To sell these chickens, your local butcher would need to be a USDA inspected or Minnesota “Equal To” inspected processing plant. These plants must meet more stringent food safety standards than those for custom exempt plants. During a USDA or Minnesota Equal To inspection, each chicken is inspected for food safety and wholesomeness to ensure the chickens have been processed to the highest level of food safety. For a list of USDA plants, contact the USDA Des Moines District Office at 1-800-990-9834. Minnesota Equal To plants are listed online at Minnesota State "Equal To" Plants. A farmer can also process their own poultry for sales to end consumers at a farmers' market. Learn more about Selling Farm-Slaughtered Poultry and Rabbits.
There are no regulatory requirements for an individual to process their own birds for their own personal use.
There are no regulatory requirements for an individual to process their own birds for their own personal use.
Access to Information in an Alternative Format
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture strives to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to provide meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in services, activities and programs to individuals whose first language is not English or who need an accommodation for a disability.
Translation services are available if individuals need assistance to access services, activities and programs; key documents and resources may be translated upon request.
For assistance in obtaining access to services or to arrange for translation services, please contact the Dairy and Meat Inspection Division at 651-201-6300.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
- Personal fall-arrest systems, such as ropes, anchors, connectors, deceleration devices, harnesses, etc. and their installation (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Fall Protection (PDF) and OSHA Fall Protection Systems)
- Installing guardrail systems on existing ladders, roofs, and platforms (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Equipping existing fixed ladders with a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Replacing grain bin ladders with stairs (see Ohio State University Extension – Ohio AgrAbility info)
- Personal fall-arrest systems, such as ropes, anchors, connectors, deceleration devices, harnesses, etc. and their installation (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Fall Protection (PDF) and OSHA Fall Protection Systems)
- Installing guardrail systems on existing ladders, roofs, and platforms (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Equipping existing fixed ladders with a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Replacing grain bin ladders with stairs (see Ohio State University Extension – Ohio AgrAbility info)
- Lockout/tagout equipment (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: LOTO (PDF) and OSHA Lockout/Tagout factsheet (PDF))
- Sweep auger equipped with an attached guard or a control mechanism such as a dead-man switch or similar device and with a positive speed control mechanism or bin stop device (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Sweep Auger Alternative Protection (PDF) from the Grain Handling Safety Coalition); this also includes sump guards/gates (see OSHA Grain Handling Facility Sweep Auger Enforcement Policy)
- Equipment shields on motors and other moving parts (see OSHA Machinery and machine guarding)
- Replacing overhead electricity to bins with buried power lines to prevent contact with augers
