Tattooing waterfowl?

[Caprice_Acres]

I've recently heard that due to the impending muscovy restrictions, that they are requiring all muscovies to be pinioned, have a toe removed, or be tattooed. This is coming from a person in Ohio who is now getting rid of all their ducks.

I've since emailed the FWS about it (again) to see if they recommend tattooing. I've already emailed them for a direct response to my questions about the law, as I

Well, I wouldn't mind tattooing my ducks - might actually be a good way to tell some similar appearing ones apart, or for permanently identifying my geese as male and female - once I figure out how to sex geese.

I'm imagining you simply tattoo the webbing between the toes, but I'm wondering if anyone has done this or has pictures of 'proper' placement. Also, how on earth would one tattoo the TEENY feet of hatchlings? Would you just have to wait and put off their sale a few weeks until they're large enough? I was thinking to just tattoo a single letter on one of their feet at a young age - that seems like it would fulfill their permanent id requirements. That is, if they start regulation... I already tattoo rabbits on a regular basis and goats rather regularly, so doing ducks/geese probably wouldn't be THAT hard.

 

[bock]

I think the ''ducks'' section would be a more appropriate are to post this.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

The Tatooing is done on the body of the bird, I believe. There is a 4th option of using the Id bands, which I will use IF NEED BE. The problem with Muscovies is that they continue to grow well beyond the age of 6 weeks when they are supposed to be banded. So they would have to be banded twice. Which is redundant if using them for Domestic Livestock.

These issues will be addressed at a later time by a revision in the Fed law. It is going to be revised this year.

Check out the link at the bottom of my message to keep up with the current information on the new law.

This Federal law is in effect now. However it is not being inforced at the present time. Except for ferral birds. Your friend with ducks should waite to get rid of their birds. I am waiting to see what the revision will bring. Iding the birds may not even be an issue as they are willing to allow them as Domestic Livestock to come under different rules. We may or may not have to register them.

Again, check out the current info on the Law at the link below.

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

In my tattoo kit, it says you tattoo under the wing. That's just me, though.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

I really don't know where on the body because I am not going to ID mine that way. I read the regulatins in its intire long version and all of the sub chapters and just don't remember, but the link will show her how to get to the thread about the law and within it are links to the federal regulation and its various parts.

But it is not necessary at this time and she may not even get much response until the revision comes through. They now know they will be besieged by thousands of Registrations in each state to breed the Muscovies just for Domestic Livestock purposes and they are going to try to avoid that, I do believe.

So now is the time to waite and not panick. Don't get frustrated because no one is getting back to you with information on permits or registration, etc. Because they are not set up for it yet, they may not need to be. JUST WAIT until the law is revised. Then we will see what we have to do if anything.

If you owned Domestic Livestock Muscovies prior to March 31,2010, you are within the new law as it stands now. There is nothing that you need to do at this time. Waite for the revision before you make any changes in the management of your Muscovies. Again, they are after the ferral Muscovies on public lands and people that release Muscovies on public land when they get to big to be pets anymore, kind of like people that drop dogs off in the country. This portion of the law is being enforced, especially in various parts of the country where they have become a problem.

This Law reference is in the chicken section not the Duck section. Because that is the only place on this forum that has a Law and Ordinance section I guess.

Hang tight, the revision should be coming through later this year.
Actually I need to subscribe to that thread.

 

[Caprice_Acres]

Ok... "Wait and see" is what I was doing, until I heard of that friend in Ohio selling out. I wonder why tattooing is normally done in the wing? Seems to me like it would work fine in the foot webbing, and would then be apparent at a glance. Maybe its the rather extensive veining I notice whenever I pick up my ducks/geese.