LIVESTOCK
Meat chickens
Keeping chickens for meat is popular with smallholders and crofters, and many people in Scotland keep a couple of chickens in their backyards for personal use. Chickens can be kept alongside other livestock, combined with market gardening, and kept in a variety of spaces.
Updated 7 June 2026
Selling produce
When selling meat through a variety of outlets, from your own farm gate to farmers markets and local retailers, you should ensure you are complying with marketing law and keep financial records of your sales and accounts. You should also pay income tax on your profits.
Detailed poultry meat marketing standards are available from Defra.