Information for selling ungraded eggs

• Ungraded eggs may only be sold directly to consumers through farm gate sales at the farmer’s premise or at farmers markets.
• Other requirements:
  • Be produced on the farmer’s own farm
  • Be clean without any visible cracks or leaks
  • Kept at 4 degrees Celsius until they leave the producer’s possession
  • Be packed in clean cartons that are marked as “ungraded” in letters at least two centimetres high
  • Be labeled with the name of the farm/producer and the packaging date.

Can I grade my own eggs?

• Farmers interested in setting up their own registered egg grading station are directed to contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency office in Fredericton at 506-452-4963.

New Brunswick Livestock Premises Identification Application

The livestock premises identification application is a used to identify the geographic locations of livestock and poultry for the purposes of responding to emergencies. Although this application is voluntary for poultry owners not regulated by a board or agency, it is encouraged to complete or update an existing application. Identifying animal premises is a tool that can be used to plan for and manage animal health and food safety emergencies. Any aid in identifying an animal premises is greatly appreciated.

The application can be found on the Department of Agriculture website.

Instructions on completing the form can be found here.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity is the primary step in keeping your flock happy and healthy.

The Basics:

• Washing your hands
  • Wash your hands before and after handling poultry, eggs, and other production equipment.
• Wearing barn specific clothes
  • Using designated clothing and footwear helps limit the spread of potential contaminates to your flock and vice versa.
• Clean equipment and housing
  • Keeping equipment and the housing areas clean aids helps prevent the growth of in deterring rodents and other pests that could spread disease. It also helps to
• Rodent and pest control
  • Monitor rodent and pest activity as they can be carriers of bacteria and disease potentially harmful to birds and humans alike.

CFIA Biosecurity tools

Disease Management

Steps to help manage and prevent disease in backyard flocks include:

• Regularly cleaning equipment
• Rodent and pest control
• Quarantine new birds from the flock for 30 days
• Monitor for signs of illness
  • Lethargic birds
  • Loss of appetite
  • Swelling around the head, neck, eyes, including the comb
  • Diarrhea

More information can be found on the CFIA website

Euthanasia and Disposal

• Poultry Industry Council Euthanasia Resources and Training Materials
• New Brunswick Abattoir waste disposal methods Guidance Document

Other Resources

• Poultry Industry Council: Raising Backyard Chickens
• Chicken Behaviour and Welfare (course)
• Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets and Laying Hens
• Gov NB
• Egg Farmers of Canada