Animal Welfare (Poultry) Regulations 2024

In this regulation —

means the part of the shed in which the chicken can move around freely and perform normal postures; but

does not include the parts of the shed that —

are nest areas; or

have raised perches, feed troughs or other structures.

This regulation applies to captive poultry in sheds used for commercial poultry production other than chickens that are —

more than 10 days of age; and

bred, reared, kept and managed for meat production, unless those chickens are breeding chickens reared, kept and managed for breeding chickens for meat production; and

kept in a shed with a stocking density of —

if the chickens are kept in a tunnel‑ventilated shed — more than 34 kg of live body weight per square metre but less than 38 kg of live body weight per square metre of the shed’s usable space; and

if the chickens are kept in a mechanically‑ventilated shed and will be picked up between 1 April and 30 September — more than 34 kg of live body weight per square metre but less than 38 kg of live body weight per square metre of the shed’s usable space; and

if the chickens are kept in a mechanically‑ventilated shed and will be picked up between 1 October and 31 March — more than 34 kg of live body weight per square metre but less than 36 kg of live body weight per square metre of the shed’s usable space.

The person responsible for the captive poultry must ensure that the level of ammonia in the shed is continuously monitored.

The person responsible for the captive poultry must ensure that, if the level of ammonia in the shed exceeds 15 ppm at bird level, immediate action is taken to reduce the ammonia level in the shed to below 15 ppm.