Nova Scotia has a high defined poultry sector. The vast majority of this production operates under the umbrella of national supply management agreements. Producers, provincial and federal governments have assigned supply regulation authority to commodity specific entities for chicken, turkey and eggs. Each commodity has established their own signatory agreements. Although all are established under common enabling legislation, there are variations in the level of authority assigned.

With exception of game birds and licensed free range chicken and turkey, quotas are required for the right to produce. Chicken producers negotiate their live price with processors, while turkey and egg producers have the authority to establish the producer paying price. Nova Scotia has a competitive supply chain with hatcheries and feed companies servicing the producers, and processors and distributors offering fresh, frozen and further processed poultry products to foodservice, food retail and consumers. A network of registered egg grading stations and slaughter/processing facilities for poultry ensure the region has poultry products available year round.

Poultry farm cash receipts represent 33% of Nova Scotia's total livestock and products output, approximately $85,000,000 per annum. Fresh egg production is the largest segment of the poultry sector, followed by closely by chicken and then turkey.