What is NPIP Certified?

What is NPIP? This is the National Poultry Improvement Plan.

Why do you need this certification? If you want to be able to ship chicks/eggs across state lines, you must be certified. This helps ensure sick birds are not sent over state lines and cause illnesses in other flocks. 

Do you have to be NPIP certified? Technically no,  If you just have chickens for yourself in your back yard and have no intention of selling/hatching/breeding. 

Does it cost anything? The certification is voluntary and paid for by the chicken owner. You will have to check your local department of agriculture to see how much it will cost. 

Why is important to purchase from NPIP certified breeders or hatcheries? This will make sure the chickens you are purchasing are free from pullorum Typhoid and Avian Influenza.