greenfire farms and whitmore farm

[Hennypen]

Please let us know if you end up getting a copy of the import papers..... If someone is going to pay those kind of prices they certainly should have verification they they actually were imported legally......

Agree... Besides the bloodline proof is there any other reason these papers would be important?



I am also interested in these birds but would like to see the proof of importation. I wonder if they could get duplicate copies from usda? (hint hint if they're watching this thread)

 

[chickenherder]

My thoughts exactly, why toss such important papers?

Shouldn't it be easy enough to get copies from the agencies the birds moved through?

I'd like to see actual photos of what I'd be buying too, not a representation.

Whitmore on the other hand was a dream to work with and sent gorgeous wellies and marans. I truly felt they wanted my business and were not above responding to questions.

Quote:

 

[stoneunhenged]

Hi. I own Greenfire Farms. It's nice to see the interest in Sussex and the history behind their importation, and I appreciate many of the kind comments that have been made here.

In 2007, I contacted a chicken fancier in Australia named Mark Tully. He's an interesting person, and if you do a Google search you'll find that he has actually been featured in a documentary about rare chickens in his native country. It was a pleasure to work with him. Here's his website:

http://www.rarechooks.com.au/

Mark located for me a total of 14 Sussex: 3 pairs of coronations, one pair of silvers, one pair of buffs, and two pairs of lights. I applied for an importation permit in the U.S. through the USDA-APHIS in Maryland, and the permit was issued. Mark arranged for the export permit and vet testing on his end. The birds flew from Australia aboard Quantas Airlines and were processed through the Los Angeles APHIS import center. They were quarantined for 30 days. In July, 2007, they were released and placed aboard a Delta flight and shipped to Florida.

Frankly, maybe I'm naive, but it never occurred to me to keep some routine federal forms that revealed nothing about the pedigree of the birds and that served no legal purpose once the birds are released from quarantine. I'm guessing that if you did a Freedom of Information Act request for the documentation the federal government would send you copies. I can assure you you'll find the birds were legally imported and at fairly significant expense. You can imagine that the transcontinental shipping, vet testing, and quarantine costs are high. At the time the birds cost about US$250 each to buy them in Australia, but with the related importation costs they ended up costing more than $1,000 each by the time I got them to Florida; maybe closer to $1,500. (After a while I quit counting.)

Anyway, that's the history of the Sussex importation. I've also given you a thumbnail sketch on how to import birds, and I've given you the name of the man who helped me in Australia. I do this, in part, so you can do the same thing if you have an interest. Personally, I'd love to see more Sussex imported into this country. I think they're a wonderful breed. Like all birds, flaws occasionally crop up in the lines I'm breeding, but overall I've been pleased with the quality of the stock I received.

Thanks for your questions and your interest. I hope this information is useful and addresses some of the concerns expressed here.

Paul

 

[keesmom]

I recently acquired some Coronation Sussex and light Sussex. Not only am I very happy with the quality of the birds, I'm pleased with my dealings with Paul.

I did not think it was necessary to see importation papers. There's no registry of chicken pedigrees like there is with dogs.

-Cindy in MA

 

[Big Blue]

Like we have said before the Sussex that Paul sells are top quality and healthy. Paul is very upfront and honest.

Thank you Paul for importing the Sussex and for selling them to us!

Jim and Kaye

 

[bargain]

Stoneunhenged please answer my contacts I sent to you on your web site. I know I've written about 3 times in the last 3 weeks. If your server on your web site is down or you are having troubles getting them, please pm me on this board or at
[email protected]
or alternatively please give me a cell phone or home phone I can call!

Since you mentioned in your post here "I'm guessing that if you did a Freedom of Information Act request for the documentation the federal government would send you copies. I can assure you you'll find the birds were legally imported and at fairly significant expense." Would you be willing to get the documention again from the same source for me and other interested buyers? I am concerned that I have the documentation prior to or at the same time as purchasing eggs/birds as I don't won't to be slapped with a large fine, criminal charges or have the birds taken away, etc.

I am very interested in your Coronation Sussex but I have other specific questions that needed answering.

Glad you are on BYC and are offering to share your beauties. They are simply lovely and I've been trying to get with you for quite a while!

Thanks and have a blessed day.
Nancy

 

[stoneunhenged]

Nancy,

I'm sorry I haven't responded to your emails. Maybe with the word 'bargain' in your email address they've been tagged as spam. I'll write you separately.

Unfortunately, I'm kept pretty busy just working on the farm and don't have the time to do figure out how to make a FOIA request for the federal documents. Again, if they are of great importance to you, I would encourage you to try this route. I had hoped that by providing the details of their importation in this forum that I could allay any concerns you might have. Frankly, I haven't heard your concern echoed by many people. To be honest, I can't imagine how someone could bring in 14 birds from Australia in seven large plastic dog crates without going through the the legal channels of the U.S. Customs process. And, the birds have since been inspected by a USDA field agent in Florida in order to obtain NPIP certification. Our NPIP certification information appears on our website.

Thanks for your interest.

 

[Got5Chicks]

Quote:
"........it never occurred to me to keep some routine federal forms......"

?????
Paul, no one doubts the obvious quality of your birds or the fact that your farm has been NPIP tested etc....and I am certainly not attacking you...........
but, quite frankly, the overall "essence" of your sales pitch for these particular birds you are offering, is the fact that they are imported lines. You certainly knew the financial advantage that this fact alone would give you, as well it should... You went to the hard work and extensive cost to import them, why shouldn't you reap some financial rewards.... This is America, the land of opportunity.. Bravo for you.... I don't think anyone could argue that fact...........
BUT, you are saying that you spent at a minimum of $14,000 (possibly as high as $21,000) on importing these 14 birds and kept no documentation to back up your claims of importation, when the mere fact that they were imported lines was going to be the pinnacle feature of your reasoning behind your asking (and receiving) price?.........
Obviously, you have had great success with the sales of these birds and I applaud that for you. You have several customers that are very pleased with the beautiful birds they received. This thread is not about the quality of your birds. It is only to discuss concerns that some potential buyers may have with claims of importation with no supporting documentation.........and asking your buyer to prove your birds were imported by submitting a Freedom of Information Act request, is with all due respect, a bit absurd..................

 

[ericsplls]

I think it's great that you were able to import the sussex and you should charge a premium for your efforts. If I told you I had imported some copper marans so great that even Bev would drool over and I had an extra pair for sale would you want proof. If you asked for proof and I told you to find it yourself would you? At the price you ask if it meant you could sale a dozen more day olds it should be worth whatever headache it took for finding the proof. On the other hand if you want to sell 100 chicks a year and have 150 people wanting them without the paper work why bother. Either way it would be nice to have something to go with the story. Kind of like a souvenier.

 

[Mahonri]

Interesting resurrected thread. I knew I had read it before, it wasn't until I as half way through that I noticed that it started in 2009