Author Topic: 50 new hens  (Read 11224 times)

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2012, 04:11:13 pm »
Hi Holz306. Just trying to be helpful. With over 50 laying hens even those at the 'farm gate' need an EMI code on the eggs. Expect you will be given plenty of time to comply.

In the Hills -Animal Welfare visits are done routinely when you are registered with Defra as having over 50 chickens on site. Depending on your 'risk' catagory, assigned after the first visit, is the frequency. In our case its every 3 years, or that's what they said two years ago. You get a flock number to go with it -same as sheep, but a different number. Main question is "what do you do with dead chickens?". You can't bury them on site and you can't chuck them in the dustbin, they are supposed to go for incineration I was told! I'll try "stored in the freezer then burned on the bonfire" and see what happens.

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #16 on: April 26, 2012, 04:29:10 pm »
Thanks for that Chrismahon.

I think I still have under 50 birds ..... some of those are quail, too many are cockerels and lots of pet peekins. Going to do a head count!!!! Very few could be considered ... layers. I thought there were extra regulations to comply to if you had over 50 birds. Is it 50 layers you have to own or 50 birds whatever they maybe before the extra regs apply?

Will I still get welfare checks if I am registered but have under 50 birds?

My daughter is poultry mad and she sees them as we might dogs or cats. There will be many tears if they have to get incinerated  :o  It would have to be a cremation instead of the funeral. ::)

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #17 on: April 26, 2012, 04:38:00 pm »
We see them as more than dogs or cats. Our pet cockerel Bottom lives in the house with us In the Hills.

There are two different requirements here. One is to register for Animal Health reasons with Defra if you have more than 50 chickens -cockerels and hens. The other is to register with EMI if you have more than 50 laying hens and sell any eggs. Now if you have 49 hens for sales and 2 separated for your own domestic use ??

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #18 on: April 26, 2012, 04:44:48 pm »
Oh right  :D . You understand where Im coming from and dont think Im too crazy, then.

None live indoors but most have names and come in for cuddles!!!

Well, I wont worry. Not heard from them yet and only sell a few eggs at the gate, as we only really see sheep up here.  ;D

Thanks.

deepinthewoods

  • Guest
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #19 on: April 26, 2012, 05:08:57 pm »
i read the defra page as meaning that if you have more than 50 poultry you need to register the flock, to get advice and warnings about disease, and if your selling eggs through a shop you had to register with emi.

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #20 on: April 26, 2012, 05:31:32 pm »
Ive taken my info from an article in Practical Poultry, Issue 88 July 20 and have just accepted it as read. Sure if anyone has queries on the detail they can contact the appropriate Authority. Of course that's like opening a can of worms!

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #21 on: April 26, 2012, 05:35:19 pm »
Thats what I thought.

Wished I hadnt registered now.

Just stay hushed and hope not to be noticed  ;D

hughesy

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Anglesey
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #22 on: April 26, 2012, 05:36:33 pm »
If practical poultry magazine is anything like practical pigs I'd take anything it says with a hefty pinch of salt.

holz306

  • Joined Jan 2012
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #23 on: April 26, 2012, 07:53:05 pm »
The regulations apply to hen eggs marketed within the Community. They do not apply to eggs sold
direct by producers to the final consumer at the farm gate or locally door-to-door *. However, to be
exempt the eggs must be from the producer’s own hens.
* Producers with up to 50 laying hens may sell their eggs at a local public market, provided that the
name and address of the producer is indicated at the point of sale. Producers with more than 50 hens
must also stamp their eggs going for sale at a local public market with a producer code.
Producers with more than 350 laying hens must be registered regardless of how the eggs are
marketed.



That is taken from the SGRPID website for those in scotland....Defra's says pretty much the same.  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/212925/0056606.pdf

Hope that makes it clear, it makes interesting reading anyway.

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #24 on: April 26, 2012, 08:20:37 pm »
We'll never have that many hens. We're run off our feet looking after 30. We had 5 broodies today and they are getting worse!

holz306

  • Joined Jan 2012
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #25 on: April 26, 2012, 10:15:13 pm »
ah, but they're addictive - i never really planned to have more than in 12,....but before you know it, i started hatching eggs, then the egg sales took off....and now I appear to have a ridiculous amount!!  I really want to get a couple of ducks, but i'm holding off on that one now, and attempting to only do things that are productive....easier said than done!   ;)

benkt

  • Joined Apr 2010
  • Cambridgeshire
    • Hempsals Community Farm
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #26 on: April 26, 2012, 10:45:02 pm »
Animal health have a pretty helpful flow chart for the rules in England (and Wales?)
http://animalhealth.defra.gov.uk/egg-and-milk/eggs/documents/eggs_flow_chart.pdf

It looks to me like you can always sell unstamped, ungraded eggs direct to consumer and over 50 laying hens you need to be registered and stamped if selling ungraded via a local market, over 350 you have to be registered regardless of how you sell.

holz306

  • Joined Jan 2012
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #27 on: April 27, 2012, 10:26:26 am »
My new hens look pitiful today, standing at the back of their house too scared to come out!  hopefully if the sun comes back out they'll cheer up a bit.

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #28 on: April 27, 2012, 10:56:59 am »
Just looked out of the window ..... know exactly how they feel  ::)

This drought !!!!!!  ::)

FiB

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Bala, North Wales
    • Facebook
Re: 50 new hens
« Reply #29 on: April 27, 2012, 11:09:01 am »
Sorry.  What is an Animal Welfare Visit?   Who gets them and when?  What exactly do they check?

Council department - I had a visit a couple of months ago (a year after registering) and they checked...... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!!  Talked to me about record keeping, gave me a book and made me sign a form to say I understood my obligations.  Arse covering if ever I saw it.   I tried to show them my lovely animals but no interest (Mind you they were both suited and the lady was wearing particularly smart court shoes!!!!).  I had more interest and advice from the council rat catcher!

 

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