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Information by Species
Cattle
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Poultry and Other Birds
Pets/Species Whose Primary Regulator is Not MDA AH
Maryland Poultry
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Poultry Information
Order of the Secretary Concerning Poultry, Hatching Eggs and Biosecurity
Report Sick Birds
Registering Your Flock
Selling Live Poultry or Hatching Eggs
Selling Table Eggs
Poultry Swap Meet Policy
National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)
Authorized Poultry Testing Agents
Report Sick Birds to 410-841-5810
Signs of disease include:
Swollen eyelids/sinuses/combs or wattles;
Purple or bluish discoloration of wattles and combs;
respiratory snicking;
generally depressed birds;
unexplained mortality
Registering Your Flock-
It's the law and it's free.
Any person with poultry in Maryland must register their birds. The critical information collected with the
Maryland Poultry Premises Registration Form
provides animal health officials with
necessary contact information in case of an animal health concern and helps identify at risk animals and premises.
All information collected remains confidential. Once complete, you may return your poultry registration form to our office by
mail
or by emailing it to animalhealth.mda@maryland.gov.
Poultry Registration is required by
Agric. Art., Section § 3-804. Annotated Code of Maryland
.
Frequently asked questions about Maryland Poultry Registration
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Selling Live Poultry or Hatching Eggs
You must have a permit to sell live poultry or hatching eggs in Maryland. The only exceptions are poultry sold for immediate slaughter
(COMAR 15.11.11.04)
or at an approved auction market.
To obtain a permit, complete the
Permit to Sell Live Poultry & Hatching Eggs
.
Please note: there are testing requirements, sanitation requirements and record keeping requirements for selling live poultry or hatching eggs. The objective of this permit is to prevent the spread of poultry diseases. If you do not wish to obtain a permit to sell live poultry or hatching eggs you are free to sell poultry at any livestock auction in Maryland.
Permit to Sell Live Poultry & Hatching Eggs
General Requirement for a Permit to Sell Live Poultry, Hatching Eggs or Operate a Hatchery
Code of Maryland Regulations, 15.11.11 Salmonellosis of Poultry
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Selling Table Eggs
The Maryland Egg law requires all eggs sold in the state meet standards for safety, quality, labeling and weight. Everyone selling eggs, even small backyard producers, must comply with it. The law is designed to ensure that Maryland consumers have wholesome, high quality eggs. The MDA Food Quality Assurance Program is responsible for enforcing this law. If you are selling eggs for human consumption, Maryland law requires a special permit. Please contact the MDA Food Quality Assurance Program at (410) 841-5769 or
egg.inspection@maryland.gov
for more information.
Guidelines for Table Egg Sales in Maryland
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Poultry Swap Meet Policy
Any poultry sold in Maryland must be healthy and free of disease. This includes poultry sold at swap meets. Swap meet poultry sellers are required to have poultry premises registration and to maintain records of all sales. View the
Maryland Poultry Swap Meet Policy
for more information. Contact MDA Animal Health: 410-841-5810 for any questions.
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National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)
The
National Poultry Improvement Plan
is a cooperative Federal-State-Industry program through which new or existing diagnostic technology can be effectively applied to improve poultry and poultry products by controlling or eliminating specific poultry diseases. The Plan consists of programs that identify States, flocks, hatcheries, dealers, and slaughter plants that meet specific disease control standards specified in the Plan. Participants shall maintain records to demonstrate that they adhere to the disease control programs in which they participate. If you are interested in becoming NPIP certified, please contact npip.md@maryland.gov, barb.kunie@maryland.gov, or call 410-353-6771.
NPIP New Participant Information Packet
NPIP Provisions for Hobbyist and Exhibition Waterfowl, Exhibition Poultry, and Game Bird Breeding Flocks and Products
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Authorized Poultry Testing Agents
In Maryland, Authorized Poultry Testing Agents are trained by state animal health officials to administer and record routine tests for pullorum-typhoid bacteria and to collect samples for avian influenza testing for the NPIP program and for exhibition purposes. They provide a critical function to assist MDA in disease surveillance in the state. Maryland residents over 18 years of age may apply to become Maryland Authorized Poultry Testing Agents upon successful completion of the Maryland Authorized Poultry Testing Agent Certification Class. Classes are offered once a year at our laboratories in Frederick and Salisbury. For more information including the date of an upcoming class contact: MDAPoultry.Testers@maryland.gov
New Poultry Testing Agent Class
Registration
List of MD Authorized Poultry Testing Agents
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I want to..
Register my flock
Find a poultry tester
Become NPIP certified
Become a poultry tester
Forms
Maryland Poultry Premises Registration Form
Poultry Self Certification Form
For Poultry Testers
Important: Antigen Shortage Notice
List of Maryland Authorized Poultry Testing Agents
Poultry Testing Supply Order
Collection and Submission of Avian Swab Samples For AIV and NDV Testing
Related Information
Small Flock Information:
University of Maryland's Poultry Page
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