j0nny_l0
2 posts
Feb 18, 2005
12:14 PM
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Hi everyone
i wanted to know how do you import pigeons? where do you find the information? for example magazine, internet, etc
How much does it cost and how long is the waiting time?
Just wanted to know because i wanted to import some rollers, mostly Oriental Rollers.
thank you
j0nny
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Leo
65 posts
Feb 18, 2005
12:36 PM
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I Question WHY would you import ORs when the best money can buy are here in the states ??????LEO
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
397 posts
Feb 18, 2005
12:43 PM
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Yep, very expensive. That is assuming you are talking about from overseas where it can get really expensive. I investigated this before and a friend who does import told me this. First you have the original cost of the birds. Then you have to get a vet certificates for the birds from the place of origin. A suitable shipping container is also required. I believe it is the USDA that will recieve the birds, which if you are in Cen Cal could be San Francisco but at the worst would be down in San Diego. They must be quarantined for 90 days. I was told the quarantine fee is $2 per bird per day. This could have changed. There are some guys in Canada and the N.E. that specialize in brokering such deals. If you are near Merced as I saw on one of your posts, you could check with John Heppner who is not far from there. He is very experienced with exporting and importing pigeons and often brokers these deals too. A friend of mine got three pair from Europe last year and when it was all said and done, the cost of the whole process, minus the original cost of the birds, was over $1,000.
Brian.
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j0nny_l0
3 posts
Feb 18, 2005
1:29 PM
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Thanks for responing everyone. i just wanted to know the cost of importing so i can get a better view of my options. Because Oriental Rollers are kinda hard to find, at least ones that perform well. By the way do anyone know where i can get some nice performing Oriental Rollers in the states?
thanks j0nny
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bluebar
42 posts
Feb 18, 2005
5:08 PM
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Okay, I've imported. Here's just some of what's involved.
First: find a breeder in the country where you want the birds who is WILLING to actaully sell you birds and still go thru the hassle of shipping them to you.
Second: You have to pay for the government and veterinary paperwork on his side.
Third: You have to buy or build shipping crates that conform to international standards for animals. This includes water, food, etc. Remember the airlines charge by volume so a crate an inch smaller may be up to $100 cheaper to ship.
Fourth: You have to make sure that YOU have contacted the USDA and gotten the correct forms and paperwork not only for the export of the animals from their country but the import of them to here. Remember: THEY MUST go into quarantine in the first U.S. landing port. So you have to check with all the incoming airlines to find one that will actually come in to the city near a quarantine station that you want. If you don't and if you're birds are going to Arizona, but land in New York, they must go into quarantine there and remain in quarantine for 30 day - oh, the quarantine cost must be paid in advance and if a bird or birds are found to be infected with anything or in the same room as one found to be infected with something, then they may all be culled and you will receive their bands.
It's important to also note that if the airlines come in after business hours, that the USDA vets will charge you overtime to get them and to drive them to the quarantine station. Also some of the airlines will charge you up to a couple of hundred dollars or more to "disinfect" the airliner after the birds are removed from shipping area. Then you also have to pay a licensed broker to pick the birds up and carry them through customs. It used to be possible for you to meet the plane and do this yourself, but they changed that rule. (I once had birds sit in Amsterdam for almost a week because they said the crate wasn't up to standard - even though it had flown to Amsterdam on their own airline. They told me they couldn't ship the birds back to the breeder in Denmark because "the crate wasn't up to standard". I finally had to have them build me a "standard" crate (another few hundred bucks) and finally got the birds into quarantine here.)
Fifth: Assuming all the birds pass safely through quarantine and all the other hassles, then you have to pay a broker to pick them up from the quarantine station and ship them to you. If they arrive NOW you have the birds in your hot little hands - and with luck you got what you paid for. I've had friends pick out specific birds in some European lofts and have a different bird arrive two months later.
Usually, you do have honest shippers, but even then the birds are sometimes put under so much stress on shipping that they may be infertile or take some time to settle down to breed.
I got some Danish Suabians. World class birds that did well here and I didn't regret the time spent with them. Though there were a FEW moments, where I wondered if it wouldn't be more sensible to just raise commies from the local bridge. :-)
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Alan Bliven
93 posts
Feb 18, 2005
5:41 PM
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America may have the best show Orientals but the flying people have had to import to get good performing Orientals. Breeding for show in the states has almost ruined this flying breed as it has most other performing breeds.
Be very very careful when buying Flying Oriental Rollers in the states. Many have been crossed with the show birds, many are selling the show as flying and many are crossed families which may ruin performance. And worse yet others are crossed with Birminghams.
I have two families of flying Orientals but have non for sale. Dennis Radi and John Nelson have good ones for sale out of imports. And you can't go wrong dealing with these guys. Email me at cichlidlovers@msn.com and I'll send you their email addresses.
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Alan
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
398 posts
Feb 18, 2005
8:44 PM
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Great information Frank. I'll be printing that one out for future reference.
Alan...cichlidlovers??? As in the African fish? I use to have a colony of Frontosas as well as a wide range of the smaller Tanganyikan and Malawian varieties. Fun fish to raise.
Brian.
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j0nny_l0
4 posts
Feb 18, 2005
9:30 PM
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I just want to take the time to thank all of you guys for your time and great information.
thank you
j0nny
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Alan Bliven
94 posts
Feb 18, 2005
10:31 PM
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Brian,
See my web site at cichlidlovers.com
I breed and wholesale African Cichlids from Lakes Malawi and Tanganyika for a living. I have 10,000 gallons of water with over 150 varieties available at all times with 75 or more varieties of Tanganikans.
Been doing it for 25 years.
They are really catching on all over the country.
If you ever need any help or fish, let me know.
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Alan
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
401 posts
Feb 18, 2005
10:42 PM
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Nice site. Years ago I lived in a bachelor apartment and it was wall to wall aquariums..LOL. The landlord loved me...not! Someday I'll have them again. If I do I'll check you out for sure.
Brian.
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spintight
49 posts
Feb 18, 2005
11:14 PM
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there are a lot of good performers in the states now but they are nothing in comparison the to quality of a good birmingham I hear.
here's the club website with all the big flyers in the states in it.
http://www.wod.com/fors/
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Alan Bliven
95 posts
Feb 19, 2005
12:41 AM
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It's comparing apples and oranges. If you compare them to the Birmingham Roller standard of performance of course not but they aren't B. Rollers and shouldn't be held to that standard.
Put the shoe on the other foot and compare the B. Roller to the Oriental standard of performance and the B. Roller can't compare with all the Oriental Roller can do in the sky. Each performance breed is different and shouldn't be held to the standard of another.
Read this article about some common misconceptions concerning the performance of the Oriental.
http://www.wod.com/fors/misconceptions.htm
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Alan
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j0nny_l0
5 posts
Feb 19, 2005
10:37 PM
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hey Alan i emailed you but didn't get a reply yet. just wanted to check if you receive my email yet.
thanks
j0nny
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Alan Bliven
96 posts
Feb 20, 2005
12:09 AM
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No, I didn't get the email or it was misplaced somewhere. Please send again. cichlidlovers@msn.com
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Alan
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j0nny_l0
6 posts
Feb 20, 2005
10:12 PM
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alrite alan, i'm resending now.
j0nny
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