Salmonella: test your breeding chickens
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-11)

When and how to test for salmonella if you breed chickens, and what happens if a flock tests positive.
Testing is part of the salmonella national control programme (NCP).

When you must test for salmonella

You must test for salmonella if you keep 250 or more breeding chickens at any time within a 12-month period.

You must sample each of your individual flocks at set intervals. A flock is a group of birds that shares the same air space, for example a chicken house or range.

Officials can also collect samples from your flock (known as official sampling). That sample can replace the one you were due to take.

Testing is required by law and is an essential part of the national control programme (NCP) to reduce salmonella in poultry and protect animal and public health.

You do not need to test for salmonella if you produce eggs or chicks for scientific or research purposes only (that are not for human consumption).

Before you test for salmonella

Register places where you have a hatchery or keep poultry

In Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) you must register each premises where you keep poultry (even if you only keep a single bird).

In England and Wales, register as a bird keeper with APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-as-a-bird-keeper). You must register your hatchery (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/egg-hatchery-and-chick-breeding-premises-registration) if it has the capacity to incubate 1,000 or more eggs at the same time.

In Scotland register on the Scottish Kept Bird Register (SKBR) (https://keptbirdregister.service.gov.scot/).

In Northern Ireland you must register all poultry flocks on the Northern Ireland Poultry Register (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/bird-registration-form). This includes single backyard hens. The only exception is if it is a pet bird that lives in the owner’s house.

Moving breeding chickens to your premises

You must tell APHA or DAERA at least 2 weeks before the date you expect every breeding flock of at least 250 birds or more to arrive at your holding.

If your premises are in Great Britain, contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

If your premises are in Northern Ireland, contact DAERA (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/contact).

Tell APHA or DAERA the number of flocks on the premises and the name, address and telephone number of:
- the premises
- the occupier of the premises
- the person who owns each breeding flock on the premises
For each flock, include:
- a way to identify it
- the number of birds
- its status in the breeding pyramid
- the date that the flock will move
- the likely end of production or de-population
- whether the flock are layer breeders or meat breeders
Layer breeders are poultry kept to produce eggs intended for the incubation and hatching of chicks:
- that will be grown to produce eggs for human consumption
- whose progeny will be grown to produce eggs for human consumption
Meat breeders are poultry kept to produce eggs intended for the incubation and hatching of chicks:
- that will be grown to produce meat for human consumption
- whose progeny will be grown to produce meat for human consumption
Importing hatching eggs or day-old chicks from other countries

Check that day old chicks or hatching eggs have been sourced from flocks that are free from salmonella and that they are tested for salmonella.

Exporting hatching eggs or chicks

A vet or a government official may have to collect some samples (NCP or otherwise) if you:
- export hatching eggs
- supply a hatchery that exports hatching eggs for breeding purposes
- supply a hatchery that exports day-old chicks or older birds for breeding purposes
They will decide on the sampling programme and train the staff who take the samples. Your vet will let you know if other tests are needed when exporting – read the Poultry Health Scheme Handbook (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/poultry-health-scheme-how-to-register) for further details.

If you’re sending hatching eggs or chicks to Northern Ireland then, they must be treated just as any other exports under the Windsor Framework.

Ask your vet or a NCP-approved laboratory for advice

If your flock is in Great Britain, you must use a laboratory approved by APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salmonella-in-poultry-testing-laboratories-in-the-uk).

If your flock is in Northern Ireland, you must use a laboratory approved by DAERA (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/salmonella).

Your vet or laboratory approved to undertake NCP testing can help you:
- create sampling plans
- train staff to take the samples correctly
- get the sampling kit you need
- work out how many flocks you have
You must take samples from all the flocks at your premises and these samples must include all subdivisions within houses and all houses or mobile units sharing the same range area. There are guidance documents available from APHA regarding the definition of a flock in complex housing systems.

If you need help to work out how many flocks you have, ask your vet.

If you still need help to work out how many flocks you have, ask APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening) or DAERA (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/contact).

When to collect samples

You must collect samples at different stages:
- at day old
- at 4 weeks old
- 2 weeks before they move to the breeding unit
- at regular intervals throughout production
Collect samples on the day the chicks hatch or arrive from a hatchery

You must send the laboratory:
- the liners (chick papers) from boxes used to deliver the chicks – one box for every 500 chicks from each delivery (up to 10 boxes)
- any chicks that are dead on arrival (up to 60 from each hatchery) – check the laboratory has capacity to test dead chicks before sending
Collect samples from birds at 4 weeks old and again 2 weeks before moving them to the breeding unit

For floor-reared birds, you must collect a minimum of 2 pairs of boot swabs (#boot-swabs) (fabric overshoes).

For cage reared birds, you must collect a 60 gram (g) composite faeces sample (#composite-faeces).

Composite (also known as naturally pooled) means faeces from many birds in the flock. You can do this by collecting faeces from all the muck belts in the house.

Collect regular samples from your adult breeding flocks

Once you have moved the birds into the breeding unit, you must collect NCP samples on your premises every 2 weeks unless officials advise you otherwise.

You may sample chicken breeder flocks every 3 weeks instead of every 2 weeks if both:
- the administration (Defra, DAERA, Scottish or Welsh Government, depending on where you are based) allows - this is dependent on them achieving the breeder chickens NCP target for their respective country
- you have not had a regulated salmonella on the holding in the previous year
In Great Britain you must apply to APHA for approval to sample every 3 weeks when this is permitted in your administration. If you farm in:
- England, contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- Scotland, contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- Wales, contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
If you have had a regulated salmonella case in the previous year, sampling would continue at 2 week intervals for 12 months. This starts from the date you disinfect the house where the positive flock lived.

APHA or DAERA will inform producers and industry bodies within their country if they implement or withdraw this option.

For barn or free-range flocks not housed in multi-tier systems, you must collect either:
- 5 pairs of boot swabs (#boot-swabs) for each flock
- at least one pair of boot swabs (#boot-swabs) and an additional dust sample (#dust-sample) for each flock
For barn or free-range flocks housed in a multi-tier system, you must collect one pair of boot swabs (#boot-swabs) and at least 2 fabric hand-held swabs (#fabric-swabs) for each flock.

For caged flocks, you must collect either:
- two 150g composite faeces samples (#composite-faeces) for each flock
- one 150g composite faeces samples (#composite-faeces) and an additional dust sample (#dust-sample) for each flock
If you are collecting faeces from the droppings pit, collect at least 20 pinches of fresh surface material from each row of faeces. If there are less than 3 rows of faeces, then either:
- all 60 pinches must be collected from the only row, if there is a single row of faeces
- 30 pinches must be collected from each row, if there are 2 rows of faeces
The faeces collected must be picked up from at least 60 different areas and be representative of the whole house.

However, if you collect all faeces on belts, collect sufficient faeces from all of the belt scrapers or using faecal swabs on all of the belts to ensure you get faeces from all parts of the shed, so the sample represents the whole house.

150g is about the amount that would fill a typical coffee mug. If you send less than 150g the laboratory will not be able to test your sample.

If your flock is housed in a cage or multi-tier system and you are unable to collect representative boot swab or composite faeces samples for the whole house, you should:
- contact APHA or DAERA for sampling advice
- ask the official what approach you should take when they are on site to collect an official sample from your flock
Avoid collecting samples after giving antibiotics

A vet may prescribe antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials) for various purposes, but not as a specific method to control salmonella in poultry.

Whatever the age of your birds, avoid taking NCP samples while giving your breeding chickens antibiotics that affect salmonella. Also avoid this in the 14 days after dosing ends.

Consult your vet for advice if you need to take NCP samples within 14 days of the last dose of antibiotics given to your birds. Not all antibiotics affect NCP testing.

APHA or DAERA could consider your flock to be positive for salmonella if the laboratory suspects that there may be disinfectant, inhibitory substances, antibiotics or other attempts to reduce detection of salmonella affecting your samples.

To find out when you can sample after giving antibiotics, ask the vet who prescribed them.

If you think a proposed antibiotic treatment may compromise your upcoming NCP salmonella testing, you should collect your NCP samples before starting to give the medication. Re-schedule further NCP samples to reflect the new sampling date.

How to collect boot swab, faeces, and dust samples

You must take samples from all the flocks at your premises. Include:
- all subdivisions within houses sharing the same airspace
- all houses or mobile units sharing the same range area
Prepare to collect samples

Gather all the equipment you need before you go into the poultry house to prevent contamination while sampling.

Take care to avoid cross-contamination from other animals (especially other poultry, pigs, sheep, horses, cattle, pets or wild birds).

The set up of the house and the production system dictate how many samples and which types must or may be collected.

How to collect boot swab samples

You will need:
- disposable plastic over boots
- disposable plastic gloves
- leak-proof sealable bags or sample pots
- packaging for sending your sample bags or pots to the laboratory
- boot swabs – these must be absorbent enough to soak up moisture – you can also use tubegauze socks or pre-moistened commercial swabs (it is best to use commercial sampling kits with sterile, pre-moistened swabs and then you do not need to carry water)
- tap water or bottled still water for moistening boot swabs – do not use sparkling water or water treated with antibacterial agents or acids
You should:
- only sample the inside of the house
- avoid sampling the areas just inside of doors and pop holes as they may have been contaminated by material from outside
- take boot swab samples from the existing litter – do not put new litter down in the 2 days before sampling
- moisten the swabs with water before you take samples – you can do this by putting the swabs into a grip-seal bag and pouring water onto them inside the bag and then shaking the bag
To collect the samples:

1. Put on a new pair of plastic gloves - do not use hand sanitiser and make sure you do not contaminate them with disinfectant as it could affect your sample.

2.If not already moist, moisten the boot swabs with tap water or bottled still water.

3. After walking through disinfectant foot-dips and entering the bird area, put on plastic over-boots, then put on the first pair of boot swabs. The plastic over-boots prevent any contact between disinfected or contaminated boots and boot swabs. The presence of disinfectant or other bacteria on the swab may prevent identification of salmonella by the laboratory or result in a false positive test result if boots are already contaminated by salmonella.

4. Take at least 100 steps in each pair of boot swabs – if collecting:
- one pair of boot swabs walk around the entire house
- 2 pairs of boot swabs then walk round half the house in each pair
- 5 pairs walk around a fifth of the house in each pair
5. Shuffle your feet on the floor as you walk to pick up as much material as you can.

6. If the house is divided into several pens, make sure every pen is included in the sampling.

7. Include all pens or mobile units used by the flock in the sampling. On most farms with multiple mobile units per flock, hand-held swabs for collecting faeces are the best sampling option to use to avoid inadvertent contamination while sampling.

8. When you have finished sampling, take the boot swabs off and carefully turn them inside out so that the faeces you have collected stay on them.

9. Put the boot swabs in a sample bag or pot – if collecting:
- one pair of boot swabs, place the boot swabs in one bag or pot
- 2 pairs of boot swabs, put one pair in one bag or pot and the second pair in another
- 5 pairs of boot swabs, put 2 pairs plus one of the third pair together in one bag or pot and put the rest together in another
10. Label each container carefully, ready to send to the laboratory.

How to collect dust samples

You will need:
- disposable plastic gloves
- leak-proof sealable bags or sample pots
- packaging for sending your sample bags or pots to the laboratory
- one or more swabs – the total combined surface area of the swabs must be at least 900cm2
- tap water or bottled still water for moistening swabs – do not use sparkling water or water treated with antibacterial agents or acids
You should:
- avoid collecting dust swab samples from feeding systems or inlet vents
- package dust swab samples separately from your boot swabs
To collect the samples:

1. Put on new plastic gloves – do not use hand sanitiser and make sure you do not contaminate them with disinfectant.

2. Open out the hand-held dust swabs.

3. If not already moist, moisten the dust swabs with tap water or bottled still water. Moisten the swabs by putting them into a plastic bag and pouring water onto them inside the bag, then shaking.

4. Swab at least 20 different places around the house including ledges, partitions, ventilation baffle and anywhere else dust has settled, except from feeding systems or inlet vents.

5. Make sure that both sides of the swabs are completely covered with dust.

6. Put the swabs carefully (so you do not dislodge dust) in a sample bag or pot – do not use the same container you used for boot swab or composite faeces samples.

7. Label each bag or pot carefully, ready to send to the laboratory.

How to collect composite faeces samples

Composite (also known as naturally pooled) means faeces from many birds in the flock. In some situations composite faeces samples might be collected without using swabs, but generally using swabs is more convenient.

Depending on how your poultry house is equipped and operated, you may need:
- disposable plastic gloves
- inverted bags or a spatula to collect the samples
- leak-proof sealable bags or sample pots
- packaging for sending your sample bags or pots to the laboratory
- enough fabric swabs for your type of flock (at least 2 if being collected as well as a pair of boot swabs from a multi-tier system, or otherwise at least 4 swabs per flock)
- fabric swabs – each swab must have a surface area of at least 900cm2
- tap water or bottled still water for moistening fabric swabs – do not use sparkling water or water treated with antibacterial agents or acids
Collect the samples from manure belts or scrapers

To get a representative and fresh sample you should:
- run belts or scrapers just before you take the samples
- collect faeces from scrapers at the discharge ends of the manure belts on every row and tier of the cages or multi-tier system
For caged young birds one sample of 60g of faeces is required. 60g is slightly less than the amount that would half fill a typical coffee mug.

For adult birds 2 samples of 150g of composite faeces are required. This would typically fill a coffee mug.

If you send less than the amount required, the laboratory will not be able to test your sample.

1. Put on new plastic gloves – do not use hand sanitiser and make sure you do not contaminate them with disinfectant.

2. Run the manure belts or scrapers.

3. Collect faeces from scrapers or at the discharge end of the manure belts on every row and tier of the cages or multi-tier system.

4. Put the faeces in a sample bag or pot – if you used swabs, put half of them in one container and the other half in another.

5. Label each bag or pot carefully, ready to send to the laboratory.

Collect samples when there are no manure belts or scrapers

1. Put on new plastic gloves – do not use hand sanitiser and make sure you do not contaminate them with disinfectant.

2. Collect samples from at least 60 different areas of the entire house – you must collect samples from cages or across the area of the droppings pit.

3. Put the faeces in a sample bag or pot – if you used swabs, put half of them in one container and the other half in another.

4. Label each bag or pot carefully, ready to send to the laboratory.

Make sure the material you collect is representative of the whole house.

How to collect fabric hand-held swab faeces samples

You will need:
- disposable plastic gloves
- leak-proof sealable bags or sample pots
- packaging for sending your sample bags or pots to the laboratory
- enough fabric swabs for your type of flock (at least 2 if being collected as well as a pair of boot swabs from a multi-tier system, or otherwise at least 4 swabs per flock)
- fabric swabs – each swab must have a surface area of at least 900cm2
- tap water or bottled still water for moistening fabric swabs – do not use sparkling water or water treated with antibacterial agents or acids
To collect samples:

1. Put on new plastic gloves – do not use hand sanitiser and make sure you do not contaminate them with disinfectant.

2. Open out the fabric swabs.

3. If not already moistened, moisten the fabric swabs with the tap water or bottled still water. Moisten the swabs by putting them into a grip-seal bag and pouring water onto them inside the bag, then shaking.

4. Run the manure belts or scrapers.

5. Swab as large an area as possible at the discharge end of all accessible manure belts, scrapers and belt cleaners.

6. Make sure both sides of the swabs are completely covered in faeces.

7. Put the swabs carefully (so the collected faeces stays in place) in a sample bag or pot.

8. If you are collecting 2 swabs, they can go in one container, but if you are collecting 4 swabs, divide these into 2 containers.

9. Label each bag or pot carefully, ready to send to the laboratory.

What to do with the samples

Label samples

You must label each sample. On each label, you must include the flock identification. This is the flock’s house name or number, month and year the flock moved into the house.

Your laboratory will tell you how to submit your samples.

On the label, or the laboratory’s submission form or IT system, provide the:
- unique identifier of the sampled flock
- types of sample taken
- date you took the samples
- registration number, County Parish Holding (CPH) number, or DAERA flock number
- name and address of the flock’s premises
- age of the flock (for a multi-age flock use the date when you moved in the oldest birds)
- number of birds in the flock
- contact details of the person sending the sample
If you used a fabric boot swab as a hand swab, make sure this is accurately labelled so the laboratory can correctly identify the sample type in its report.

Send samples to a NCP-approved laboratory

If your flock is in Great Britain, you must send your samples to a laboratory approved by APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salmonella-in-poultry-testing-laboratories-in-the-uk) for testing.

If your flock is in Northern Ireland your samples must be sent to a laboratory approved by DAERA (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/salmonella) for testing.

You should send your samples on the day you collect them, or within 24 hours of collection. Refrigerate your samples between 2 to 8°C if you cannot send them promptly on the day you collect them. You must not freeze samples.

You can send biological samples in the post but make sure you use appropriate packaging. Refer to the Dispatch Methods for UN3373 Category B Samples (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/packaging-and-transport-requirements-for-patient-samples-un3373) for further information (which is written in relation to posting human samples but applies equally to NCP samples).

Check that the laboratory can start testing your samples within 48 hours of receiving them and within 4 days of sampling. Some laboratories may not be able to process samples received late in the week or on weekends or public holidays.

You’ll need to send more samples if:
- you do not send enough samples
- the swab area is too small (where relevant)
- the weight of the faeces is too small (where relevant)
- your samples are delayed
- the laboratory cannot meet the testing deadlines
The laboratory will send your results to:
- the person who sent the sample or the registered owner of the sampled flock
- APHA or DAERA – if the sample tests positive for salmonella (this may be referred to as a Zoonoses Order or a ZO2 notification by some laboratories)
If your laboratory gets a positive result for salmonella they must send the bacteria to APHA or DAERA for further testing. This official testing cannot begin until APHA or DAERA receive the bacteria and supporting information from your laboratory.

Once received by the government laboratory, official testing can take up to 12 working days for certain strains of salmonella so they can be accurately identified. Accurate identification is important as only certain strains of salmonella need further NCP official action to be taken. You will be informed by APHA or DAERA of the final result as soon as it is available.

If your samples test positive for salmonella you’ll need to inform your vet of the positive result, if you have not made arrangements with the testing laboratory to do this automatically.

APHA and DAERA will apply restrictions to your positive flock(s) if certain strains of salmonella are found.

Official sampling at your premises

In Great Britain, APHA will visit to collect all types of official NCP samples. In addition, in Scotland the Scottish Government Poultry Unit may also collect NCP samples. Generally these will just be routine official samples.

In Northern Ireland, DAERA will visit to collect official samples.

You’ll be charged for these visits. A routine official sample can replace an operator sample (a sample you would have usually taken). See official sampling fees for England, Scotland and Wales (https://www.gov.uk/salmonella-national-control-programmes-fees) or fees in Northern Ireland (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2016/75/pdfs/nisr_20160075_en.pdf).

When your flock needs routine official sampling

In Great Britain, official samples are collected 3 times if:
- your flock is on a new site or in a new poultry house
- another flock on the same premises has tested positive for a regulated salmonella in the past year
In all parts of the UK, routine official samples are collected:
- within 4 weeks of a flock moving to the laying unit or house
- in the middle of the lay period
- within the last 8 weeks of egg production
Otherwise, routine official samples are collected twice in the flock’s lifetime, at the beginning and end of the laying period.

Officials from APHA or DAERA can also visit to take samples:
- if a non-vaccine strain regulated type of salmonella has been detected in another flock or in a previous crop of flocks on your premises
- from all the flocks on your premises if a non-vaccine strain regulated type of salmonella has been identified at the hatchery you use and it has been traced to one of your flocks
- from flocks where there is no evidence of testing
- in cases where they consider it appropriate
If your samples test positive for regulated types of salmonella

APHA or DAERA test bacteria from your sample supplied to them by your laboratory and review the positive results for regulated types of salmonella.

If the positive result is not due to a vaccine type of salmonella, official restrictions may be applied to your flock and you must comply with their requirements.

Regulated salmonella are:
- Salmonella Enteritidis
- Salmonella Typhimurium
- Salmonella Hadar
- Salmonella Infantis
- Salmonella Virchow
Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium are regulated salmonella which always require a number of official actions if identified. If found, the other 3 regulated types might require some official actions.

In exceptional circumstances, confirmatory sampling for a positive salmonella flock may be allowed where there is compelling evidence that the initial operator result may be a false-positive.

In these cases in Great Britain, APHA will alert the relevant administration (known as the competent authority. This is Defra if your flock is in England, Scottish Government if your flock is in Scotland, or Welsh Government if your flock is in Wales).

This confirmatory official sampling is only permitted when there is cause to question the results of the original testing. For example, when there is strong evidence that the original result was affected by contamination at the laboratory and so the original result may not reflect the salmonella status of your flock.

If, after considering the evidence that you or your vet have supplied, the competent authority agree that the initial result may be a possibly false positive, then either APHA or DAERA will advise you accordingly, and make arrangements to undertake official sampling.

If this type of confirmatory testing is carried out, a government official may ask you to cull 5 birds. They will take the carcases and store their organs when they collect confirmatory samples. They may use organs of these birds to test for the presence of antibiotics if the confirmatory test is negative.

Positive tests for Salmonella Enteritidis or Typhimurium

If the positive result is for Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium (including monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium), and is not caused by vaccinating your flock, official restrictions will be applied to your flock.

If you fail to follow the terms in an official notice, you may be prosecuted.

You must:
- keep the flock that tested positive and its eggs on the farm
- arrange to slaughter the entire positive flock (or flocks if more than one found positive) as soon you are told to do this by means of a slaughter notice
- arrange the destruction of all incubating eggs that have been placed in the hatchery since the infection was found in the flock, and possibly eggs laid for up to 6 weeks before collecting the positive sample
- request a movement licence from APHA or DAERA if you want to move any unincubated eggs for heat treatment or disposal
- take samples from your flocks on the premises every 2 weeks for 12 months after you first receive the official positive result for your breeding flock
Positive tests for Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella Infantis or Salmonella Virchow

If APHA or DAERA confirm the presence of Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella Infantis or Salmonella Virchow, you must:
- develop a control plan with your vet
- seek APHA or DAERA approval for your control plan (if not approved official restrictions may be served on your positive flock)
- implement the approved control plan
- take samples from your flocks on the premises every 2 weeks for 12 months after you first receive the official positive result for your breeding flock
The control plan needs to include:
- increased biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of salmonella
- thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the affected house and surroundings after flock depletion
- collecting samples after thorough cleaning and disinfection
You can only move new birds into the house if test results on post-cleaning samples are negative.

APHA or DAERA may check your hatchery to see if salmonella has become established there.

Official samples following a positive test

Once APHA or DAERA identifies at least one flock as positive for Salmonella Enteritidis or Typhimurium, their officials will:
- take samples from all the other flocks on your premises
- take samples when a new flock is placed in the house where the last flock had a positive test result
- visit your premises to give advice on salmonella control
You could also get advice from your vet, farm assurance scheme or industry body.

You will not have to pay for:
- official sampling of other flocks on your premises
- testing the new flock following its move to the house which officials identified as positive (in Great Britain only)
- the vet advisory visit offered from a specialist APHA or DAERA vet
In Northern Ireland testing of young birds not yet in production is free, but routine official sampling charges apply to the replacement adult breeding flock placed in the previously positive house

Compensation

When a government organisation requires your breeding birds to be culled, it may pay compensation for them as long as you follow its instructions.

Compensation only applies if your breeding flock tests positive for Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium (including monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium).

Keep records

Keep salmonella testing records for 2 years

For each sample you must record the:
- date you took the sample
- flock identification – the flock’s house name or number, the month and year the flock moved into the house
- type of sample, such as boot swabs or dust sample
- age of the flock
- laboratory that tested the sample
- test result
You must keep these records for at least 2 years and make them available to an official on their request.

Keep egg and bird movement records for 2 years

You must record any movement of birds or eggs to or from your premises. For each movement you must record the:
- date (month and year) the flock moved
- number of birds or eggs moved
- age of the birds moved
- flock identification – the flock’s house name or number, the month and year the flock moved into the house
- address that the birds or eggs moved from (including the building name or number)
- address that the birds or eggs moved to (including the building name or number)
You must keep these records for at least 2 years and make them available to an official on their request.

Keep medication records for 5 years

You must record information about the medicines used to treat your birds. Officials auditing your NCP compliance will focus on the following aspects of your overall medicine records, as these are relevant in assessing if medicines use may have compromised the likelihood of NCP testing identifying a salmonella positive flock:
- medicines used (specifically antibiotics and salmonella vaccinations)
- dose rate
- start and end date of treatment
- route of administration
- identification of the treated flock or flocks
- end date of the withdrawal period
These records are used to assess if medicines use may have affected NCP testing.

You must keep your medicine records for at least 5 years and make them available to an official on their request. Find out more about record keeping requirements for veterinary medicines (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/record-keeping-requirements-for-veterinary-medicines).

Include test results in food chain information (FCI) documents for abattoirs

If you send any birds in your flock or flocks to an abattoir for slaughter for human consumption you must fill in a food chain information (FCI) declaration document (https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/food-chain-information).

In the FCI document, you must declare:
- the most recent NCP test result for the flock
- the date the sample was collected
- other diagnoses
- the use of medicines
If the most recent salmonella NCP test was a negative result, you must also declare any previous positive salmonella test results (including a vaccine type positive result) for that specific flock with the sample collection dates. This includes results from tests not taken as part of the NCP programme.

You do not need to provide FCI if:
- you slaughter the birds on the farm and dispose of them as animal by-products
- you sell your birds direct to customers
Selling your birds direct to customers

If you sell directly (farm gate or other direct sales), you may be regarded as a food business and so must register with your local authority. This requirement applies to the sale of meat from your flock. If your flock tests positive for salmonella, they will advise you on what you need to do to protect the health of your customers.

You will need a slaughterer’s licence (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-certificate-of-competence-or-licence-to-slaughter-or-kill-animals) or to employ a licenced slaughterer to slaughter birds on your farm.

Get advice

If you need more advice, contact APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening) or DAERA (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/contact) or your vet.