KENTUCKY STATE ORDINANCES WITH REGARDS TO POULTRY
Click here for Ordinances of specific cities/counties in Kentucky
In Kentucky, if a city has any ordinances allowing for the keeping of at least a few birds, they typically incorporate some of the state regulations which include (but are not limited to):
KRS 257.320 Definitions for KRS 257.330 to KRS 257.350.
The term "baby chicks" or "baby poults" as used in KRS 257.330 to 257.350 means any domestic fowl under the age of six (6) weeks. The term "person" includes also firms and corporations.
History: Created 1946 Ky. Acts ch. 103, sec. 6.
KRS 257.010 Definitions for chapter.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) "Abandon" means to forsake entirely, or to neglect or refuse to provide or perform the legal obligations for care and support of an animal by its owner or his agent;
(4) "Communicable disease" means a disease that can be directly or indirectly transmitted from one animal to another;
(5) "Compost" means the humus-like product of the process of composting domestic livestock, poultry, or fish, which may be used as a soil conditioner or enhancer;
(6) "Composting" means the biological decomposition of organic matter;
(9) "Livestock" means: (a) Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, llamas, buffaloes, or any other animals of the bovine, ovine, porcine, caprine, equine, or camelid species; and
(b) Deer, elk, and any other animal of the cervid species;
whose regulatory requirements are under KRS Chapters 150 and 246, and are privately owned and raised in a confined area for breeding stock, food, fiber, and other products; [Note that THIS definition does not include poultry, while in some city ordinances it does]
(11) "National Poultry Improvement Plan" shall have the same meaning as set out in the United States Code of Federal Regulations, 9 C.F.R. Part 145, and the auxiliary provisions in 9 C.F.R. Part 147;
(12) "Owner" means any person owning or leasing from another, or having in charge any domestic animal;
(13) "Poultry" means chickens, ducks, turkeys, or other domestic fowl being raised or kept on any premises in the Commonwealth;
(14) "Premises" means any portion of land, or any structure erected on land; and
(15) "Reportable disease" means an animal disease that shall be reported to state or federal animal health officials when suspected or diagnosed.
KRS 246.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
(4) "Structure" means a building erected as a shelter for human beings, animals or agricultural products, equipment, or supplies;
(5) "Agriculture" means the business of raising or producing:
(a) Crops, the products of which are used for food, feed, fiber, energy, or pharmaceuticals; (b) Horticulture products;
(c) Tobacco; (d) Aquaculture products; (e) Livestock, poultry, and ratite birds and eggs; (f) Milk and milk products; (g) Eggs and egg products; (h) Bees and bee products; and (i) Timber;
(8) "Livestock" means cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, llamas, buffaloes, or any other animals of the bovine, ovine, porcine, caprine, or equine species, deer and elk, whose regulatory requirements are under KRS Chapters 150 and 246, that are privately owned and raised in a confined area for breeding stock, food, fiber, and other products; and
(9) "Poultry" means chickens, ducks, turkeys, or other domestic fowl being raised or kept on any premises in the Commonwealth for profit.
KRS 436.600 Dyeing or selling dyed baby fowl or rabbits.
No person shall sell, exchange, offer to sell or exchange, display, or possess living baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits which have been dyed or colored; nor dye or color any baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits; nor sell, exchange, offer to sell or exchange or to give away baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits, under two(2) months of age in any quantity less than six (6), except that any rabbit weighing three (3) pounds or more may be sold at an age of six (6) weeks. Any person who violates this section shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500.
KRS 257.450 Quarantine of illegally produced or imported eggs or poultry -- Destruction.
All poultry of whatever age or species and all hatching eggs that are sold or offered for sale within this state or enter into this state not in compliance with the provisions of KRS 257.370 to 257.460 shall be quarantined by the Division of Animal Health. Where possible, the division shall make the tests necessary to determine whether or not pullorum disease is present in any of the quarantined poultry. With respect to all other poultry where tests are not possible, and to hatching eggs, sufficient proof must be presented that they have originated from approved flocks. The poultry or flocks found to be infected with pullorum disease, and the poultry and hatching eggs lacking the required proof of origin from approved flocks, shall be destroyed.
KRS 257.410 Importation of newly hatched poultry and hatching eggs -- Labels.
Hatching eggs and all poultry under five (5) months of age, including baby chicks, started chicks, turkey poults, other newly hatched domestic poultry, except those intended for immediate slaughter, that are imported into this state shall have originated in flocks that meet the pullorum requirements of the National Poultry Improvement Plan, or other USDA-administered plan, and the administrative regulations promulgated by authority of KRS 257.370 to 257.460. Every container of poultry under five (5) months of age, including baby chicks, started chicks, turkey poults, and any other newly hatched domestic poultry, except those intended for immediate slaughter, and hatching eggs imported into this state shall bear an official label or certificate showing the name and address of the importer, the authority under which the testing for pullorum disease was done, and the pullorum control and eradication class of the product, the use of the certificate or label to be approved by the official state agency or the Division of Animal Health official of the state of origin.
