Poultry and ducks

This page contains Council advice about about ducks, poultry and the keeping of birds - and handy hints.

Ducks and ducklings 
All inquiries should be directed to Fish and Game NZ Southern Region (phone 215 9117).

Poultry
The Council places restrictions on the keeping of poultry in parts of Invercargill other than those where rural activities are permitted. "Poultry" includes geese, ducks, pigeons and domestic fowl of all descriptions. No more than 25 birds may be kept unless written consent has been obtained from the Council's Environmental Health Division.

Poultry house construction and bird welfare

Check with the Council's Building Division to establish if a building consent is required before starting any construction. Generally, any construction greater than 10 suare metres will require a building consent. If a poultry house has an automatic watering system that also needs consent from the plumbing inspectors.

Poultry housing may have attached runs, must be properly constructed in accordance with the Building Act, and must include the following features:

• Floor: The floor of the poultry house to be constructed on concrete or other approved material. Concrete is the most satisfactory flooring surface as it is permanent, vermin proof, easily cleaned and is able to be readily disinfected.
• House: Poultry houses and runs may not be erected or maintained in any of the following positions: within 9m from any dwelling; within 9m from any factory; within 9m from any other building, whether wholly or partly occupied; or within its own height from the boundary of adjoining premises.
• Roof: Rainproof roof over the poultry house.
• Run: Runs are to be enclosed to keep poultry confined.
• Water system: If the structure contains an automatic water system, a plumbing consents may be required.
   

Bird welfare, hygiene and hints

 Adequate  space
 It is recommended that the area of the poultry house be no less that 1.5sq/m per bird for fewer than 12 birds. For more than 12 birds 1.2sq/m per bird is considered adequate - but the more space the better.
 
Building materials
Building materials which are smooth, waterproof and easily cleaned are best as these make the problem of maintaining disease free stock easier and there are also fewer hiding places for blood-sucking mites which can seriously affect poultry. If roofing material such as corrugated iron is used then wire netting and building paper should be placed underneath to prevent condensation and dampness.
 
Egg production
Materials that are light in colour may improve egg production compared with birds kept in dark and dingy surroundings.
 
Cleaning, maintenance
It is important to clean, disinfect and maintain your poultry house on a regular basis. The run should be cleaned at least once a week.
 
Eliminating pests and vermin
Eliminate entry of other animals, pests and vermin (eg birds, rats, stoats, ferrets) by using fine mesh wire netting sunk into a trench of about 0.5m around the perimeter of the poultry house and then turned outward a distance.
 
Dropping boards
Dropping boards are unnecessary as the litter should be of a suitable depth and state of dryness to absorb droppings without difficulty.
 
Insecticides
Treat the house and run with suitable insecticide at least once every six months.
 
Litter
Litter (wood shavings or sawdust with perhaps some straw added) should ideally be built up before the winter months to keep birds warm. Fresh litter added during winter months is likely to take-up moisture and the resultant "caking" can cause unhygienic or offensive conditions.
 
Nuisance
Poultry houses or runs should not cause a nuisance because of their construction, state of repair, closeness to adjoining premises, numbers of birds kept, overflow or soakage. If the Council requires work to be undertaken to prevent a nuisance the work must be completed without undue delay.
 
Pecking
To prevent poultry from pecking each other a small amount of feed could be sprinkled on the floor - this makes the birds peck at the ground and not at each other. Also, subdued lighting might help.
 
Perches
Perches are best placed about 0.5m above the litter and suspended by wires or on iron supports. Perches of dressed timber are ideal as this reduces the number of hiding places for mites. The best size is 75mm x 50mm on-edge; upper edges should be bevelled.

Sunlight
Open runs might be unnecessary if the poultry house is of adequate size and constructed so that the sunlight reaches a reasonable proportion of the floor area.
 
Ventilation
Good ventilation and sunlight are essential to maintain the litter in a satisfactory, dry condition and also for the health and well-being of the birds. These conditions are best achieved by poultry houses which face north, are open at the front with a wall sheathed with wire netting to within 300mm of the ground, have a 7cm-10cm gap at the eaves along the back, and are not shaded by trees.
 
Water
Water is best located to avoid wetting the litter from spillage and water flicked from the birds' beaks. The water container should be placed outside the building with the birds gaining access to it by means of a partially slatted wall. The water should be shielded from the sun and frequently refreshed. Cleaning about twice weekly is necessary because dirt and food is deposited in the water by the birds.