When do you need a herd/flock number?

Kash

Hello, My husband and I are hoping to get some chickens and a maybe a couple of goats this year, but we're not sure whether we need to get a herd/flock number (though I now know such things exist, so its a start)

What would we need to do before applying for a flock/herd number?

We don't have a whole load of space, so it would be more microholding than smallholding, but we're not sure where to start and the official government websites are very confusing! It definitely doesn't seem as easy as the 'obtain animal, look after animal, get free eggs and milk' idea we had in our heads

Kovu

You'll need a herd/flock number which does for cattle,sheep & goats. Requirements are pretty simple, adequate fencing, enough land for the animals (a goats needs will be pretty small), piped water and handling facilities in cause of illness and treatment being needed. The housing usually can double up as this.
For the goats, fill out the ER1 form attached below, a DVO vet will then come and inspect the premises to make sure it's suitable.
Make sure you get the flock number before the other one as if you have a DVO inspector there and you have poultry but no flock number, it will be a bad mark against you!

I've attached a couple of the most relevant forms below & the info notes too.
(Poultry reg form, herd/flock reg form, plus two info sheets on the application process itself)

Feel free to fire any more questions here too!

Kash

That is incredibly helpful - thank you!

Kash

And now the questions begin in earnest...

We already have a chicken coop (not yet assembled, but on the to-do list), so we will probably start with chickens.

1. Do we need to register as a poultry keeper before getting the poultry?
2. When it says number of houses on site, does it mean number of human houses (as in just the one we live in) or number of chicken coops? (it's going to be 1 either way, but the latter option could change)
3. Activity and enterprise types: if I start off with eggs solely for the consumption of me and mine, and then I get bitten bad by the chicken farming bug and start giving away eggs or selling them, do I have to update my application? Likewise, if I start off as a backyard microholding and then decide to open a petting zoo (you never know!), do I need to update someone?

Thanks for your help!

Kovu

Kash wrote: »

And now the questions begin in earnest...

We already have a chicken coop (not yet assembled, but on the to-do list), so we will probably start with chickens.

1. Do we need to register as a poultry keeper before getting the poultry?
2. When it says number of houses on site, does it mean number of human houses (as in just the one we live in) or number of chicken coops? (it's going to be 1 either way, but the latter option could change)
3. Activity and enterprise types: if I start off with eggs solely for the consumption of me and mine, and then I get bitten bad by the chicken farming bug and start giving away eggs or selling them, do I have to update my application? Likewise, if I start off as a backyard microholding and then decide to open a petting zoo (you never know!), do I need to update someone?

Thanks for your help!

1- I'd suggest so, the form states 'proposed number of poultry on premises'', just gauge maybe ten whatever. I'd suggest rounding it upwards!
2- That appears to be more for large scale farmers, just say one if that's what you're starting with, you can always change it if needs be.
3- ''(i) I will notify DAFF if there are any material changes to the information provided herewith''

So yes, just start off with your minimum and work upwards if you need to change it. All you'll probably have to do is ring the DVO and quote your flock number and they can change statuses etc for you.

Have you looked at any chicken breeds yet? Have to get a few myself again soon, those darn pine martins killed the whole flock a few years ago

Kash

Haven't picked any breeds yet, but have been looking. We only have a small family, so we wouldn't need massive amounts of eggs, but I would like a breed that would provide the occasional roast chicken dinner, as well as the eggs.

The ones that seem to stick out are Orpingtons and Rhode Island (reds? whites?) but I don't know if they are easy to come by in ireland