Keeping hens · National rules

Can you keep backyard chickens in the Philippines?

The national sources we read don't settle registration or who decides where hens can live. Here's what they do say.

Read from 3 official sources25 passages quotedChecked October 25, 2026

At a glance

Registering your flock

Not established

National keeping rule

Rule with conditions

Bird-flu housing orders

Status needs rechecking

Welfare rules

Rule identified

A sourced reading of national law in the Philippines, 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 or state 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

Not established from the sources checked

Jurisdiction: Philippines

Applies to: Poultry raised commercially or domestically under RA 12308 (in force 15 days after its 13 October 2025 Official Gazette publication).

Outside this finding's scope

  • No registration duty for a backyard keeper was found in RA 12308 (sections 3, 13, 20, 24 and 32 read).

What the checked sources say

  • RA 12308 defines a small-hold farm as raising 250 layers and below and a semi-commercial farm as 251 to 5,000 layers.
  • For native, improved and free-range chickens, a small-hold farm raises 250 birds and below and a semi-commercial farm 251 to 5,000.
  • Within one year of the Act taking effect, BAI is to set up an Animal Management Information System whose data include registration of animal infrastructure and facilities.
  • Municipal and city councils may regulate the keeping of animals in homes (Local Government Code of 1991, as enacted); ask your city or municipal hall.

Authority: Bureau of Animal Industry

Fee: Not established from the sources checked.

The official wording

  • Poultry refers to birds raised commercially or domestically for meat, eggs, and feathers such as chickens, ducks, turkey, geese, quails, and ostrich.

    RA 12308, s.3(t) · Checked

  • Raising 250 layers and below (layer and duck);

    RA 12308, s.3(u)(7) · Checked

  • Raising 251 to 5,000 layers (layer and duck);

    RA 12308, s.3(v)(7) · Checked

  • Raising 250 birds and below (chicken: native/improved/free range);

    RA 12308, s.3(u)(6) · Checked

  • Raising 251 to 5,000 birds (chicken: native/improved/free range);

    RA 12308, s.3(v)(6) · Checked

  • Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the BAI shall establish the AMIS.

    RA 12308, s.13, first sentence · Checked

  • (c) Registration of animal infrastructure and facilities;

    RA 12308, s.13(c) · Checked

  • Provide for the impounding of stray animals; regulate the keeping of animals in homes or as part of a business, and the slaughter, sale or disposition of the same; and adopt measures to prevent and penalize cruelty to animals; and

    RA 7160, s.447(a)(4)(viii) (sangguniang bayan) · Checked

  • Provide for the impounding of stray animals; regulate the keeping of animals in homes or as part of a business, and the slaughter, sale or disposition of the same; and adopt measures to prevent and penalize cruelty to animals; and

    RA 7160, s.458(a)(4)(viii) (sangguniang panlungsod) · Checked

  • This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publications in the Official Gazette or in the two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

    RA 12308, s.32 · Checked

  • Manila Bulletin, September 30, 2025 p.9; 121 OG No. 11324 (October 13, 2025)

    RA 12308, Supreme Court E-Library header · 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 2026-10-24

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: Philippines

Applies to: Disease reporting, movement and quarantine offences under RA 12308 (in force 15 days after its 13 October 2025 Official Gazette publication).

Outside this finding's scope

  • No national housing-order tool was identified in the texts read (RA 12308, RA 10611). Current status is not asserted.

What the checked sources say

  • RA 12308 penalises failing to report notifiable diseases within 24 hours, transporting, selling or disposing of animals from areas known or declared to be affected by animal disease, and failing to comply with DA regulations on quarantine measures and animal movements.
  • BAI is the overall coordinating body of the Animal Emergency Response Task Force and activates it.
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.

  • Failing to report notifiable diseases to competent authorities when and as required by the BAI and rules and regulations, immediately within twenty-four (24) hours of attaining knowledge of such cases;

    RA 12308, s.24(b)(7) · Checked

  • Transporting, selling, or disposing of animals coming from areas known to be affected or have been declared to be affected by animal disease;

    RA 12308, s.24(b)(12) · Checked

  • Failing to comply with DA regulations related to quarantine measures and movements of animals.

    RA 12308, s.24(c)(6) · Checked

  • The BAI is designated as the overall coordinating government body of the AERTF and shall activate the AERTF.

    RA 12308, s.20 · Checked

  • This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publications in the Official Gazette or in the two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

    RA 12308, s.32 · Checked

  • Manila Bulletin, September 30, 2025 p.9; 121 OG No. 11324 (October 13, 2025)

    RA 12308, Supreme Court E-Library header · Checked

Small-flock welfare minimums

Rule identified for the scope below

Jurisdiction: Philippines

Applies to: All animals under the Animal Welfare Act (RA 8485 as amended by RA 10631, 2013).

Outside this finding's scope

  • No poultry space or housing minimums were found.

What the checked sources say

  • It is unlawful to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter to any animal.

The official wording

  • It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance of shelter, or maltreat any animal

    RA 8485 s.6 as amended by RA 10631 (2013), s.2 · Checked

  • It is the purpose of this Act to protect and promote the welfare of all terrestrial, aquatic and marine animals in the Philippines

    RA 8485 s.1 as amended by RA 10631, s.1 · Checked

  • H. No. 6893; 109 OG No. 43, 7265 (October 28, 2013); Manila Bulletin; Philippine Star, October 10, 2013

    RA 10631 e-library header · Checked

National or state rules on keeping poultry

Conditions apply to this finding

Jurisdiction: Philippines

Applies to: National definition of poultry; local power to regulate keeping animals in homes.

Outside this finding's scope

  • No national rule permitting or barring backyard chickens was found in the texts read. This is not permission.

What the checked sources say

  • National law recognises poultry raised commercially or domestically.
  • Municipal and city councils may regulate the keeping of animals in homes or as part of a business, and their sale or disposition (Local Government Code of 1991, sections 447 and 458, as enacted). Check your city or municipal hall for local ordinances.

The official wording

  • Poultry refers to birds raised commercially or domestically for meat, eggs, and feathers such as chickens, ducks, turkey, geese, quails, and ostrich.

    RA 12308, s.3(t) · Checked

  • Provide for the impounding of stray animals; regulate the keeping of animals in homes or as part of a business, and the slaughter, sale or disposition of the same; and adopt measures to prevent and penalize cruelty to animals; and

    RA 7160, s.447(a)(4)(viii) (sangguniang bayan) · Checked

  • Provide for the impounding of stray animals; regulate the keeping of animals in homes or as part of a business, and the slaughter, sale or disposition of the same; and adopt measures to prevent and penalize cruelty to animals; and

    RA 7160, s.458(a)(4)(viii) (sangguniang panlungsod) · Checked

  • This Code shall take effect on January first, Nineteen Hundred Ninety-Two, unless otherwise provided herein, after its complete publication in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation.

    RA 7160, s.536 · Checked

  • 87 OG No. 43, 1 (Oct. 28, 1991)

    RA 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991), Supreme Court E-Library header · Checked

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

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Common questions

Do I have to register backyard chickens in the Philippines?
Registration: not established. The finding covers: Poultry raised commercially or domestically under RA 12308 (in force 15 days after its 13 October 2025 Official Gazette publication). Outside this finding's scope: No registration duty for a backyard keeper was found in RA 12308 (sections 3, 13, 20, 24 and 32 read). Authority: Bureau of Animal Industry.
Can I keep chickens in my backyard in the Philippines?
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 the Philippines?
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.

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