I spoke to fish and game today and permits are required on ALL ducks in Florida EXCEPT Pekins. It’s totally insane and the permits can either be pet permit if you are only keeping a few for yourself and that permit is free, but the application is intense (vet must be provided, what you’ll do to prevent escape, emergency numbers, evacuation plans, etc)There is also a game farm permit which is $50 a year and they have to come inspect your property, and then an exhibition permit if you’re showing them. They have pool and cage size requirements you have to meet and each permit has to be renewed annually. (Pet is every 2 years). You can’t sell ducks to anyone without a permit etc. I’m zoned agricultural and I had already acquired 3 Muscovies. I’m not permitted. I have an order of ducklings in the incubator from a breeder in Louisiana and I have no idea what I’m gonna do. We just wanted 5 welsh Harlequins and a couple Muscovy to enjoy on our hobby farm and to raise some quality ducklings to sell to aid in the recovery of the welsh Harlequins. Florida is a messed up state. I asked wildlife guy why Pekins are exempt and he couldn’t tell me. Just said he doesn’t make the law, only enforces it. I’m all for getting the game permit so I can have my Harlequins, but what the hell am I supposed to do with my Muscovies? They aren’t permitted and I’m afraid when they come to inspect, they will take them and fine me since I have them and don’t have a permit for them. They are gonna want to know where I got them and I’m not gonna throw that lady under the bus. Ugh! I miss Washington state! Makes me wonder how all these people are selling on Craigslist and not getting busted here. I always see Muscovy, runners and various call ducks listed. Anyone wanna Underground Railroad me some welsh Harlequins?!?
This is the reason why we are sticking with Pekins.
Florida has strict laws to protect migratory birds. Once hurricane season is upon us, when mass evacuation is mandatory, livestock is not being evacuated. Ducks are left to be subjected to the possibility of being introduced to the local ecosystem.
When hurricane Irma smacked us, there were cows and horses on our road Wondering around until they were rounded up by their owners whom fled the area only to come back to discover their stock was missing. We had trees take fence out to our swine paddocks but we're lucky we had no escaping.
Our chickens were all over the place. I assume water fowl owners lost some of their inventory. Not by death but by relocation.
As far as the permit is concerned, we are sticking with Pekins. We started the application process and decided that we don't need to have big brother over seeing our property. Our conversation with FWC was the deal breaker. They are basically making ownership a chore as well as a costly affair.
And with all of the ads on Craigslist etc when people are selling ducks that require permission, FWC is on top of that too. They take the law pretty seriously. They seize that opertunity to be invited onto private property to inspect for compliance.
Last year we had a surprise visit by the dept of agriculture for our goats. Florida requires ALL goats to be registered & ear tagged by scabies vaccination method. No goat is allowed to leave anyone's property without being registered by the dept of agriculture. Yet just like with ducks, few people are complying with the laws and regulations. We have been searching for a young buck to straighten our herds bloodline. But every ad we respond to, folks are illegally selling their bucklings. So we don't purchase him. We are requested and in compliance, which in turn allows usda to inspect our stock. When we go and register the new addition, we have to list the sellers address. Which we don't want to get in the middle of a poop storm.
So we are electing NOT to do the same with ducks, which is having big brother getting anymore involved in our business.
