Can I keep hens at home in Lithuania, and do I have to register them?
It depends on the location: keeping hens on your own plot next to the house is generally allowed, but not in a flat or on a balcony in a block of flats, and keeping is governed by the municipality's animal-keeping rules. Hens must be kept on your own land and must not stray onto a neighbour's plot - 'if the hen jumped the fence, there is no breach' is a myth, because the keeper is responsible for the animal. Registering the holding and the flock of farm animals (including hens) in the Farm Animal Register is compulsory if the keeper seeks or receives state support, and because of the bird flu threat all keepers are urged to declare their poultry - otherwise, in an outbreak, the losses may fall on the owner. For those keeping up to 100 hens a 50 m sanitary protection zone applies. During a bird flu outbreak, poultry must be kept in enclosed premises, protected from wild birds.
📋 The rules
- Keeping hens on your own plot next to the house is allowed, but in a flat or on a balcony it is not
- Keeping is governed by the municipality's animal-keeping and hygiene rules
- Hens must be kept on your own land and must not stray onto a neighbour's plot
- Registering the holding and flock in the Farm Animal Register is compulsory for state support and urged over bird flu
- For up to 100 hens a 50 m sanitary protection zone applies
🔓 Exceptions
- During a bird flu outbreak, poultry must be kept in enclosed premises protected from wild birds
- Individual municipalities may set extra requirements on the number of birds, distances or hygiene in towns
- To sell eggs or meat at a market you may need additional veterinary registration and control
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The biggest risks come not from the right to keep hens itself, but from the rules and the neighbours. If the birds get onto a neighbour's plot, cause noise, a bad smell or unsanitary conditions, the keeper can face administrative liability under the municipal rules and the Code of Administrative Offences, and the neighbour can claim compensation for the damage. What people miss: if poultry are not declared, then in a bird flu outbreak all the costs of eliminating the focus of infection may fall on the owner, and support or compensation is not available to those who did not register. In outbreak zones strict restrictions may be imposed - keeping poultry only in enclosed premises and banning trade and movement. If biosecurity or veterinary requirements are not met, the VMVT can impose penalties and orders. So it is safest to register the keeper and the flock, keep the distances and follow the municipal rules.
📎 Official sources
- VMVT · farm animal registration and keeping →
- Ministry of Agriculture · marking and registration of farm animals →
- e-seimas · animal welfare and keeping requirements →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I keep hens in a town, in my own yard?
Keeping hens in the yard of your own house is generally allowed, provided you follow the municipality's animal-keeping, hygiene and sanitation rules. Keeping poultry in a flat or on a balcony is not permitted, and a town may set extra requirements on numbers and distances from neighbours.
Do I have to register the hens I keep?
Registering the holding and the flock in the Farm Animal Register is compulsory if the keeper seeks or receives state support. Because of the bird flu threat other keepers are also urged to declare their poultry, since without registration the losses and costs of an outbreak may fall on the owner.
How far from the neighbour do I have to keep hens?
For those keeping up to 100 hens a 50 metre sanitary protection zone usually applies, though the exact requirements depend on the municipal rules. In any case the birds must be kept on your own land and must not stray freely onto a neighbour's plot.
What must I do in a bird flu outbreak?
When there is a bird flu threat or outbreak, poultry must be kept in enclosed premises protected from wild birds and must not be let out near bodies of water. In outbreak zones, movement and trade restrictions may be imposed, and these must be strictly observed.
Can I sell my own hens' eggs?
A small quantity of eggs may be supplied directly to the consumer under set conditions, but selling at a market or supplying shops often requires additional veterinary registration. It is worth checking the exact requirements on labelling and control at your local VMVT office.
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