Kitty Hawk Points of Origin: MEM, BNA, JAX, MCO, SFO, SAN, PHX, LAS, ELP, AUS, CMH, CLE, CLT, PIT, PHL, SDF, SEA, PDX, DEN, OMA, MCI, BUF, BDL, BOS, FWA, MKE, STL, RIC, ORF, and BWI                                                       

Kitty Hawk Destinations: SAN, DEN, BWI, LAX, ELP, SJU, MCO,PDX, PHL, CLT, SFO, IAH, BOS, ORD, DTW, PIT, MKE, CLE, SDF, CVG, LEX, ORD, SLC, LAS, BUF and GRR

Here at the Quail Ranch we are looking at routing our chicks shipments to the Mead, Oklahoma Post Office, as their mail goes directly to the Dallas Airport.  This would give a much greater service area for our clients wishing to order chicks. Our ranch is located North about an hour trip to the Mead, OK. Post Office, at this point in our options for shipping day olds, it seems we have no choice but to make this 2 hour round trip if we are to continue to ship chicks. We certainly are looking for a better solution, but this seems to be our best option for now.

Shipments of live animals has been very difficult for portions of the U.S. over the past several years as the other commercial airlines that do carry lives as mail are reducing flights, using smaller planes that have less cargo carrying capacity and have instituted restrictions that limit their ability to carry live animals.

We will keep on top of this shipping issue with updates in our “Quail Ranch Report” newsletter and here on our web site. Thanks again to all our clients for your patience and understanding.

NAGA/BSA Warning 

In December we received a letter from the North American Gamebird Assoc. (NAGA), stating facts about a recent letter manufactured by the (HSUS) Humane Society of the United States urging a ban on shipments of poultry through the mail and they (HSUS) sent this to the Postmaster General of the United States.

The unfounded letter that the HSUS sent to the Postmaster General is of great concern to all hatcheries, producers, and growers of game birds. This information is also very important for purchasers and receivers of game birds.

The HSUS cite their opinion of inhumane treatment of chicks that are shipped and worse (for us) their concern of the spreading of Avian Influenza throughout the country by this mode of transportation. HSUS is very serious about seeing this to a successful completion and are using scare tactics and unfounded, incorrect information to bring this about.

You may think that this problem is for producers only, not true. What affects us, affects you the consumer, also hunting clubs or even individual hobbyists. Anyone that receives US Postal shipped or even Private Trucked shipments of game birds of any age will be impacted by what is happening! We are all in jeopardy.

We must all fight this fight, by writing letters ourselves to our Senators and   Congressmen, Representatives, and through funding and strong membership.

HSUS has 9 million members to convince the US Postal Service and state and federal health officials that their concerns bear action.

This is why we joined BSA, Bird Shippers of America. BSA is a non-profit organization that represents ALL poultry shippers and consumers, and is the only organized entity currently working on these serious issues. Bird Shippers of America, through paid Washington D.C. lobbyists, US Senators and Federal/State Veterinarians across the country, is currently fighting organizations like HSUS and others that oppose the right to ship day old poultry via the mail, and interstate private trucking of poultry of all ages.

BSA needs all our support; they need members and funding to continue this fight. BSA simply cannot continue to do the necessary job that will ensure success without further membership and funding. You can read more on the outstanding efforts of BSA that has helped the game bird industry as well as the domestic poultry industry on their web site, www.birdshippers.org

Please consider the fact that BSA and NAGA are organizations fighting for all our rights constantly, member and non-member alike. Will you consider joining today?