I just found this topic. I normally don't look at the Local C. L&O section. I am wondering why this is not a sticky in the DUCK SECTION. It doen't pertain to Local C. L&O at all. This is a Federal Law with restrictions on DUCKs that is now in effect, though not being enforced at the domestic level.
There are a lot of people in the Duck Section that are still getting Muscovies that are more than likely totally unaware of this new law. They should at least be aware that laws are changing for Muscovies. People are still planning on getting them for pets, this law could affect their decision.
I am lucky, my ladies hatched out a clutch in March, but even I have 1 little duckling that hatched after EASTER. It had to come into the house for a few days and he used my granddaughters stuffed puppy for a Mommy. This duckie is special for this homestead and will be kept as a breeder. (So if this granny goes to jail you know why). I raise the ducks for eggs and food for my and my daughters family. We have a high incidence of heart problems and eat very lean meat only, and I have nasty food allergies.
So, will I need to get a permit under the New Law as written presently? I read the Farm to Consumer write out and its not really clear if I will even be allowed to hatch and grow out for our own use. I don't sell any of my animals or meat. Well, time will tell. If not I'll have to get ducks that are noisy I suppose. I will have to explain to the neighbors that Federal Law prohibits me from having the quiet Ducks that they forget I even have.
I'll let my family know about this new Law, some are still farming. I'm sure they will find it interesting that the US Fish and Wildlife is trying to regulate yet another livestock animal. Get the small farming communities involved and I'm sure the US F&W should get some interesting feedback from them. What's next Pigs, Turkeys, Chickens?? What they are saying of the Muscovies can be applied to each. But then, there is a difference between Wild Boars, Ferral Pigs and Pigs. Domestication.
We need to give the domesticated Muscovies a different name, so the US F&W has a NAME other than Muscovy or a Ferral Muscovy or a domesticated Muscovy to work with. I vote for and will refer to them as Scovies, henceforth as I have in the past. A new name is a distinction that sets them apart from the Wild and Ferral Muscovies that are the real problem. Notice Wild Boar v Ferral Pig v Pig, I dought there is a scientific DNA differance. Wild Boar and Ferral Pigs are hunted down, Pigs are livestock.
Ok, I'll stop ranting and start e-mailing.
