Poultry
Poultry includes domestic fowls like chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks, often raised for meat or eggs.
To keep poultry domestically, you'll need to be aware of local regulations regarding types and numbers of birds allowed, as well as the need to prevent them from becoming a nuisance. Additionally, proper housing, hygiene, and disease prevention are crucial for their health and well-being.
Keeping Backyard Chickens Safely (Department of Health)
Keeping Backyard Chickens (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)
How many can I have?
In the Shire of Victoria Plains, a resident can keep a combined total of 12 poultry and pigeons on any one lot of land within a townsite. This includes fowls, peafowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, and other domestic fowls. If you own a property larger than one acre (4000 square meters) in a rural area, there are typically no restrictions on the number of poultry you can keep.
Outside of the townsite, if you would like to keep larger numbers of poultry, you must register with DPIRD. This is a requirement, whether or not the poultry is being kept for commercial reasons. Owners of 50 or more poultry, or 10 or more emus and/or ostriches are required to register with DPIRD as livestock owners.
Register poultry with DPIRD
Keeping poultry
Soil
It is important you make sure your soil is poultry-safe. Check the DPIRD website for information about pesticides and why some are unsafe for chickens. Soil tests can be conducted by National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) approved labs.
Manure
Chicken manure from residential backyard chickens may be used in the garden, but best practice is to compost it first as a "treatment" due to its high ammonia levels. Do not apply it directly to food crops.
Consider your neighbours
Occasionally, Shire officers become involved in compliance issues, and cooperation between neighbours. Where formal complaints are received and when there may be a non-compliance or health nuisance, an investigation will be conducted.
If you are not successful in resolving any relevant issues with your neighbours, you may contact us in writing. Please include:
- Where the poultry or rooster is located
- Details of the issue
- How is it affecting you
- Your name and contact details
Selling eggs
The sale of food on any scale is regulated under the Food Act 2008 and Australian Food Standards Code. As an egg producer, you are responsible for managing food safety hazards from the time eggs are laid until they leave your control.
Proper egg production and handling will help make sure your eggs are safe for human consumption. It is important to remember eggs are a potentially hazardous food.
Egg Sellers and Egg Safety Guide
If you are interested in selling your chickens' eggs:
- Contact the Department of Health to obtain a unique identifier for the marking of eggs and egg products (call the Food Unit on 9222 2000 or send an email).
- Submit a Food Business or Premises Registration form to the Shire.
Commercial
The information on this page relates to keeping poultry domestically. Poultry farms are only permitted in areas of the Shire that are zoned accordingly, and planning approval/a building licence are required for any new poultry farm. For enquiries regarding poultry farming, please contact the Shire’s Planning Department.
For a comprehensive listing of legislation that must be complied with, visit the DPIRD website