Virginia Law

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Avian influenza" means any one of several infections or disease syndromes in avian species caused by Type A influenza viruses of the Orthomyxovirus group.

"Backyard flock" means a flock of fewer than 500 birds maintained on private premises for the sole use of the owner.

"Breeding flocks" means poultry used to produce fertile eggs to produce poultry for multiplier flocks.

"Broiler" means a chicken that is grown exclusively for food purposes.

"Broiler breeder" means a chicken used to supply fertile eggs to hatcheries for the production of broilers.

"Commercial toms and hens" means immature male and female turkeys that are grown to market size for food purposes.

"Cockerel" means a young male chicken.

"Confined wild birds" means any live wild fowl which are confined by means of pens or other structures, or which are pinioned, and includes their offspring which are regulated by state or federal permits.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"Exotic Newcastle disease" means the velogenic or viscerotropic form of the disease of poultry caused by the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) of the Paramyxovirus group.

"Flock" means all of the poultry on one premises, except that, at the discretion of the department, any group of poultry which is segregated from other poultry and has been so segregated for a period of at least 21 days may be considered as a separate flock.

"Fowl typhoid" means an infection of poultry caused by Salmonella gallinarum.

"Game farm" means any location where a variety of avian species such as waterfowl, pheasant, quail, peafowl, etc., that qualify as game fowl are congregated or raised individually or otherwise.

"Game fowl" means any variety of avian species hunted for food or sport or specifically raised for sport.

"Grower of poultry" means any person, including an employee, agent or independent contractor, who grows, raises, or keeps poultry for himself or for another.

"Hatchery" means incubators, hatchers, and auxiliary equipment on one premises operated and controlled for the hatching of poultry.

"Layers" means chickens that produce eggs for food purposes.

"Multiplier flock" means poultry used to produce fertile eggs to produce poultry for egg production and broiler flocks.

"Owner" means any person or firm that owns poultry.

"Person" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or institution.

"Poultry" means live fowl, including chickens, turkeys, waterfowl, and game birds, which are propagated and maintained under the control of any person.

"Poults" means young turkeys.

"Pullets" means young female chickens.

"Pullorum disease" means an infection of poultry caused by Salmonella pullorum.

"Salmonella enteritidis" means a specific bacterial organism capable of producing severe gastroenteritis in humans and many animals.

"Slaughter birds" means any birds that are slaughtered at establishments that have been issued a grant of inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service or by the department.

"Small privately owned layer flocks" means any flock of fewer than 500 birds that is used to produce eggs for food purposes and is privately owned.

"Specimens" means samples, including but not limited to samples of blood, tissues, eggs, and swabs, as well as samples taken from the environment in which a bird lives.

"State Veterinarian" means a veterinarian employed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services who is responsible for the animal health programs in the Commonwealth.

"Turkey breeders" means turkeys that are used to supply fertile eggs to hatcheries for the production of commercial toms and hens.