Maryland Department of Agriculture

As part of an ongoing effort to identify domesticated poultry flock in the state, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Section has continued to work with backyard flock owners to register their flocks with the state.  In 2005, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation requiring domestic poultry to register with the state (Annotated Code of Maryland, Agriculture Article, and Section 3-804).  Since this went into effect the Maryland Department of Agriculture has begun putting this data together to create maps and tables of poultry that we have identified in the state for disease purposes.

NUMBER REGISTERED AS OF 01/01/2010
Commercial Flocks	954
Backyard Flocks	2513

What is the Maryland Poultry Premises Registration?
The Maryland Poultry Premises Registration is a system set up to identify all domesticated poultry flock throughout the state involved in poultry production.  This system will be used to help the state identify poultry flock at a rapid rate when a poultry disease hits the Maryland Poultry industry.  The goal of this system is to be able to identify all domesticated poultry in a relatively short amount of time to adequately respond to a poultry disease outbreak.

What is a premises?
Premises are any location where domestic poultry is managed or held.  Examples of theses are farms, veterinary clinics, sale barns, slaughter facilities, livestock exhibitions, etc.

What is a Poultry Premises Registration Number?
The poultry premises registration number is a number that is generated by the computer system that is comprised of the year you are entered into the system, your county code and a four digit number and is assigned to a premises location, not the person.  IE. (10)(CA)(1234)

Who needs to register?
All individuals involved in keeping or caring for all types of poultry, which include; small households, poultry production, production facilities, suppliers, dealers, haulers, wholesalers, live bird markets and exhibition exhibitors.  Anyone owning 5 birds or more for greater than 120 days in a 12 month period are required to register.

What is the definition of poultry?
By definition poultry includes: chickens, turkeys, ratites, waterfowl, game birds and domestic/captive pigeons.

Who is already registered?
If you have already submitted a registration form and received a certificate in the mail then your registration was successful.  Contract poultry growers, layer flocks enrolled in the MDA Egg Law Program and MDA certified flocks have already been registered by MDA; there is no need to re-register your flock.

Will the information that I share be kept confidential?
Yes, the information you provide is kept confidential according to the Annotated Code of Maryland, Agriculture Article, and Section 3-804.  Only a select few in MDA, Animal Health Section have access to the Poultry Database.  It is only to be used for poultry related mailings and disease outbreaks.  Other MDA units and government agencies do not have access to this database.

How do I register my premises?
To register your premises, download the registration form off the MDA web site, complete it and return by mail or fax.  Or visit one of our three MDA, Animal Health locations in Annapolis, Frederick or Salisbury to obtain the forms.

If you have any questions regarding the Maryland Poultry Premises Registration or need help finding out your Premises Registration number please contact the MDA Poultry Premises Registration Coordinator.

MDA Poultry Premises Registration Coordinator
50 Harry S. Truman Pkwy
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-5810
Email: animalhealth@mda.state.md.us