Importing pet chickens into Ireland

New Home

Hi there,

Does anyone know what's the procedure for bringing pet chickens into Ireland? I know you can get a pet passport for certain animals, but chickens, ducks and their likes seem to be excluded.

Thanks.

gozunda

New Home wrote: »

Hi there,

Does anyone know what's the procedure for bringing pet chickens into Ireland? I know you can get a pet passport for certain animals, but chickens, ducks and their likes seem to be excluded.

Thanks.

Due to avian flu risks etc bringing in poultry to Ireland is subject to some regulations and restrictions

Poultry - general importation

See: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/publications/2010/schemesandservices2010-2011/9animalhealthandwelfare-part2/

Pets - general importation

https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets/bringingyourpetotherthanadogcatorferretintoireland/

Note that:

Pet Birds are birds:

of any species except fowl, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, partridges and ratites  reared or kept in captivity for breeding, the production of meat or eggs for consumption, or for re-stocking supplies of game),which are not being traded,which travel with the owner or with a person representing the owner.

Your bird is considered a pet if it is travelling with you because you are relocating to Ireland, or are coming to Ireland on holiday. 

Classification will depend on the origins of the poultry being imported afaik.

Best give the department of agriclture a call and detail whether the poultry are being imported from a supplier or they are pets previously beloning to you etc for further information

New Home

Thanks Gozunda, that's a great starting point.

Dial Hard

Genuine question - if they're just going to be kept as pets would you not rescue some ex-battery hens?

Or are they chickens someone moving to Ireland already owns and wants to bring with them?

New Home

The latter.