Seagulls?

[Big Dreamer]

Anyone have seagulls? Is it even legal? I think they are beautiful even though i live in florida and see them almost everyday. i think it would be cool to see if any one had them and they'r setups!

 

[punk-a-doodle]

I believe you need a federal permit. I am also interested in trying out a captive gull or two someday. I hear when kept on a healthy, natural diet, their poop isn't as nasty as that of most scavenging street gulls. I also hear preparing a proper diet for them is one of the hardest parts of keeping one. They are also capable of giving you a right good chomp.

 

[millebantam]

Well, out here, in coastal New England, where there are skyrats by the billions, they seem to do pretty well on a steady diet of garbage from the landfills. I guess if you live inland and don't see them very often, they may have some apeal to people, but those of us that live amongst the "dump chickens" get a little smile on our faces if we see one splattered on the road while driving.

 

[Big Dreamer]

Quote:
Oh god!!! LOL!!

 

[J3172]

Well if your serious about getting Gulls they are out there. I believe they were a type of Australian Gull, and they were big$. But they were on softbillsforsale.com awhile ago. And being from Aust. no permit needed.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Ah, good point. Non-native gulls need no permit. But, be careful about the softbillsforsale site. A ton of scammers seem to hang around there. I received seven replies for a wanted ad I posted for fertile dove/pigeon or starling eggs. Each one was an obvious scam.

 

[Speceider]

Any native Gull would require a Fed and State permit that is very hard to get. You would have to submit a proposal for WHY you want them (research, eductaion). Your facilities would problby be inspected to assure they are adequate. Gulls are not easy or cheap to keep. You need a large flight, and they need a varied diet of fish and crustaceans. Non-native gulls can be purchased, but their care requirements are similar. It's a HUGE commitment.

Clint

 

[DuranAndy]

Seagulls are much more common in Europe than the United States. You could import them if you wanted them badly enough.

Here are some pictures of a European facility. Neither the birds or the pictures belong to me.


http://www.zoochat.com/attachments/1210/1992d1300111497-sea-gulls-6th-feb-pics-109.jpg
http://www.zoochat.com/attachments/1210/1993d1300111547-sea-gulls-6th-feb-pics-112.jpg

 

[Connorrm]

Quote:
Starling eggs? Here in NY it's a crime to possess one. They are so destructive here. If you do manage to capture one DEC wants you to "dispatch" it.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Because they are invasive, in most states they are legal to keep without a permit, but illegal to release them (same with feral pidges). But, the non native kinds (well, non native, non invasive) are, well, expensive, but also legal.

. But I don't doubt some states have kill on sight orders for them.