Importation of Hatching Eggs: USDA

[HallFamilyFarm]

This spring I sold a dozen eggs on eBay to a lady in Blaine, WA. The hens stopped laying and I was a bit late on shipping. Emailed the buyer often. Finally I emailed the eggs were ready. No response. I shipped the eggs to the PO Box they gave me. 3 weeks later the USPS emailed the eggs were never claimed and they returned them. I tried several times to call the phone number. Finally I did a anywho search on the number. It was for someone in British Columbia! Seems it was an attempt to smuggle eggs into Canada. The eggs arrived almost rotten. We disposed of them. Never did hear back from the buyer.

Blain, WA is on the border with Surry, British Columbia.

 

[OSUman]

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You just have to be, npip to bring eggs into canada I believe

 

[ca]

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Not creay at all! Glad you asked

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/69348_img_1835.jpg
Here they are at 17 weeks (one rooster is strolling around)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/69348_img_1954.jpg
and here a rooster from a little closer.

Are they wheaten colored or are they a landrace?

They are wheaten. An attempt has been made to get into blue wheatens and other varieties. My girls do not all look exactly the same. So that's maybe why. The roosters are very typical wheaten colored.

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
Are they wheaten colored or are they a landrace?

They are wheaten. An attempt has been made to get into blue wheatens and other varieties. My girls do not all look exactly the same. So that's maybe why. The roosters are very typical wheaten colored.

Sweet

 

[flowerchild59]

Thanks for the information. Honesty will set you free..............

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I have tried to avoid that calculation so far! But if you make me...

Imported 30 eggs, hatched 7 (which is really good considering that FedEx screwed up and the eggs were on the road way too long).
All 7 are still up and running! 3 roosters, 4 hens. I love them!

OK now the numbers:
Permit, $141, ammendment $70, vet fees at arrival $240, that's $451 to USDA
Vet and lab fees in country of origin about $500
Cost for eggs $30

Shipping fees: $0 because FedEx felt so bad about their mistakes. And I probably made their life very miserable by calling all day long for three days!
Cost for therapy afterwards... well, I managed with a bottle of scotch.

Drumroll, thats per egg:








unhatched: $33
hatched: $143

Glad I did not know that ahead of time! I thought it was going to be $141 + shipping

(there still are naive people in this country apparently

)

But I love my chickens!

 

[Poultry Friend]

Really interesting thread! Was thinking of importing eggs, but might wait until my savings is built up more. If we ever go over to tthe Netherlands to see hubbys family, I might try to bring some back, but it looks like there would have to be a lot of prep work in advance!

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Really interesting thread! Was thinking of importing eggs, but might wait until my savings is built up more. If we ever go over to tthe Netherlands to see hubbys family, I might try to bring some back, but it looks like there would have to be a lot of prep work in advance!

Yep! And your point of reentry may have to be changed to a USDA facility. If you can get the breeder in Europe to complete their part and you have yours, it should be rather simple. Just have all the paperwork completed. You do not want to bring eggs back and stand and watch as the inspector makes his breakfast with them!

 

[Poultry Friend]

If I ever went through the trouble, I would find a farm that had many different rare breeds, but not many birds (so testing the flocks would be cheaper) or one that had already been tested, and I would forgo carry on lugage (and make hubby forgo it as well) and take as many eggs as humanly possible back. We are talking at least 100. If that hatch rate is so low and the effort so great, I want it worth my while! LOL!

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

If I ever went through the trouble, I would find a farm that had many different rare breeds, but not many birds (so testing the flocks would be cheaper) or one that had already been tested, and I would forgo carry on lugage (and make hubby forgo it as well) and take as many eggs as humanly possible back. We are talking at least 100. If that hatch rate is so low and the effort so great, I want it worth my while! LOL!

Or just leave the hubby and put eggs in his seat! Have him take a boat back!

 

[Poultry Friend]

LOL! No, I would never do that. His poor dog would miss him so much (and so would I!) Although buying another seat back...hmm...if you are already going to spend that much, might as well go for broke!