transporting my flock across country

[Joellen71]

Hi everyone,

I've got a flock of around 50 chickens that I was planning to cut down to around 10 just to make moving them across country more manageable. I found out that the state I am moving to wants a health certificate and testing for avian flu and typhoid. I spoke to the vet and they said for 10 chickens, it would cost around 1800 for just the avian flu test. That doesn't include the typhoid test or anything else they would have to do. This seems absolutely outrageaous! Does anyone actually do this for a small backyard flock? Or do people just go without it and hope they don't get stopped?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I think I would find homes or butcher all my birds and start over, unless you have some valuable stock.

 

[Joellen71]

I think I would find homes or butcher all my birds and start over, unless you have some valuable stock.

I'm rehoming as many as I can, but the ones I want to keep are pets...it would hurt me a lot to give them up. I just think it's ridiculous that you can bring your cats, dog, ferrets, etc across state lines, but because they are chickens, I have to pay thousands of dollars!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's probably because of all the birds destroyed due to the bird flu over the last few years, lots were killed or culled and the government doesn't want to risk spreading it. Poultry is big business.

 

[blackdog043]

I would just take them with you and not worry about it. How long is the ride and where are you moving to that requires this? Who's going to stop you, along the way?

 

[Joellen71]

I'm starting to think it might make more sense to get them npip certified

 

[R2elk]

I'm rehoming as many as I can, but the ones I want to keep are pets...it would hurt me a lot to give them up. I just think it's ridiculous that you can bring your cats, dog, ferrets, etc across state lines, but because they are chickens, I have to pay thousands of dollars!

If you check the various state laws, you will find that every state has import laws regarding all animals whether they be considered pets, poultry or livestock. There are no exemptions for pets. Just because people are ignorant of the laws does not mean that those laws don't exist.

Check with your State Veterinarian and you may find that the vet you talked to is probably exaggerating the cost of the tests because he doesn't want to deal with it. Our State Veterinarian offered free Avian Flu testing when it was a big issue here.

 

[Joellen71]

I would just take them with you and not worry about it. How long is the ride and where are you moving to that requires this? Who's going to stop you, along the way?

It's a 25 hour drive from AZ to AL. I don't know who would stop me...would the police? I just don't want to risk having them confinscated

 

[Joellen71]

If you check the various state laws, you will find that every state has import laws regarding all animals whether they be considered pets, poultry or livestock. There are no exemptions for pets. Just because people are ignorant of the laws does not mean that those laws don't exist.

Check with your State Veterinarian and you may find that the vet you talked to is probably exaggerating the cost of the tests because he doesn't want to deal with it. Our State Veterinarian offered free Avian Flu testing when it was a big issue here.

True, even dogs and cats have to have a vet certification, but it is only to show they are vaccinated for rabies, which you have to do anyway.
Unfortunately, there are very few vets here in my city that deal with chickens, so I'm feeling that they are free to charge whatever they want.

 

[R2elk]

It's a 25 hour drive from AZ to AL. I don't know who would stop me...would the police? I just don't want to risk having them confinscated

AZ stops and does checks on every vehicle entering the state.