducks and other poultry with defra can i still sell my eggs at the gate i have about 70 birds the most eggs we get is 20 on a very good day. I have heard of some people needing to pay for licience oops my spelling

[manian]

yes you can still sell at the farm gate. the amount doesn't matter it's how'where you sell them
Mx