Can you keep backyard chickens in Azerbaijan?
Registration: conditions apply, for the keepers covered below, in the texts read (copies posted by the Food Safety Institute, as amended to 2024–2025; later changes not checked). What we found on bird flu, welfare and the keeping rule follows, including what we couldn't establish.
Read from 2 official sources20 passages quotedChecked October 29, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
National keeping rule
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
A sourced reading of national law in Azerbaijan, not legal advice. Local ordinances and zoning, HOA rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local code before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the national scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.
Registering as a poultry keeper
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Azerbaijan
Applies to: Agricultural animals (kənd təsərrüfatı heyvanları) and legal and natural persons raising animals (Veterinary Law arts 19.0 and 26.1, copy as amended to 22 April 2025).
What the checked sources say
- As consolidated to 22 April 2025, identification of agricultural animals by the relevant executive authority, under rules it sets, is mandatory (art. 26.1).
- Persons raising animals must ensure identification of the animals they use (art. 19.0.5) and inform the relevant executive authority in time about newly acquired animals, births and sales (art. 19.0.6).
- Whether poultry count as agricultural animals for identification, and whether a small hen flock must be identified, was not established. Later changes to the law were not checked.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
Bakı şəhəri, 31 may 2005-ci il
22 aprel 2025-ci il tarixli 185-VIIQD nömrəli Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu
Veterinary Law, list of source documents used, item 18 · Checked
26.1. Müvafiq icra hakimiyyəti orqanının müəyyən etdiyi qaydada heyvan xəstəliklərinin diaqnostikası və profilaktikası üzrə baytarlıq tədbirlərinin həyata keçirilməsinə nəzarət etmək məqsədilə hər bir heyvanı və ya heyvanlar qrupunu müşahidə etməyə imkan verən kənd təsərrüfatı heyvanlarının müvafiq icra hakimiyyəti orqanı tərəfindən qanunvericiliklə müəyyən edilmiş qaydada identikləşdirilməsinin aparılması məcburidir.
Veterinary Law art. 26.1 · Checked
19.0. Heyvan yetişdirilməsi, heyvan mənşəli məhsulların və xammalın istehsalı, emalı, saxlanması, daşınması və satışı ilə məşğul olan hüquqi və fiziki şəxslərin
Veterinary Law art. 19.0 (opening words) · Checked
19.0.5. istifadəsində olan heyvanların identikləşdirilməsini (kodlaşdırılmasını) və heyvanlar üçün yem və bioloji preparatlar istehsalı obyektlərinin qeydiyyatını təmin etmək;
Veterinary Law art. 19.0.5 · Checked
19.0.6. yeni əldə edilmiş heyvanlar, doğulmuş bala və satış haqqında müvafiq icra hakimiyyəti orqanına vaxtında məlumat vermək;
Veterinary Law art. 19.0.6 · Checked
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
An official current-status link has not been established.
Orders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.
Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-11-08
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Not established from the sources checked
Uses housing orders in this scope: Not established from the sources checked.
Jurisdiction: Azerbaijan
Applies to: Quarantine and restriction measures for specially dangerous animal diseases (Veterinary Law art. 21, copy as amended to 22 April 2025).
What the checked sources say
- As consolidated to 22 April 2025, on a submission by the territorial chief state veterinary inspector (one district) or the national one (several districts or the whole country), quarantine or restriction measures are applied by decision of the relevant executive authority, by the body it designates (art. 21.2).
- During quarantine, markets, fairs, auctions, exhibitions and other places where animals gather may be temporarily closed by that body's decision (art. 21.4).
- As amended to 21 May 2024, Cabinet of Ministers decision № 66 lists highly pathogenic avian influenza among the specially dangerous and quarantine diseases for which material damage is compensated (compensation Rules, annex 1, item 3).
- Under those Rules, the act on the damage is drawn up by representatives of the Food Safety Agency's regional unit and of the local unit of the Animal Health and Veterinary Services Centre of the Agrarian Services Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture (point 2.4).
- Whether these measures include keeping poultry indoors was not established. This page does not say whether any bird-flu measure applies now; check with the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan.
- Checked
- Recheck due
Historical evidence, as checked
These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.
Bakı şəhəri, 31 may 2005-ci il
22 aprel 2025-ci il tarixli 185-VIIQD nömrəli Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu
Veterinary Law, list of source documents used, item 18 · Checked
21.2. Heyvanların xüsusi təhlükəli xəstəliklərinin yayılması dərəcəsindən asılı olaraq xəstəlik bir rayonun ərazisində və ya ərazi vahidində baş verdikdə ərazi baş dövlət baytarlıq müfəttişinin, bir neçə rayonda, bölgədə və ya respublikanın bütün ərazisində isə respublikanın baş dövlət baytarlıq müfəttişinin təqdimatı əsasında
Veterinary Law art. 21.2 (first part) · Checked
müvafiq icra hakimiyyəti orqanının qərarı ilə müvafiq icra hakimiyyəti orqanının müəyyən etdiyi orqan (qurum) tərəfindən karantin və ya məhdudiyyət tədbirləri tətbiq edilir.
Veterinary Law art. 21.2 (continued) · Checked
21.4. Karantin müddətində bazarların, heyvan tədarükü (kəsimi) məntəqələrinin, əlaqəli müəssisələrin, həmçinin yarmarkaların, hərracların, sərgilərin, dövlət baytarlıq nəzarətinə cəlb edilən yüklərin daşınması ilə əlaqədar onların kütləvi toplanılan yerlərinin fəaliyyəti qanunla müəyyən edilmiş qaydada müvafiq icra hakimiyyəti orqanının müəyyən etdiyi orqanın (qurumun) qərarı ilə müvəqqəti dayandırıla bilər.
Veterinary Law art. 21.4 · Checked
Bakı şəhəri, 16 aprel 2007-ci il
Cabinet decision № 66, place and date of signature · Checked
21 may 2024-cü il tarixli 269 nömrəli Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin Qərarı
Cabinet decision № 66, list of source documents used, item 13 · Checked
Maddi ziyanın əvəzinin ödənilməsi nəzərdə tutulan heyvanların və əhalinin sağlamlığı üçün xüsusi təhlükəli və karantin xəstəliklərinin SİYAHISI
3. Quşların yüksək patogenli qrip xəstəliyi
Azərbaycan Respublikası Qida Təhlükəsizliyi Agentliyinin müvafiq regional bölməsinin və Azərbaycan Respublikası Kənd Təsərrüfatı Nazirliyi yanında Aqrar Xidmətlər Agentliyinin (bundan sonra – Agentlik) Heyvan Sağlamlığı və Baytarlıq Xidmətləri Mərkəzinin aidiyyəti yerli qurumunun (bundan sonra – yerli qurum) nümayəndələri tərəfindən bu Qaydaların 3 nömrəli əlavəsində müəyyən edilmiş məzmunda üç nüsxədə akt tərtib edilir
Damage-compensation Rules (current redaction), point 2.4 · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Not established from the sources checked
Jurisdiction: Azerbaijan
Applies to: Legal and natural persons raising animals (Veterinary Law art. 19.0).
What the checked sources say
- A national welfare law setting minimums for farm animals or poultry was not identified in the texts read (Veterinary Law arts 1, 16, 19, 21 and 26, copy as amended to 22 April 2025). The Veterinary Law's duties for people raising animals are veterinary and sanitary (art. 19.0).
The official wording
22 aprel 2025-ci il tarixli 185-VIIQD nömrəli Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu
Veterinary Law, list of source documents used, item 18 · Checked
19.0. Heyvan yetişdirilməsi, heyvan mənşəli məhsulların və xammalın istehsalı, emalı, saxlanması, daşınması və satışı ilə məşğul olan hüquqi və fiziki şəxslərin
Veterinary Law art. 19.0 (opening words) · Checked
National rules on keeping poultry
No rule identified in this research
Jurisdiction: Azerbaijan
Applies to: Rules on where chickens may be kept at an address.
What the checked sources say
- A national rule on where hens may be kept at an address was not found in the texts read (Veterinary Law arts 1, 10, 16, 19, 21 and 26; Food Safety Law arts 1, 3 and 24). Municipal rules were not researched; ask your municipality whether any local rule applies.
The official wording
22 aprel 2025-ci il tarixli 185-VIIQD nömrəli Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu
Veterinary Law, list of source documents used, item 18 · Checked
1.0.1. baytarlıq - heyvan (mal-qara, quşlar, balıqlar, arılar, vəhşi heyvanlar və başqaları)
This does not establish that keeping is unrestricted or that all rules are local.
More countries we've checked
- AlbaniaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- AlgeriaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Antigua and BarbudaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- ArgentinaRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- ArmeniaRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- AustriaRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- BahrainRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- BangladeshRegistration: not establishedNot established
- BarbadosRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- BelgiumRegistration: requiredRequired; home-use flocks not established
- BeninRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- BotswanaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- BrazilRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- BruneiRegistration: no rule identifiedSet locally
- BurundiRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Cabo VerdeRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- CameroonRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- ChileRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- ChinaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- ColombiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Costa RicaRegistration: not establishedNot established
- CroatiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- CubaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- CzechiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- DenmarkRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- Dominican RepublicRegistration: not establishedNot established
- EcuadorRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- EgyptRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- El SalvadorRegistration: not establishedNot established
- EswatiniRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- EthiopiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Faroe IslandsRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- FinlandRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- FranceRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- GambiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Georgia (country)Registration: egg-laying enterprises need National Food Agency authorization; whether that reaches a household keeping hens only for its own eggs was not establishedEgg enterprises need authorization; household use unclear
- GermanyRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- GhanaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- GreeceRegistration: not establishedNot established
- GreenlandRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- GuatemalaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- GuineaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- GuyanaRegistration: no rule identifiedSet locally
- HungaryRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- IcelandRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- IndonesiaRegistration: not establishedNot established
- IrelandRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- ItalyRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- JamaicaRegistration: not establishedNot established
- JapanRegistration: a yearly report to the prefecture is requiredYearly report required
- JerseyRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- JordanRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- KenyaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- LaosRegistration: not establishedNot established
- LatviaRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- LiechtensteinRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- MalaysiaRegistration: not establishedNot established
- MaldivesRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- MaliRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- MaltaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- MauritaniaRegistration: not establishedNot established
- MauritiusRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- MexicoRegistration: not establishedNot established
- MonacoRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- MontenegroRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- MoroccoRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- NepalRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- NetherlandsRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- New ZealandRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- NicaraguaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- NigeriaRegistration: not establishedNot established
- North MacedoniaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- NorwayRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- OmanRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- PakistanRegistration: not establishedNot established
- PalestineRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- ParaguayRegistration: no rule identifiedSet locally
- PeruRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- PhilippinesRegistration: not establishedNot established
- PolandRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- PortugalRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- RomaniaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- RussiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- RwandaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Saint LuciaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- Saudi ArabiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- SenegalRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- SingaporeRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- SlovakiaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- SloveniaRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- South AfricaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- SpainRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- Sri LankaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- SudanRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- SwedenRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- SwitzerlandRegistration: requiredRegistration required
- TaiwanRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- TanzaniaRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- ThailandRegistration: not establishedNot established
- Timor-LesteRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- TogoRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- TongaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- Trinidad and TobagoRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- TürkiyeRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- TurkmenistanRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- TuvaluRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- UgandaRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- UkraineRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- United Arab EmiratesRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- UruguayRegistration: conditions applyRegistration: conditions
- UzbekistanRegistration: no rule identifiedNot established
- VietnamRegistration: requiredRequired from 20 chickens (2023 list)
- ZambiaRegistration: not establishedSet locally
- ZimbabweRegistration: not establishedNot established
Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Azerbaijan?
- Registration: conditions apply. The finding covers: Agricultural animals (kənd təsərrüfatı heyvanları) and legal and natural persons raising animals (Veterinary Law arts 19.0 and 26.1, copy as amended to 22 April 2025).
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Azerbaijan?
- The national sources we read don't settle it, and we haven't identified who decides. Check your local rules before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in Azerbaijan?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. We haven't confirmed an official current-status page for it.
