Federal Licensing

Jolene7136

New member
May 21, 2018
46
2
I have done my due diligence and contact departments all over my State of Washington (and County/City) and it does not appear I need anything other than a business license and registering to pay taxes to be able to sell my chicks legally.

I am however having a harder time figuring out the APHIS laws regarding Hobby Breeders.

If I am reading correctly, if I have less than 4 breeding females, and I am selling face to face, and not shipping after selling over the internet then I am considered a hobby breeder and do not need to register with the Federal Government.

I fit this criteria, but just out of curiosity I see a lot of breeders who ship their birds who do not appear to be on the list of licensed breeders on the federal list. I also see quite a few that appear to buy wholesale, tame them, and then resell who are not on the list.

Is this just common to not register even if they should or is there some loop hole other breeders are using, or am I interpreting it wrong?

My interpretation was that any exotic animals that were being resold, or shipped/transported (other than pets) required you to be licensed through the APHIS, although they do refer again to hobby breeding so I am not sure if I am reading it correctly.

Are there just that many breeders not doing what they should be?

Also, am I missing any other federal licenses I may need to look into?

Any help appreciated. I am feeling a bit disappointed to find so many breeders that appear to not be doing things legally.
 
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SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,643
10,007
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Up until recently, this was all driven by AKC and their efforts to control the quality of AKC register dogs.

With the international efforts at forcing CITES classifications and controls over transporting endangers Parrots. North America and specific to the USA, it has become more interested in enforcing APHIS laws. As both the IRS and States are look for new sources for Tax Income , also think Sales Tax. There will be greater efforts in applying APHIS laws.

Truth be known, Avian Breeding has operated under the radar for years and a bit like the old Wild West Lawlessness.

Again, 'if' CITES is activity pushed by US and State Government, there is going to be lots of individuals that are going to find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Only advice I have is stay small and follow the rules as you understand them. That will place you miles ahead of the large numbers that are skating around the edges. The taxman wants its share and it gets ugly when then come after those individuals. Have very good records of your costs and sales. Keep track of who you sell too and if sales tax is require ensure you follow those rules.
 

Inger

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Mar 20, 2017
3,395
826
Everett, WA
Parrots
Bumble - Pacific (or Celestial) Parrotlet hatched 02/19/17
I’m in Washington and when I was looking for a breeder for my parrotlet, I found that many breeders seem pretty friendly towards one another (in fact I was originally on a list with one breeder, but she sent me to . You might try contacting a local breeder and see if they can share their experience with you. I would probably steer clear of Whidbey Birds though. What kind of babies will you be breeding?


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Jolene7136

New member
May 21, 2018
46
2
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Thank you for the replies. I am registered with the Department of Revenue (I think that is where I pay the sales tax I collect too) and have a business license although I am still trying to weed through the taxes needed for a sole proprietorship. I have never had a head for taxes and we have really had it easy and can just file with Turbotax online easily up until now.

I have recently thought about contacting neighboring breeders in Washington to ask, but most of the ones I see regularly do not appear to be on the APHIS list and they should be. (i.e. Whidbey Birds, FinchFarm) I will need to locate some others around and ask them. I think there are a few Parrot Places around, but I think they get their licensing through the franchising and not at the individual level as far as I can tell.

I currently have 1 breeding pair of Green Cheek Conures and a pair soon to breed of Rosie Bourke Parakeets. I will eventually add Sun Conures and am trying to decide between Parrotlettes, Love Birds, or Galah Cockatoo's. I am still researching and that would cap me at the 4 breeding pairs which appear to be what is allowed before registering. I just don't want the added headache of dealing with more paperwork on that end.

Plus our birds are our pets and we raise them because we love them and they live in our house and hang out with us as we go about our days.

Inger, do you have a breeder nearby in mind that would be good to contact?
 

Inger

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Mar 20, 2017
3,395
826
Everett, WA
Parrots
Bumble - Pacific (or Celestial) Parrotlet hatched 02/19/17
I was originally on a waiting list with Noni’s Precious Parrotlets. She (Joan-Noni is a nickname I think her grandkids call her) was great and sent me to Amy at Sweet Tweets Aviary (she’s since moved to Idaho). Both of them have good Facebook pages if you’re on FB.

Whidbey Birds is a HUGE facility and IMO she is 100% unethical. I spoke to her first and it was red flag after red flag. I’m SO glad I listened to my gut on that one. She lied about having parrotlets, tried to talk me into linnies instead because parrotlets are difficult nippy not great birds, offered unweaned babies after talking to me for 15 minutes, and even offered to sell me a Quaker that had lost a toe for $100. I almost bought the Quaker. She told me they were quiet and perfect apartment birds. My BFF has two of them. I know better. BFF talked me off the ledge LOL cuz I do think Quakers are amazing. Anyway it doesn’t surprise me she’s not on any lists she’s supposed to be on.


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MosaicMadness

New member
Nov 20, 2015
126
Media
3
1
Virginia
Parrots
Jenks-RFM 13 yrs, Mox-BTM 9 mos, Widget-RB2 11mos, Artie-WCpi 17 years, Khalessi-BWpi 4 yrs, Winslow-Meyers 6 yrs
You may want to look into MAP the Model Avicultural Program... I would go this route before registering with the govt..unless you are looking at breeding something like blue throat macaws or queen of Bavaria conures.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
93
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
When I contacted my local Dep of Ag to inquire about legal hoops to jump through I was told that since I am not breeding anything endangered I only need to register with USDA and have their inspectors come through every 6 months. There are certain records I have to keep including names and addresses of everyone I buy from or sell to, and if I try to sell into states that do not allow IRNs I’ll be subject to charges in those states (which is why I require proof of address).


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