Prince George's County, MD Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Section 3-183 of the Prince George's County Code, in the Animal Control subtitle's rules on selling and giving away baby fowl, makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, raffle, barter, or give away baby chickens, ducklings, or other fowl under four weeks old in lots of less than one dozen, rabbits under six weeks, or unweaned mammalian companion animals under eight weeks as already barred by State law. It is separately unlawful to color, dye, stain, or otherwise change the natural color of baby chickens, ducklings, other fowl, or rabbits, or to bring animals already treated that way into the county.

Breeders and commercial raisers are exempt from the age and lot-size limits if their facilities comply with the Health Officer's rules, and stores selling chicks, ducklings, or fowl in lots of twelve or more must provide brooders or other heating devices along with constant food and water to keep the birds healthy while on display. Subsection (c) separately bans giving away any live animal, fish, or bird as a premium, novelty, toy, or prize, as an inducement to enter a contest, game, or competition, as an instrument to enter a place of amusement, or as an incentive to enter a business agreement meant to attract trade, with the only exception carved out for animals given away for agricultural purposes.

The provision traces to County Bill CB-36-1985, amended by CB-63-1994 and CB-46-2019, and it works alongside Section 3-185, which lets the Commission for Animal Control or the Health Officer order abatement action when pigeons are found to be a public or private nuisance.