You are allowed to keep up to 6 hens and 8 rabbits on your allotment plot with permission from Kirklees Council's Allotments Section.

You can apply for permission in writing or by email.

• Kirklees Allotments - Contact details

You will be sent a request for information regarding the number of hens you wish to keep, the housing and welfare of the hens, the structure you will be using as housing and the safeguards to be taken to prevent soil contamination and nuisance from vermin.

If your replies are acceptable in meeting standards, Leelee Yu will confirm in writing the councils agreement.

Please note you are not permitted to keep any hens until you have received written confirmation. Should your plot and hens be inspected at any time, and found to be in an unacceptable condition you may be in breach of your tenancy agreement.

Note:

Only 6 hens may be kept on a plot. Cockerels, ducks, geese or other poultry types are not allowed.

This person must have experience of, or attended a training course on, the overall keeping and management of hens and particularly in respect of recognising distress and disease and taking appropriate remedial action.

The accommodation needs to provide proper shelter from the elements and, as appropriate, a means of exercise which may be extended by the provision of wire fenced runs.

The coop should have a minimum floor space of 1.8m x 1.2m to ensure adequate floor, nesting and perching space for 6 hens. Nest boxes, roosting areas and perches must be properly located and all exercise runs escape, predator and vermin proof. Housing should be raised off the ground to avoid vermin nesting beneath. This should be at least 150mm, but the higher the better.

The hen run, for exercise for 6 hens, should be a minimum of 4 square metres. Wire fenced runs should be of a suitable gauge weldmesh wire to prevent predator or vermin access. The wire should be 12 gauge to protect against predators and have 25mm holes to prevent ingress by vermin. Ideally the weldmesh will extend across the floor space to prevent vermin from digging up into the run. A means of access to the shelter must be available to the hens at all times, except when cleaning and disinfection is being carried out.

The accommodation will require cleansing and disinfecting and all litter etc. needs to be disposed of in secure containers or an appropriate place located well away from any shelter or run.

Hens must have access to a minimum of 8 hours daylight during the day.

Water must be available at all times and all equipment kept clean and in good order. Feed should be kept in vermin proof containers. Any spillage of feed should be cleared up immediately to deter vermin. Any diet must be properly balanced for the breed and given sufficient amounts to ensure the proper well being of the animals. The risk of drinking water freezing during cold weather must be considered.