These rules help protect poultry from pests, nearby residents from offensive noises and smells, and our local environment. You will also need to follow strict and regular cleaning procedures to reduce odour, fly or rat problems.
Local requirements for keeping poultry
If you want to keep poultry like chickens in Rotorua, you need to follow these rules:
- Maximum of 12 head of poultry in a residential zoned site
- Poultry must be kept in a properly constructed poultry house with a rainproof roof and a concrete floor. This can be attached to a run, provided it stops birds from escaping
- Poultry must be confined to the house/run at all times
- The house and run must be located more than 2 metres from any boundary and 10 metres from any dwelling, factory, or other occupied building.
Check with Building Services for any building consent requirements before building your poultry house. If Council receives complaints about crowing roosters or a noisy bird, an officer may investigate.
Keeping a clean and healthy environment
To prevent the spread of disease and pests, and avoid offenses under the Health Act 1956, it's crucial to maintain a clean, dry and sanitary environment for your poultry.
Regular cleaning
Clean out poultry houses weekly and treat with insecticide every six months or more.
Fly control
You must take adequate and effective measures at all times to guard against fly breeding, infestations and odours. These include:
- Regularly spraying droppings, houses and runs with an effective insecticide
- Keeping litter and droppings dry and regularly cleaning out and removing droppings, especially under battery cages and perches
- Proper disposal of droppings. Bury droppings with at least 25cm of soil to prevent odour and flies breeding or dispose of them in a suitable refuse container.
