How Many Nutrient Units Do I Have?
Poultry Operations

If you own a poultry operation, Ontario Regulation 267/03 under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 applies to you if your operation generates 300 or more nutrient units (NU) annually. It also applies to you if your operation generates more than five (5) NU annually and you:

  • apply for a building permit* to build any structure that is used to house livestock or to store manure; or
  • construct an earthen manure storage.

If you own a poultry operation and keep no other livestock on your farm, you can use the following chart to easily determine the nutrient units for your farm operation.

Determine Total Nutrient Units for Your Farm:

Type of Poultry Operation
# of Animals
NU Conversion Factor
Divide # of Animals by NU Conversion Factor
Laying Hens (number of layer spaces in barn - after pullet stage, until end of laying period)
150 birds/NU
Layer Pullets (number of pullet spaces in barn - day old to laying)
500 pullets/NU
Chicken Broilers (8-week cycle)
351 birds/NU
Chicken Broilers (9-week cycle)
300 birds/NU
Chicken Broilers (10-week cycle)
250 birds/NU
Chicken Broilers (12-week cycle)
199 birds/NU
Chicken Broiler Breeders (layers and roosters transferred in from growing barn)
100 birds/NU
Broiler Breeders (growing - pullets and cockerels transferred out to layer barn)
300 pullets/NU
Turkeys - Broilers/Hens/Toms/Pullets
(total square feet of floor growing area)
58 birds/NU
Total Nutrient Units on Farm

* O. Reg. 267/03 also applies to those operations that would require a building permit under the Building Code Act, 1992 but are exempt from having to obtain a permit under the application of clause 2.4.1.1(1) (b) of Ontario Regulation 403/97 (Building Code) made under that Act.


For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Author: OMAFRA Staff
Creation Date: 01 July 2003
Last Reviewed: 10 June 2010