Flock Status · New Hampshire

Bird flu rules for backyard flocks in New Hampshire

Being re-checked · October 15, 2026

New Hampshire: a bird-flu show and fair rule is being re-checked. The agency's own pages disagree or couldn't be read, so call the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture at (603) 271-2404 before moving, showing or selling birds. What we have confirmed is below.

Read from 12 official sources27 passages quotedChecked on October 14, 2026

At a glance

Today

Being re-checked

Bird-flu orders in force

None found

APHIS detections, 30 days

None listed

Report sick birds

(603) 271-2404

Not veterinary advice: follow your state veterinarian. This is a sourced reading of official notices, dated when we read them. Orders can change overnight, so confirm with New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (DAMF), Division of Animal Industry (State Veterinarian) before you move, show or sell birds.

Current situation

What the agency's own pages and tables showed when we checked, with the line each comes from.

  • APHIS lists 4 New Hampshire detections; the latest, Rockingham 02 (backyard, November 13, 2025), shows control area released: NA

    • Nov 13, 2025Rockingham CountyBackyard (Non-Poultry)40 birdsno control area listed

      USDA APHIS · publicdashboards.dl.usda.gov · last New Hampshire row

  • DAMF's press-release page (read October 14, 2026) lists two 2026 releases, on spotted lanternfly (August 25) and New World screwworm entry restrictions (July 17); neither is an HPAI order. Its Animal Industry page names no HPAI order

    • “JULY 17, 2026 New Restrictions on Animal Entry Into New Hampshire Due to New World Screwworm”

      New Hampshire Department of Agriculture · agriculture.nh.gov · list

Being re-checked

Being re-checked

These rest on a notice that may be out of date, or that we couldn't read with our tools. We don't show them as current rules until they're confirmed; if they matter to you, ask the agency directly.

  • A rule or order

    Poultry may be moved within New Hampshire for exhibition or sale only from flocks or hatcheries tested free of pullorum and avian influenza, and never from a flock with contagious disease; diseased birds can't be shown or sold

    Why: Re-read October 15, 2026, the 10-year limit date: the official Agr 1600 page and the Agr filing history are unchanged (every section 'ss by #12000, eff 10-15-16'; no readoption, interim rule or expiry note). Under RSA 541-A:17 the rule can't run past 10 years, but RSA 541-A:14-a keeps it in effect if DAMF has filed a readoption notice. No such notice was found, and the Rulemaking Register's past issues couldn't be searched (its index shows only the latest issue)

    Waiting on: OLS marks Agr 1600 expired or readopted at https://gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/agr1600.html (or the filing history), or DAMF ((603) 271-2404) confirms its status

    The text in question
    • “Poultry intended for exhibition or sale may be moved intrastate except birds or eggs:”

      NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 1602.01(a)

    • “From flocks or hatcheries that have not been tested Pullorum and avian influenza free; or”

      NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 1602.01(a)(1)

    • “No poultry diagnosed with avian influenza, Pullorum, Laryngotracheitis, fowl cholera, or any other contagious or infectious diseases shall be exhibited or sold,”

      NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 1602.02(a)

    • “No rule shall be effective for a period of longer than 10 years except as extended pursuant to RSA 541-A:14-a,”

      New Hampshire Department of Agriculture · gc.nh.gov · RSA 541-A:17, I

    • “#13481* Adopt Agr 400 Feeding Garbage to Swine (eff 11-8-22) EXPIRES: 11-8-32”

      New Hampshire Department of Agriculture · gc.nh.gov · filing history (10-year expiry convention)

    • “New. #8356, eff 5-24-05; ss by #12000, eff 10-15-16”

      NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · source note under Agr 1602.01 (browser capture)

    • “If an agency files a notice pursuant to RSA 541-A:6 to readopt existing rules, with or without amendments, the currently effective rules in the filing which would otherwise expire prior to the completion of the readoption of the rules by the agency shall continue in effect until the proposed rules are adopted and effective.”

      New Hampshire Department of Agriculture · gc.nh.gov · RSA 541-A:14-a, I

In force today

Worked out from each notice's dates for October 15, 2026. Bird-flu orders come first, then the standing rules.

Standing ruleShows and fairs

Advisory (not an order): the six New England state veterinarians, New Hampshire's included, strongly discourage waterfowl exhibitions and may recommend delaying or cancelling poultry shows

In effect from May 5, 2026 · No end date in the source

Statewide · fairs, exhibitions, shows, swaps and other bird gatherings (all six New England states) · Birds: domestic and wild waterfowl; domestic fowl and poultry

  • Read from Connecticut's copy of the May 5, 2026 update; New Hampshire's own copy is on the blocked agriculture.nh.gov

Guidance: Memorandum: 2026 New England Fairs and Shows (May 5, 2026 update) · New England State Veterinarians (NH: Dr. Mark Prescott), May 5, 2026

What the guidance says (1 passage)
  • “The New England State Veterinarians strongly discourage the exhibition of domestic and wild waterfowl species and may recommend delaying or canceling domestic fowl or poultry shows. If events are held, best practices for biosecurity should be implemented.”

    New England State Veterinarians (NH: Dr. Mark Prescott) · portal.ct.gov · Avian Influenza (HPAI) Notices, Avian species

How to reportReporting sick birds

Standing law: anyone, owners included, who suspects a contagious disease among domestic animals must notify the Commissioner in writing at once

Veterinarians and labs report listed diseases to DAMF ((603) 271-2404)

No end date in the source

Statewide · Birds: domestic animals including poultry

  • RSA 436:33: owners suspecting a listed or contagious disease must notify the Commissioner in writing
  • Since 2026 New Hampshire uses the National List of Reportable Animal Diseases
  • Accredited veterinarians and diagnostic labs report by phone or email to the state veterinarian

Guidance: Animal Disease Reporting (DAMF page quoting RSA 436:33) · NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food

What the guidance says (3 passages)
  • “Any owner suspecting the existence of any such disease among his domestic animals shall immediately notify the commissioner in writing of such fact.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · agriculture.nh.gov · RSA 436:33 as quoted

  • “In 2026, NH adopted the National List of Reportable Animal Diseases for reporting purposes.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · agriculture.nh.gov · para 3

  • “These details must be submitted to the division via telephone (603) 271-2404 and/or by email to the state veterinarian, Dr. Mark Prescott (mark.c.prescott@agr.nh.gov), and to the assistant state veterinarian, Dr. Nate Harvey (nathan.d.harvey@agr.nh.gov).”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · agriculture.nh.gov · Animal Disease Reporting

Proposed

Put forward but not adopted. None of these is in force, and they may change before they are.

Proposed, not adoptedBringing birds in

Proposed (not yet adopted): permanent readoption of the Agr 2104-2114 import rules, poultry included, with no change to the emergency text

Not adopted. Not in force.

Statewide · entry into New Hampshire · Birds: poultry and hatching eggs (and other species in Agr 2104-2114)

  • Rulemaking notice 2026-113, generated 05/26/2026; public hearing Monday July 6, 2026; written comments by July 13, 2026

Notice: Rulemaking Notice 2026-113, Agr 2104 through Agr 2114 (Readopt) · NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (Office of Legislative Services, Rulemaking Register), May 26, 2026

What the notice says (2 passages)
  • “The proposed rules are a request to readopt parts of Agr 2100 that were adopted as Emergency Rules on May 4, 2026.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (Office of Legislative Services, Rulemaking Register) · gc.nh.gov · item 6(a)

  • “The proposed rules do not include any changes to the effective Emergency Rule text.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (Office of Legislative Services, Rulemaking Register) · gc.nh.gov · item 6(a), last sentence

Bringing birds or hatching eggs into New Hampshire

Poultry shipped into New Hampshire need a prior DAMF import permit (603-271-2404) and a CVI, and must not be infected, exposed, or from a quarantined area (Agr 2103, #14564, effective April 23, 2026). Chicks, poults and hatching eggs travel on an NPIP 9-3 showing pullorum- and AI-clean parent flocks. Birds over 20 weeks need the permit plus a CVI showing negative pullorum and AI tests within 10 days of shipment (Agr 2114.01, emergency text to October 31, 2026; permanent readoption proposed). NWS emergency rule (to December 14, 2026): birds from a state with a screwworm zone need a 5-day CVI with an NWS-free statement; chicks up to 3 days and hatching eggs exempt from examination.

What the entry rules say
  • “No poultry, swine, ratites, camelidae, cervidae, or birds customarily used as household pets shall be shipped into New Hampshire without a prior permit.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 2103.03(a)

Ends in 16 daysBringing birds in

Emergency rule (in force to October 31, 2026): chicks, poults and hatching eggs need an NPIP 9-3 showing pullorum- and avian-influenza-clean parent flocks

Poultry over 20 weeks need a DAMF permit and a CVI showing negative pullorum and AI tests within 10 days of shipment

In effect from May 4, 2026 · In force through October 31, 2026

Statewide · entry into New Hampshire · Birds: poultry and hatching eggs

  • Under 20 weeks and hatching eggs: NPIP VS 9-3 approved by the origin state, certifying progeny of S. pullorum and AI clean flocks
  • Over 20 weeks: DAMF permit, issued on receipt of a CVI showing negative S. pullorum and AI tests within 10 days of shipment
  • Emergency rule #14570: effective May 4, 2026, expires October 31, 2026; permanent readoption proposed (row nh-2026-agr2114-readoption-proposed-1)

Rule: Emergency rule #14570, Agr 2104-Agr 2114 (Importation of Bovines and Domestic Animals), Agr 2114.01 · NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (Office of Legislative Services filing), May 4, 2026

What the rule says (3 passages)
  • “All hatching eggs and poultry under 20 weeks of age shall be accompanied by a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) USDA/VS “Form 9-3 Report of Sales of Hatching Eggs, Chicks and Poults” approved by the state regulatory official of the state of origin certifying that the poultry or hatching eggs are progeny of Salmonella pullorum and avian influenza clean flocks.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (Office of Legislative Services filing) · gc.nh.gov · Agr 2114.01(a)

  • “proper CVI indicating that the poultry so identified shall have been tested negative for Salmonella pullorum and avian influenza within 10 days of shipment.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (Office of Legislative Services filing) · gc.nh.gov · Agr 2114.01(b), end

  • “New. #14570, EMERGENCY RULE, eff 5-4-26, EXPIRES: 10-31-26”

    New Hampshire Department of Agriculture · gc.nh.gov · source note under Agr 2114.01

Standing ruleBringing birds in

Poultry may not be shipped into New Hampshire without a prior DAMF permit, and must arrive with a CVI, not exposed to disease and not from a quarantined area

In effect from April 23, 2026 · No end date in the source

Statewide · entry into New Hampshire · Birds: domestic animals and poultry

  • CVI required unless exempted elsewhere in Agr 2100; compliance with federal interstate rules
  • Not known to be infected with or exposed to contagious disease, nor from a quarantined area
  • Permit requested by phone or in writing once testing is done and the CVI is completed; permit number goes on the CVI, which travels with the birds
  • Permits: DAMF Division of Animal Industry, 603-271-2404
  • Emergency rule #14619 (June 17, 2026 to December 14, 2026) readopts Agr 2103 with an amendment; poultry wording unchanged

Rule: N.H. Admin. Rules Agr 2103 (#14564), Requirements of Importation of Bovines and Other Domestic Animals · NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, April 23, 2026

What the rule says (3 passages)
  • “No poultry, swine, ratites, camelidae, cervidae, or birds customarily used as household pets shall be shipped into New Hampshire without a prior permit.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 2103.03(a)

  • “Not be known to be infected with or exposed to any contagious or infectious disease or from a quarantined area.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 2103.01(c)

  • “New. #10975, eff 11-19-15; ss by #14564, eff 4-23-26, EXPIRES: 4-23-36”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · source note under Agr 2103

Other disease entry orders

Not about bird flu, but they apply to poultry coming in.

May applyBringing birds in

New World screwworm emergency rule (June 17 to December 14, 2026): birds from a state with a screwworm infested or surveillance zone need a CVI issued within 5 days stating they were inspected and found free of wounds and screwworm

In effect from June 17, 2026 · In force through December 14, 2026

Statewide · domestic animals entering New Hampshire from NWS-affected areas · Birds: susceptible species (all warm-blooded domestic animals, poultry included); hatching eggs and birds up to 3 days old exempt from examination

  • From a state containing an infested or adjacent surveillance zone: CVI (or official freedom document) within 5 days with an individual-inspection statement
  • From an infested zone: not admitted until examined and found free of NWS by an accredited veterinarian (Agr 4203.01(b))
  • Originating in or transiting an infested zone: treated with an FDA/USDA/EPA-authorised NWS product before entry, product and date on the CVI (Agr 4203.01(e))
  • None from an NWS-quarantined or suspect premises until released
  • Hatching eggs and birds up to 3 days old: exempt from examination; may ship on a CVI or VS 9-3
  • Emergency rule #14620 (Agr 4200), effective June 17, 2026, expires December 14, 2026

Rule: Emergency rule #14620, Agr 4200 New World Screwworm (Agr 4203.01) · NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, June 17, 2026

What the rule says (4 passages)
  • “"Susceptible species" means all warm-blooded animals.”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 4202 definitions (a)

  • “Susceptible species of domestic animals, including dogs and cats, originating in a US state that contains an infested zone or adjacent surveillance zone shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 4203.01(d), first part

  • “issued within 5 days prior to entry into New Hampshire”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 4203.01(d), later part

  • “Shipment of hatching eggs and birds up to 3 days of age are exempt from the examination requirement”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · gc.nh.gov · Agr 4203.01(g)

Federal rules apply on top for any move across a state line: official ID and a health certificate or NPIP paperwork.

Sick or dead birds? Who to call

New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (DAMF), Division of Animal Industry (State Veterinarian)

(603) 271-2404 (Division of Animal Industry)

The agency's bird flu page

  • “These details must be submitted to the division via telephone (603) 271-2404 and/or by email to the state veterinarian, Dr. Mark Prescott (mark.c.prescott@agr.nh.gov), and to the assistant state veterinarian, Dr. Nate Harvey (nathan.d.harvey@agr.nh.gov).”

    NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food · agriculture.nh.gov · Animal Disease Reporting

Recent detections in New Hampshire

USDA APHIS lists no confirmed bird-flu detections in New Hampshire flocks in the 30 days to October 14, 2026. Latest detection in the APHIS data: October 9, 2026. The national picture

Common questions

Is there a bird flu order in New Hampshire right now?
New Hampshire: a bird-flu show and fair rule is being re-checked. The agency's own pages disagree or couldn't be read, so call the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture at (603) 271-2404 before moving, showing or selling birds. What we have confirmed is below.
Can I take my chickens to a poultry show or swap in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's show and sale rules are being re-checked: Poultry may be moved within New Hampshire for exhibition or sale only from flocks or hatcheries tested free of pullorum and avian influenza, and never from a flock with contagious disease; diseased birds can't be shown or sold. Until that's settled, call the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture at (603) 271-2404 before an event.
What do I need to bring chickens or hatching eggs into New Hampshire?
Poultry shipped into New Hampshire need a prior DAMF import permit (603-271-2404) and a CVI, and must not be infected, exposed, or from a quarantined area (Agr 2103, #14564, effective April 23, 2026). Chicks, poults and hatching eggs travel on an NPIP 9-3 showing pullorum- and AI-clean parent flocks. Birds over 20 weeks need the permit plus a CVI showing negative pullorum and AI tests within 10 days of shipment (Agr 2114.01, emergency text to October 31, 2026; permanent readoption proposed). NWS emergency rule (to December 14, 2026): birds from a state with a screwworm zone need a 5-day CVI with an NWS-free statement; chicks up to 3 days and hatching eggs exempt from examination.
Who do I call about sick or dead birds in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (DAMF), Division of Animal Industry (State Veterinarian) at (603) 271-2404 (Division of Animal Industry). Report sick or dying birds there or to USDA at 1-866-536-7593. This page is not veterinary advice; follow your state veterinarian.
How current is this page?
We read New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (DAMF), Division of Animal Industry (State Veterinarian)'s notices on October 14, 2026. Whether each order is in force is worked out from its dates every time the page is rebuilt, at least once an hour, so an order never shows as in force after it ends.
Sources
  1. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (DAMF), Division of Animal Industry (State Veterinarian): bird flu page. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (DAMF), Division of Animal Industry (State Veterinarian).
  2. Emergency rule #14570, Agr 2104-Agr 2114 (Importation of Bovines and Domestic Animals), Agr 2114.01. NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (Office of Legislative Services filing). May 4, 2026.
  3. Rulemaking Notice 2026-113, Agr 2104 through Agr 2114 (Readopt). NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (Office of Legislative Services, Rulemaking Register). May 26, 2026.
  4. N.H. Admin. Rules Agr 2103 (#14564), Requirements of Importation of Bovines and Other Domestic Animals. NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. April 23, 2026.
  5. N.H. Admin. Rules Agr 1602.01-1602.02 (Agr 1600 Poultry). NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. October 15, 2016.
  6. Memorandum: 2026 New England Fairs and Shows (May 5, 2026 update). New England State Veterinarians (NH: Dr. Mark Prescott). May 5, 2026.
  7. Emergency rule #14620, Agr 4200 New World Screwworm (Agr 4203.01). NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. June 17, 2026.
  8. Animal Disease Reporting (DAMF page quoting RSA 436:33). NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.
  9. RSA 541-A:17, I. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture.
  10. filing history (10-year expiry convention). New Hampshire Department of Agriculture.
  11. RSA 541-A:14-a, I. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture.
  12. last New Hampshire row. USDA APHIS.
  13. press-releases-announcements. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture.

We read each document ourselves and last checked this page against them on October 14, 2026. Where they disagree, we show you the disagreement instead of picking a winner quietly.

What we couldn't confirm
  • agriculture.nh.gov refuses plain requests (403) but opened normally in the built-in browser on October 14, 2026 (BRIEF §20). The Animal Industry, disease-reporting, press-release and news pages were captured. The press list shows only two releases (August and July 2026), which suggests a recently rebuilt site, so no DAMF notice on the Rockingham 02 backyard case (APHIS November 13, 2025) was found. DAMF's 2026 fair rules weren't located. The old avian-influenza.htm page wasn't tried.
  • Agr 1600's 10-year life (effective 10-15-16) ends about October 15, 2026 under RSA 541-A:17 unless extended under RSA 541-A:14-a. RSA 541-A:14-a wasn't read and no readoption filing was found, so the rule may lapse the day after this check. Re-check gc.nh.gov's Agr 1600 page on publish day.
  • Agr 2114.01 (poultry entry) rests on emergency rule #14570, which expires October 31, 2026. Whether the permanent readoption (notice 2026-113) is final by then is unknown; if it isn't, the poultry-specific entry rule lapses until readopted.
  • The compiled Agr 2100 page shows Agr 2103 from #14564 (4-23-26). Emergency rule #14619 (6-17-26) readopted Agr 2103 with an amendment adding Agr 4200 (New World screwworm). The poultry wording quoted matches in both.
  • No 2026 New Hampshire poultry show, sale or movement order was found. DAMF's own pages are blocked; any such order would be there.
  • Nature: emergency rules #14570 (Agr 2114) and #14619 (Agr 2103) are classed standing_rule even though they are time-limited. They re-enact routine import rules that lapsed by clerical error, so they aren't response orders. Only the NWS emergency rule (#14620) is an 'order'. The New England advisory is classed standing_rule so it can't trigger an alert.
  • Agr 1601.02 (shipments go directly from consignor to consignee) sits in Agr 1600, which may lapse on October 15, 2026, so it's dropped from importEntry until the re-read. After the re-read, set the Agr 1602 row to expired (endsOn October 15, 2026) if there's no extension, or record the extension.
  • Agr 2103.07 (New England Fair Season CVI, July 1 to October 31) applies to 'livestock'. Agr 2102 defines 'domestic animals' to include poultry but doesn't define 'livestock', so whether the fair-season CVI covers poultry is unconfirmed and it isn't recorded.
  • nh-rule-poultry-entry-2114-1: Emergency rule #14570, effective May 4, 2026, expires October 31, 2026. A permanent readoption with no changes to the emergency text was proposed (notice 2026-113; hearing July 6, 2026; comments to July 13, 2026). No final adoption appears in the filing history read today, so after October 31, 2026 this needs a fresh read (row nh-2026-agr2114-readoption-proposed-1)
  • nh-rule-poultry-entry-2114-1: DAMF's notice says the parts lapsed through a clerical error in the 2025 rulemaking
  • nh-2026-agr2114-readoption-proposed-1: Not found as adopted in the Agr filing history read October 14, 2026
  • appliesToday: NWS entry orders are marked 'unknown' where they bind only birds from a state, county or zone with a current screwworm infested or surveillance zone, because no current APHIS screwworm zone list was read. Maryland's rule names Texas and New Mexico outright, so it's marked 'yes'.

Next door

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