The Migratory/Ornamental Waterfowl INFO Thread

[kangababy]

That is just crazy about Georgia!
Last time I checked if GA is anything like AL we have the possibility of having that kind of waterfowl here but they are few and far between! We have Mallards and Canada Geese and a few others fly by from time to time!
It is ridiculous to have that law.. It reminds me of an old law on the books in AL that is beyond outdated! It has nothing to do with waterfowl but.. in AL if 4 or more women are living in a house and they are not related then it is considered a brothel. and becuase of this law Auburn has not allowed sorority houses. Stupid and outdated!

I would be writing everyone I know about getting the laws changed in GA or I would have to move. Yeah I know that wouldn't be so easy but geez just crazy! Best of luck to you!

On another note, what does anyone know about getting NPIP approved? I hope with my new set up and several of my birds at breeding age next year I have plenty to sale and I need ot get everything started for that.. Federal permit and NPIP are the two that I know of.. am I missing anything?

 

[SamG347]

Wow that law sounds completely ridiculous! And talk about out of the blue!!

BBB I think it is time for you to move up here to PA...Just got my Split to silver White woodie hen today...she is looking great!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

I hear yall, might head 30 miles south and be in Florida, you can have about anything you want there.
The DNR finally responded today to my e-mail about this. They said they knew for sure wood ducks were only kept by permit in GA, BUT, they issued no such permit, so long way around just saying they are banned for captivity. They went on to say, they thought no other species was involved in this law, which would be great, BUT I saw the state list, had them all on it. So I requested they double check, as I was currently doing all I could to be legal first, and didnt want to spend thousands on birds to be fined and have the confiscated by the very people that told me "They thought no other species was involved in this law" That would be a kicker!

As for the NPIP, it's easy, go to the website and e-mail your state office, they will send out a tester in your area, do the blood work, very cheap in most states, usually within 2-4 weeks you'll have your permit.
No worries on the test, been over 25 years my guy said since a possitive was found here, it's mainly just precautionary. But all but 2 states require you have a minimum of pullorum/typhoid clean testing before you can legally ship into their states. About 50% of the states now require you have a special state issued import permit to ship into them, some also require MG and or AI testing too. and some also require vet health cert. too. Gets complicated. Once you get certified, ask your local agent to mail you a copy of all the state requirements.

Here's the link to the NPIP site

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/poultry/

 

[destinduck]

hope you get it worked out . If your fish and game is like ours I dont see you ever having a problem. im like you I try to follow the laws of course. but like you said most officers and officials dont know about the laws ironic huh Personally I wouldnt sweat it at all Im sure there are exceptions such as somebody complaining about noise but if you are nice and pens are clean birds fed and watered the chance of problem is like a snowball in hades I HAVE found the more you ask about stuff like this to goverment and state the more you get probed and checked thats for dang sure

 

[KansasKid]

Quote:
I wonder, would there be a way to have a local vet do the testing and just send the results in? Or does it have to be there guy to make sure everything is done properly to the very last detail?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
I wonder, would there be a way to have a local vet do the testing and just send the results in? Or does it have to be there guy to make sure everything is done properly to the very last detail?

Nope, It has to be done by a certified agent of the USDA NPIP Service. You can have a vet do it, but it is not considered as a valid test for NPIP certification.
a small handful of states will except this for shipment, but very few, most all require VS form 9-3 from the NPIP

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
yea,
I hear ya there, does seem like the more you ask, the more confussed they get, and no 2 will tell you the same thing the last did.
That's why I am trying to look up all the wildlife codes myself.
Have found ones saying all wild birds species are illegal to own in Georgia.
Ones saying certian permits are available for person keeping, selling illegal
ones saying any game birds species is not covered under the law
next one says all game bird species are illegal to own except bob white quial, but by permit only with them

Funny, one law says one thing, 2 laws down, it discredits the previous law, it's no blame wonder they cant all tell you yes or no, they dont know themselves!

The lady that replied today did say wood ducks were illegal in Georgia, but from what she saw, all others "she thought" were fine.
That, "I think" doesnt give me much comfort, LOL

But when I had all these things, NONE of the wardens ever said a word about being state protected, county, state and federal always came, some times all together.
They mainly just liked looking at such a collection.
Will keep everyone posted. The lady who brought this up says there are 4 more states like this with waterfowl, but didnt say which ones, will pass it on if I find out.

With my history, and all the members of the Georgia Game Bird Breeders Association here keeping these, I sure hope my response I got today was correct. I can handle no wood ducks, barely, but just forgein species... that would make me HOTTTT.....

Will let yall know what I continue to find out

 

[Chickndaddy]

I am not currently in a position to keep poultry/fowl of any kind as I am in an apartment but I have absolutely fallen in love with the Rosybill and was wondering if anyone had any first hand experience with the breed or knew of any breeders.

Also, is their a reason that most breeders keep their collections on man-made ponds? It seems to me that if it were feasible that runs extending into a lake or something similar would keep the water very clean and allow some of the more expensive ducks that require such pristine water conditions to be kept more easily.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
Rosey are very nice birds. They are very easy to keep and breed. A lot of the breeders I have mentioned earlier do have them, Pretty sure the Bouige's do still.

They are a diver, so for basic care, just refer to that section. Being a pochard, they arent real picky on water quality like a lot of the others are though, so no big concerns there, just a little cat fish food suplemented in with the base diet and you're good to go. Also they are ground nesters like all pochards, and lay 6-12 eggs per clutch, and will usually double clutch in a season for you if you pull the first ones. Mine always layed their second year. Never had a first year lay, and the 3 year on was their best production time.

As for the open ponds, many Great Lakes area breeders I know all pinion their stock and do that with no fences at all.

A lot of others dont, because, 1) their either dont have natural ponds on the property
2) I like full winged flying birds, impossible for that
even if you fenced part of the water area, they'll dive and go under the fence and be gone, even if it were shallow, and fenced to the bottom, over time it would be prone to rusting away and you wouldnt know til they were gone.
3) another reason is predation, pinioned birds on open water are way more likely to get caught if sleeping on or near the bank, also birds of prey can easily pick them off the water.

Those are just a few reasons, I never did it. But yes, a lot of people do, and it is easier to keep good water that way.
Problem is, those that require it, are all expensive, and the risk involved to me out weigh the benifits

 

[kangababy]

Quote:
Thanks for the information! I talked to another breeder here by me and he has everything I need and who to contact! Of course he suggested waiting till we got our Turkey problem fixed! Some of them bless there hearts look like their heads are going to explode! We have them on antibotics but it doesn't seem to be helping. They are far away from my waterfowl though so I dont worry about them.

next question: What would be the difference between an avairy like I have (for wood ducks, teals, NA american birds) and once for Sea Ducks! I see in my future.. next year another avairy for things like Eiders and Herlequins.
Suggestions are places to research?