Keeping hens · National rules

Can you keep backyard chickens in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Registration is required for the keepers covered below. What we found on bird flu, welfare and the keeping rule follows, including what we couldn't establish.

Read from 4 official sources15 passages quotedChecked October 29, 2026

At a glance

Registering your flock

Registration required

National keeping rule

No rule identified

Bird-flu housing orders

Status needs rechecking

Welfare rules

Rule identified

A sourced reading of national law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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

Rule identified for the scope below

Jurisdiction: Bosnia and Herzegovina (state law; registration carried out by the entities and Brčko District)

Applies to: Premises, stables, transporters, collection centres and traders under veterinary control (Veterinary Law art. 8(2)); everyone who raises animals reports them to the nearest veterinary organisation (art. 8(5)).

What the checked sources say

  • Premises and stables under veterinary control must be registered with the entity and Brčko District authorities if they meet the prescribed conditions on premises, staff and equipment (2002 Veterinary Law art. 8(2)); the Council of Ministers sets the details and those authorities carry them out (art. 8(3)).
  • As published in 2002, everyone who raises animals must report their animals, premises and equipment, and any change, within seven days to the nearest veterinary organisation, which keeps the register of premises and animals (Veterinary Law art. 8(5)).
  • Laying-hen production sites are registered under the state rulebook on farm conditions and animal protection on farms (egg rulebook definition as amended in 2014); that rulebook was not read.
  • Whether later amendments or entity and Brčko District rules change these duties for a small household flock was not established. Ask your entity or Brčko District veterinary authority.

Authority: Not established from the sources checked.

Fee: Not established from the sources checked.

The official wording

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: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Applies to: Disease measures under the 2002 Veterinary Law (art. 6(6)).

What the checked sources say

  • The Office for Veterinary Affairs, with the entity and Brčko District authorities, prescribes disease classification, reporting and measures (art. 6(6)).
  • The Office lists a state rulebook on measures to suppress and control avian influenza (Official Gazette of BiH 35/10); it was not read.
  • Whether such measures can require poultry to be housed was not established in the articles read. This page does not say whether any bird-flu measure applies now.
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.

Small-flock welfare minimums

Rule identified for the scope below

Jurisdiction: Bosnia and Herzegovina (state law)

Applies to: Every animal keeper (imalac životinje); all animals with developed senses and a nervous system that can register pain (art. 1(2)).

What the checked sources say

  • As published in 2009, the keeper must feed and water the animal to its needs, care for its health, give it enough space and movement if tethered or confined, and give animals kept indoors enough light, warmth, humidity, ventilation and hygiene (art. 5(1)).
  • The veterinary Office prescribes detailed keeping conditions (art. 5(2)); those rules and later amendments to the law were not read.

The official wording

National rules on keeping poultry

No rule identified in this research

Jurisdiction: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Applies to: Rules on where chickens may be kept at an address.

What the checked sources say

  • A rule on where chickens may be kept was not found in the state texts read (2009 welfare law arts 1 and 5; 2002 veterinary law arts 6 and 8). Entity, cantonal, Brčko District and municipal rules were not researched. How to check: ask your municipality.

The official wording

This does not establish that keeping is unrestricted or that all rules are local.

Selling eggs in Bosnia and Herzegovina? →License, small-flock line, markets and cartons, on their own page.Selling: License: not stated

More countries we've checked

Every country on the map →

Common questions

Do I have to register backyard chickens in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Registration: required. The finding covers: Premises, stables, transporters, collection centres and traders under veterinary control (Veterinary Law art. 8(2)); everyone who raises animals reports them to the nearest veterinary organisation (art. 8(5)).
Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
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 Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. We haven't confirmed an official current-status page for it.

Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.

PoultryPal tracks your birds, eggs, hatches, sales, and expenses — so you can see exactly how your flock is doing. Free to download on iOS and Android.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play