Risques dans les fermes d'agrément
Cette série dresse le portrait d'exploitations agricoles fictives avec des activités agricoles, des couvertures d'assurance courantes et quelques risques communs. Commencez par notre article d'introduction sur les fermes d'agrément !
Hobby Farm: The Chicken and the Egg
A very common animal to raise on a hobby farm is chicken! Often considered a low-risk start to hobby farming, raising chickens can quickly become a passion. The maximum number of birds for small flocks varies by province; however, all poultry farmers will operate with specific food safety and biosecurity standards. These standards are set by marketing boards and governing bodies to protect everyone, including the birds!
Situated on a 10-acre plot just north of Regina. This fictional hobby farm features:
- small three-bedroom home
- shelterbelt of poplar trees and shrubs
- spring/summer farm fresh egg sales
- garage and workshop
- three large chicken coops
- 100 chickens
Couvertures d'assurance courantes
At Mutual Fire Insurance, many of our insurance products offer a range of options including basic perils, limited perils, extended perils, and comprehensive coverage. Hobby farm policies include protection for the home and personal liability and the farm and farm liability. Together with your insurance broker, you can choose the best coverages and amounts of insurance for your needs. Here are some popular insurance coverages for chicken hobby farmers.
Farm Stock
This coverage protects merchandise and materials to prep for sale, such as egg cartons, labelling materials, and eggs.
Contenu de la ferme
Farm contents coverage protects the items inside of farm buildings. These items are not attached to the building. For a hobby farmer with chickens, contents coverage can replace items like poultry feeders, waterers, incubators.
Veterinarian Supplies
Chickens and poultry in general are susceptible to disease. Some hobby farms will keep a good supply of medication, supplements, and vaccines to protect their flock. Coverage can replace these supplies when lost to an insured peril.
Windbreak Trees
Farmers situated on the prairies will often have shelterbelts of trees planted purposefully to redirect the wind, manage snow, and enhance the visual appeal of the property. If the trees are lost due to an insurable peril, this coverage can respond to replace them.
Risques liés à l'élevage d'agrément à connaître
Liability Risks
A hobby farm with chickens producing eggs for sale to the public bears the risk of food-borne illness. To help protect customers, hobby farmers can:
- Follow marketing board and government guidelines for biosecurity on the farm
- Collect eggs as soon as possible
- Perform regular maintenance and cleaning
Visitors to a hobby farm may not be familiar with chickens. This can present a third-party liability risk should a chicken injure a visitor. While it might be easiest to keep friends away from the coop entirely, an introduction to chicken etiquette will help any guests visiting the farm.
Property Risks
Living rurally on the prairies has a few different property risks than urban living. One of those differences is fire risk, especially with recent droughts and hotter summertime temperatures. A lot of rural properties do not have a fire hydrant or responding firehall. To help mitigate fire risk:
- Manicure and clear fallen branches and leaves, this reduces fire fuel
- Keep fire suppression equipment, like fire extinguishers, nearby when doing hot work
- Store firewood separately from the home and other structures on the property
- Make an emergency evacuation plan, including any livestock
For more details about fire safety, read our full post about Farm and Ranch Wildfire Preparedness and check out FireSmart Canada.
Lire la série
Consultez tous les articles !
