{"id":"sr:prevention-cruelty-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016","name":"Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016","slug":"prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181284,"registerId":"vic-sr:prevention-cruelty-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016**\n\n**S.R. No. 122/2016**\n\nVersion as at  \n18 October 2016\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objective 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Revocation 1\n\n5 Definitions 1\n\n6 General conditions for the keeping of domestic fowl 2\n\n7 General cage requirements for domestic fowl kept for egg production 3\n\n8 Minimum cage floor area for domestic fowl weighing less than 4·5 kilograms kept for egg production 4\n\n9 Minimum cage floor area for domestic fowl weighing 4·5 kilograms or more kept for egg production 5\n\n10 General requirements for domestic fowl kept for egg or meat production in non-cage housing system 6\n\n11 Minimum useable floor area for domestic fowl kept for egg production in non-cage housing system 6\n\n12 Minimum useable floor area for domestic fowl kept for meat production in non-cage housing system 7\n\n13 Range requirements for domestic fowl 8\n\n═══════════════\n\nEndnotes 10\n\n1 General information 10\n\n2 Table of Amendments 12\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation 13\n\n4 Explanatory details 14\n\n**Version No.** **001**\n\n**Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016**\n\n**S.R. No. 122/2016**\n\nVersion as at  \n18 October 2016\n\n\t1 Objective\n\nThe objective of these Regulations is to provide for the conditions under which domestic fowl are housed.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 42 of the **Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 18 October 2016.\n\n\t4 Revocation\n\nThe Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2006[[1]](#endnote-1) are  \n**revoked**.\n\n\t5 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***cage floor area*** means the floor area of the internal part of a cage;\n\n***domestic fowl*** means a member of the species *Gallus gallus domesticus*;\n\n***range*** means an outdoor area that is accessible to domestic fowl.\n\n\t6 General conditions for the keeping of domestic fowl\n\n(1) A person who is in charge of domestic fowl must ensure that the fowl are provided with access to food that contains adequate nutrients to meet the requirements of their health and wellbeing—\n\n(a) in the case of newly-hatched fowl, within 60 hours after hatching; and\n\n(b) in any other case, at least once in every 24 hour period.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(2) A person who is in charge of domestic fowl must ensure that the fowl are provided with access to sufficient water to meet the requirements of their health and wellbeing—\n\n(a) in the case of newly-hatched fowl, within 60 hours after hatching; and\n\n(b) in any other case, at least once in every 24 hour period.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(3) A person who is in charge of domestic fowl must ensure that the fowl are inspected at least once in every 24 hour period to assess their health and wellbeing.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(4) A person who is in charge of domestic fowl must have—\n\n(a) a contingency plan in respect of any power failure; and\n\n(b) a contingency plan in respect of any interruption to the supply of food or water to the domestic fowl.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(5) A person who is in charge of domestic fowl that are housed in a mechanically ventilated shed must ensure there is a system in place for testing alarms installed at the shed.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n\t7 General cage requirements for domestic fowl kept for egg production\n\n(1) This regulation applies to a person who is in charge of domestic fowl that are—\n\n(a) kept for the purposes of egg production; and\n\n(b) housed in cages.\n\n(2) The person must ensure that if the domestic fowl are housed in a structure with more than one deck, the cages in that structure are arranged so that all of the domestic fowl are—\n\n(a) visible for the purpose of inspection; and\n\n(b) protected from excreta from fowl that are housed on any higher deck.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(3) The person must ensure that the floor of each cage in which the domestic fowl are housed is constructed to support the forward pointing toes of any fowl housed in that cage.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(4) The person must ensure that the height of each cage is greater than the maximum height of any domestic fowl standing normally in that cage.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(5) The person must ensure that each cage has a door with the following dimensions—\n\n(a) a height equal to the full height of the cage;\n\n(b) a width that is either—\n\n(i) at least 50 centimetres; or\n\n(ii) if the width of the cage is less than 50 centimetres, the full width of the cage.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n\t8 Minimum cage floor area for domestic fowl weighing less than 4·5 kilograms kept for egg production\n\n(1) This regulation applies in relation to domestic fowl that—\n\n(a) weigh less than 4·5 kilograms; and\n\n(b) are kept for the purposes of egg production; and\n\n(c) are housed in a cage.\n\n(2) A person who is in charge of domestic fowl must ensure that each cage floor area is—\n\n(a) if the cage houses 1 fowl, at least 1000 square centimetres; and\n\n(b) if the cage houses 2 fowl, at least 1350 square centimetres; and\n\n(c) if the cage houses 3 or more fowl and each fowl weighs less than 2⋅4 kilograms, at least 550 square centimetres for each fowl; and\n\n(d) if the cage houses 3 or more fowl and any of those fowl weighs 2⋅4 kilograms or more, at least 600 square centimetres for each fowl.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n\t9 Minimum cage floor area for domestic fowl weighing 4·5 kilograms or more kept for egg production\n\n(1) This regulation applies in relation to domestic fowl that—\n\n(a) weigh 4·5 kilograms or more; and\n\n(b) are kept for the purposes of egg production; and\n\n(c) are housed in a cage.\n\n(2) A person who is in charge of domestic fowl must ensure that—\n\n(a) if the cage houses 1 fowl, the total weight of the fowl does not exceed 26 kilograms for each square metre of the cage floor area; and\n\n(b) if the cage houses 2 fowl, the total weight of the fowl does not exceed 40 kilograms for each square metre of the cage floor area; and\n\n(c) if the cage houses 3 or more fowl, the total weight of the fowl does not exceed 46 kilograms for each square metre of the cage floor area.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n\t10 General requirements for domestic fowl kept for egg or meat production in non-cage housing system\n\n(1) This regulation applies to a person who is in charge of domestic fowl that are—\n\n(a) kept for the purposes of egg or meat production; and\n\n(b) housed in a non-cage housing system.\n\n(2) The person must ensure that there is sufficient access to the fowl to allow their health and wellbeing to be assessed.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(3) The person must ensure that if the non-cage housing system contains more than one housing level or multi-level perches, all fowl are protected from excreta from fowl housed on any higher level within the non-cage housing system.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(4) The person must ensure that the height of the non‑cage housing system is at least 45 centimetres.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n\t11 Minimum useable floor area for domestic fowl kept for egg production in non-cage housing system\n\nA person who is in charge of domestic fowl that are kept for the purposes of egg production and are housed in a non-cage housing system must ensure that the total weight of the fowl does not exceed 30 kilograms for each square metre of the useable floor area.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n\t12 Minimum useable floor area for domestic fowl kept for meat production in non-cage housing system\n\n(1) A person who is in charge of domestic fowl that are kept for the purposes of meat production and are housed in a non-cage housing system must ensure that—\n\n(a) if the housing system uses an evaporative cooling system, the total weight of the domestic fowl does not exceed 40 kilograms for each square metre of the useable floor area; and\n\n(b) if the housing system uses a water-based cooling system with stirring fans—\n\n(i) the total weight of the domestic fowl does not exceed 40 kilograms for each square metre of the useable floor area during the period starting on 1 March and ending on 31 October in each year; and\n\n(ii) the total weight of the domestic fowl does not exceed 36 kilograms for each square metre of the useable floor area during the period starting on 1 November and ending on 28 February or 29 February in a leap year (as applicable) each year;  \nand\n\n(c) if the housing system does not have a mechanical cooling system, the total weight of the domestic fowl does not exceed 28 kilograms for each square metre of the useable floor area.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), the following areas of a non-cage housing system may be included when calculating the usable floor area—\n\n(a) any slatted or metal mesh areas of flooring;\n\n(b) any area of floor taken up by any feeding or watering equipment or any nest box.\n\n\t13 Range requirements for domestic fowl\n\n(1) This regulation applies to a person who is in charge of domestic fowl that have access to a range.\n\n(2) The person must ensure that the domestic fowl have access to shelter on the range that provides protection from adverse weather that is likely to cause heat or cold stress.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(3) The person must ensure that reasonable steps are taken to reduce the risk of predation at the range.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(4) The person must ensure that the domestic fowl have unrestricted access for a minimum of 8 hours each day through openings to the range, except at times when the person determines that it is in the best interest of the health and wellbeing of the domestic fowl for the fowl to be confined indoors.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(5) The person must ensure that—\n\n(a) each opening to the range is—\n\n(i) at least 35 centimetres high; and\n\n(ii) at least 40 centimetres wide; and\n\n(b) the combined width of all of the openings to the range is at least 2 metres for each 1000 fowl.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(6) The person must ensure that the openings to the range—\n\n(a) enable the domestic fowl to move freely and safely to and from the range; and\n\n(b) are designed to minimise the adverse effects of weather on—\n\n(i) the domestic fowl; and\n\n(ii) the quality of litter material.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n═══════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016, S.R. No. 122/2016 were made on 4 October 2016 by the Governor in Council under section 42 of the **Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986**, No. 46/1986 and came into operation on 18 October 2016: regulation 3.\n\nThe Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 4 October 2026 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThere are no amendments made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation\n\nThere are no amendments which were Not in Operation at the date of this publication.\n\n4 Explanatory details\n\n1. Reg. 4: S.R. No. 143/2006.\n\n  ——\n\n  **Penalty Units**\n\n  These Regulations provide for penalties by reference to penalty units within the meaning of section 110 of the **Sentencing Act 1991**. The amount of the penalty is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**, by multiplying the number of penalty units applicable by the value of a penalty unit.\n\n  The value of a penalty unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2016 is $155.46.\n\n  The amount of the calculated penalty may be rounded to the nearest dollar.\n\n  The value of a penalty unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The value of a penalty unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year. [↑](#endnote-ref-1)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, there is no evidence that the scope of this regulation changed from its original intent. It appears to have been made in 2016 and remains focused on the welfare of domestic fowl as originally intended. However, the limited document content prevents a definitive assessment of any substantive amendments over time."},"complexity_factors":["The document provided is largely metadata and version history, not substantive regulatory content — limiting full analysis","Regulations of this type typically involve technical animal welfare standards that require industry knowledge to interpret","Sits within a broader legislative framework (the parent Act) which must be read alongside the regulation","May interact with national Model Codes of Practice for poultry, adding a cross-referencing burden","Low complexity overall due to narrow and specific subject matter (domestic fowl only)"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation sets legally enforceable minimum welfare standards for domestic fowl in Victoria—covering chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese and similar birds—and applies to farmers, egg producers and anyone who keeps or handles these birds. Made under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Vic), non‑compliance can attract penalties. Note: the supplied document appears to be version history/metadata, so the specific substantive rules are not visible here."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument states its objective is to provide conditions for housing domestic fowl and expressly revokes the 2006 Regulations (reg 1; reg 4). The text itself does not state an expansion or narrowing of that objective; based on the instrument alone the scope remains limited to housing-related conditions for domestic fowl kept for egg or meat production (regs 1, 6–13)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple numeric standards and formulas for space/weight per bird across cages and non-cage systems (regs 8–12)","Different regimes for cage vs non-cage housing and for egg vs meat production (regs 7, 10–12)","Seasonal variation in permitted stocking densities for some meat-production systems (reg 12(1)(b))","Detailed dimensional and design requirements (cage door size, height, visibility, protection from excreta, range opening widths) that require measurement and possible structural changes (regs 7, 11, 13)","Uniform, fixed penalty level referenced to penalty units and external monetary conversion (penalties at many regs; explanatory details re monetary conversion)","Operational requirements (daily inspections, contingency plans, alarm testing) that create ongoing compliance burdens (reg 6(1)–(5), reg 7(5))","Revocation of previous Regulations without text here to compare means administrators must map old compliance to new rules (reg 4)"],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations set minimum housing, feeding, watering, inspection, cage, stocking-density and range-access standards for domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) and revoke the 2006 rules (regs 1–5, 4). They apply to any person “in charge” of fowl kept for egg or meat production and prescribe penalties for breaches (generally 5 penalty units). \n\nPractically, the person in charge must provide timely food and water, daily inspections, contingency plans, meet cage or non-cage stocking and dimension standards, allow range access and test alarms for mechanically ventilated sheds (regs 6–13); non‑compliance attracts fines."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: setting housing conditions for domestic fowl. The 2016 version replaced the 2006 regulations but maintained the same core scope—cage sizes, food/water access, and housing standards—without expanding into unrelated areas of animal welfare or agriculture."},"complexity_factors":["Only 3 defined terms in the interpretation section (cage floor area, domestic fowl, range)","Straightforward structure with 13 regulations, each addressing a discrete topic (food/water, cages, non-cage systems, range access)","Minimal cross-referencing—primarily internal references to subregulations within the same regulation","Clear conditional logic using simple if/then structures (e.g., 'if the cage houses 1 fowl...')","No nested exceptions or complex provisos","Prescriptive numerical standards (e.g., 1000 square centimetres, 45 centimetres height) that are specific but not complicated to apply","Single penalty amount (5 penalty units) applies consistently across all offences"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set out the minimum standards for how domestic chickens (fowl) must be housed and cared for in Victoria. They apply to anyone in charge of chickens kept for egg or meat production, whether in cages, barns, or free-range systems.\n\n**Key requirements include:**\n\n*   **Food and water:** Chickens must get food and water within 60 hours of hatching (for chicks) or at least once every 24 hours (for older birds).\n*   **Health checks:** Someone must inspect the chickens at least once daily.\n*   **Emergency planning:** Operators must have backup plans for power failures and interruptions to food or water supplies.\n*   **Cage standards:** If using cages for egg production, the cages must be tall enough for chickens to stand normally, have floors that support their toes, and meet specific minimum floor space requirements based on how many birds are housed together and their weight.\n*   **Non-cage (barn) standards:** For barn systems, there are rules about ceiling height (at least 45cm), protection from droppings from birds above, and maximum stocking densities (how many kilograms of chicken per square metre of floor space).\n*   **Free-range requirements:** If chickens have outdoor access (\"the range\"), they must have shelter from bad weather, protection from predators, and at least 8 hours daily access through properly sized openings (at least 35cm high by 40cm wide, with enough total opening width for the flock size).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\nCommercial chicken farmers, egg producers, and anyone keeping domestic fowl for production purposes in Victoria.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese rules establish legally enforceable minimum welfare standards to prevent cruelty. Breaching any requirement carries a penalty of 5 penalty units (roughly $777 at 2016 rates). The regulations replaced older 2006 rules and reflect evolving community expectations about animal welfare in farming."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016","history":"/api/acts/prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-domestic-fowl-regulations-2016/documents"}}