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Poultry Programs and Services

Contact: Ed Hageman, Program Coordinator at edward.hageman@state.ma.us - 617- 626-1796

Three Chickes The Division of Animal Health Poultry Program strives to educate producers and consumers about the benefits of local poultry and poultry products. Massachusetts law (MGL Ch 129 sec 26B) requires that all live poultry or hatching eggs moving within the Commonwealth originate from current certified Salmonella pullorum clean flocks. The testing is free and can be arranged by calling MDAR at 617-626-1795. Other poultry testing available to Massachusetts producers are Avian influenza, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, Mycoplasma meleagradis and Salmonella enteritidis. The poultry program provides producers and consumers with educational materials, production support, egg safety, egg handling and inspections.

The definition of poultry includes, but is not limited to chickens, guinea fowl, peafowl, pheasants, partridges, quail and turkeys.

Diagnostic Testing Services for poultry and the avian species listed above is available to all residents of the commonwealth.

The Poultry Division also administers an Egg Grading Program encompassing many different inspectional programs for hatcheries, egg grading stations, egg packers and retail store egg sales.

Best Management Practices for Poultry
Safe Egg Handling for Backyard Egg Producers
In response to a steady increase in the number of families raising small poultry flocks throughout
the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has
developed these documents to aid residential poultry producers in the methods of caring for poultry, marketing eggs and of handling the waste products. We hope these documents will also serve to educate municipal officials in communities that have not traditionally had experience with agricultural endeavors.

Poultry Biosecurity Information: