Can any of you fine people help.
I am the allotment officer for Halton Borough Council in Cheshire and one of our tenants have asked me are there any regulations regarding the keeping of chickens on an allotment plot. e.g. The transportation of livestock , where they are purchased, inoculations and do they need to be registered.
What regulations do you have to apply with. Do vets have to come out periodically to inoculate against salmonella etc , how much does it cost. what are the hazards ,pitfalls and problems.
If the number of chickens exceeds 50 then it is classed as a commercial venture and there are many rules and regulations to take into account. However, I imagine your allotment holder is just wanting a few chickens for his own personal use, in which case they do not need to be registered or inoculated.
Councils have their own rules and regulations regarding the keeping of hens on allotments so if your Council has no objections then there should be no reasons to refuse the request.
As for hazzards, pitfalls and problems, there are only two that I can think of at the moment. The first is that the run should be very secure, preferably with a net over the top or if not, at least 5 ft high fencing. Just imagine the damage the birds could do to if they managed to get out. The second concern is Bird Flu. What would happen to the birds if the Government brought in a regulation that all poultry should be kept indoors? Some European countries already have this rule.
There is more about Bird Flu on a previous thread.
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