Keeping Backyards Animals

Whether for friendship or food, interest in keeping backyard animals has grown markedly in recent years. While many people are interested in having bee hives for the honey that is produced, bees are also vital to horticulture and many landowners have bees for the purpose of increasing pollination of their fruit crops. Backyard chickens are a kids favourite, turning food scraps into a resource and producing eggs. Whatever your reason, keeping animals in your backyard or lifestyle block is an enjoyable and rewarding experience, with a range of environmental benefits.

Local clubs and associations

  • Taranaki Bee Club - The Taranaki Bee club is for all those interested in keeping hives of bees for honey production or pollination purposes. The club has meetings every month to assist members to get the best results from their hives by keeping them in good condition. Regular field trips are held throughout the honey season.

Local suppliers

There are two local bee product suppliers, with other national online services available.

  • Bees R Us - Okato. Bees R Us is a family beekeeping business in Taranaki, packaging their own honey and also supplying beekeeping equipment locally.

  • Fertile Fields - New Plymouth. Natural and certified organic fertilisers & natural animal health and farming products.

  • New Plymouth Honey and Bee Supplies - New Plymouth. Suppliers of all beekeeping equipment.

  • Poultry NZ - Waitara. Provide all you need to know about poultry and sell products targeted at the good health of poultry.

  • Shona Cadman - Eltham. Shona has various meeting locations around Taranaki where people purchase pullets/young chickens from her. Contact her on 027 667 8333.

  • Rare Breeds Mid North Island. Aims to conserve and promote rare breeds.

If you know of other stockists/retailers/suppliers/services or all round fantastic sustainable sources please let us know so that we can include them here.