What Does NPIP Stand For?
NPIP stands for the National Poultry Improvement Plan — a federal and state cooperative program administered by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Established in the 1930s, NPIP was created to eliminate Pullorum disease, which once devastated the US poultry industry by killing up to 80% of infected chicks.
What Does NPIP Testing Cover?
NPIP certification requires annual testing for Pullorum-Typhoid (caused by Salmonella pullorum and S. gallinarum). More advanced NPIP certifications also cover Avian Influenza (AI) testing, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). Live Poultry Store maintains Pullorum-Typhoid Clean status — the standard required for legal live poultry interstate shipping.
Why Is NPIP Required for Shipping Live Chickens?
Most US states legally require NPIP certification for any live poultry shipped across state lines. This protects your existing flock from introduced diseases and protects the US poultry industry from disease outbreaks. USPS requires NPIP certification as part of their live animal shipping requirements. For international shipments, NPIP certification is required as part of the USDA APHIS export health certificate.
How to Verify a Seller Is NPIP Certified
Always ask for the NPIP certificate number before purchasing live chickens online. You can verify any NPIP participant through your state's department of agriculture. Never buy live chickens from a seller who cannot provide their NPIP certificate number — this is a major red flag and may be illegal depending on your state.
Live Poultry Store's NPIP certificate is included with every order and available on request at any time. Call us at (346) 636-0501 to receive a copy before ordering.
How Often Is NPIP Certification Renewed?
NPIP certification requires annual testing. Our Texas farm has maintained continuous NPIP certification since 2003 — over 22 years of clean tests. We test all flocks annually and any time a new breed is added to our farm. Our commitment to NPIP certification reflects our commitment to your flock's health and safety.
Does NPIP Certification Mean the Chickens Are Vaccinated?
NPIP certification covers disease testing, not vaccination. Vaccination is a separate service — Live Poultry Store offers Marek's disease vaccination as an optional add-on at checkout. We recommend Marek's vaccination for all chick orders. Call us at (346) 636-0501 to discuss vaccination options for your specific order.
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