USPS Shipping

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TheWhiteFinchAviary
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USPS Shipping

Post by TheWhiteFinchAviary » Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:39 pm

Without getting into a debate or bringing up old topics, I don't think the USPS staff should be blamed for birds who arrived ill, water sources not being secured, not including enough food, or the birds being shipped in freezing temperatures. Those are all shipper responsibilities.

USPS has stated publicly that they use temp controlled environments and specially trained staff for live bird shipmemts, but it would be silly to think that they have perfect conditions 100% of the time.

USPS Express also utilizes airlines for their shipments, so essentially you're paying $100 extra just so your birds can go through the exact same experience as they would with any major airline. Airlines also pose the same risks as using USPS Express.

I think in both cases there are unseen variables, but if you are versed in both processes things will go smoothly.
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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by debbie276 » Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:51 pm

As far as I know it is still against regulations to ship USPS :?
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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by TheWhiteFinchAviary » Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:23 pm

You are correct Debbie! :)

They're allegedly "phasing out the old regulations" to enable domesticated exotics born in the US to use USPS Express. So many post offices will openly ship Finches/etc. But it's been years and still no changes have been made. Last I heard about it was from the bird-savy woman in their Seattle customer service office, and she seemed optimistic.

It's also against USPS regulations to include water in their shipments. I imagine this is the hold up because Finches need a water source. The cardboard boxes need to be set up specially so there are no spills - it's not very difficult.
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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by Sally » Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:55 pm

debbie276 wrote: As far as I know it is still against regulations to ship USPS :?
Yes, I believe that is so. The new Postal regulations allow for the shipment of some live adult birds, but I think it is limited to larger species, not finches. The biggest problem with shipping USPS is the water restriction. Finches are not going to last 48 hours without water, and including water also violates the rules. USPS can state that they use specially-trained personnel for handling live birds, but once they are out of the hands of those specialists, what then? My one shipment that arrived USPS was a first for my post office, they had never received a shipment of live birds before. The birds arrived after closing, and bless them, they called me and had me come to the back door to get them after hours, as they weren't sure they should leave them in the PO overnight. They definitely weren't trained. And the difference in price between airlines and USPS, disregarding the legality of it, is that the birds are in the stressful environment of shipping for only hours, not days.
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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by cindy » Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:40 pm

Sally, in all the times I have shipped and received shipments the water was done up in a way it could not spill. The cup had special lip on the cup and a natural sponge was inserted in the cup, water covered the sponge. Most my shipments were a total of 8 hours, no more than that. The birds would be brought to the POffice in time for the last truck of the day arriving at their destination first thing in the morning.

I have not done and USPS shipping in a while but many in this area do, shipping up north and through out the country. Many of the post offices have relaxed the rules and have allowed pet birds to be shipped.

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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by debbie276 » Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:37 pm

There should be no water in the crates. I also think it says no food but I'm not positive of that. Right or wrong, followed or not, these are the postal regulations.

found it:
526.41 General
Disease-free adult fowl may be mailed domestically when shipped under applicable law in accordance with DMM 601.1.7. Adult chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, quail, ducks, geese, and swans are mailable when properly packaged. Adult fowl must be packaged without food or water because liquids, moisture, and loose foodstuffs can cause damage to the shipping container, other mail, and Postal Service equipment during transport.
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Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
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http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by cindy » Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:14 pm

Debbie, they may say this but for years and even now so many breeders are shipping with water containers that come with the post office approved boxes (they accept the boxes)... it even has the perches in it also. It is done all the time. One broker is shipping out daily with food, water, heat packs in these boxes.

Perhaps the post office needs to update the guidelines or check each box better.

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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by debbie276 » Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:35 pm

Cindy, I am well aware of what some post Offices and breeders are doing. I'm just posting the USPS official regulation...some follow the regs some don't, as you will always find.
Just because someone does what they want and get away with it doesn't mean it's right.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
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SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by cindy » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:13 pm

I am wondering if the post office is aware this is being done and is looking the other way, accepted it is done but just never bothered updating the rules.

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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by debbie276 » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:47 pm

I'm pretty sure Bob posted a while back that the USPS was reviewing their bird shipping regulations but I don't recall a follow-up posts. I'm sure they are not just ignoring things if they a looking into it. The hard part is getting every postal worker to know which birds can and can not be shipped.
There have been times when birds have been refused at one end or the other so just because they left one end doesn't mean they'll get to the other
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by cindy » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:10 pm

From what I recall it was being done, you have to call your post office to see if they will accept the birds for shipping, they have relaxed their rules. I know of certain breeders/brokers shipping out of Tampa on a regular basis.

Here is the topic by Sally...New Postal Rules Proposed

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... hilit=USPS

quote from Bob

"OK, as promised, I looked into this as I went back to work today. Yes the post office made some revisions to the DMM on Sept. 3 allowing other adult birds besides fowl and waterfowl to be knowingly and legally shipped through the US mail via Priority Express Mail Service.
HOWEVER, if you read carefully, it states that the weight of each INDIVIDUAL bird must exceed 6 ounces. Don't know of any finches or canaries that fall into this category. I know that some post offices will ignore the rules (which are in place for the health and well being of the birds) and continue to accept any kind of bird for shipment. If you've seen some of the things that I have, you probably wouldn't ship either. And don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger. Bob


9.3.4 Adult Birds
[9-3-13] Disease-free adult birds, weighing no more than 25 pounds, may be mailed domestically. Mailers must comply with all applicable governmental laws and regulations, including the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and any state, municipal or local ordinances. Mailings must also be compliant with the guidelines provided in USPS Publication 14, Prohibitions and Restrictions on Mailing Animals, Plants, and Related Matter, Chapter 5. In addition, each container or package must be marked as required by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under 50 CFR 14.

Adult birds are mailable as follows:

a. The mailer must send adult birds by Priority Mail Express in approved, secure containers.

b. The number of birds per parcel must follow the container manufacturer limits and each bird must weigh more than 6 ounces.

c. A mailing container must be used that is constructed by a USPS-approved manufacturer.

d. Indemnity may be paid only for articles that are lost, damaged, or missing contents, and not for death of the birds in transit if there is no visible damage to the mailing container.

e. Postage refunds may not be available if the Priority Mail Express shipment was delivered or delivery was attempted within three days of the date of mailing as shown in the “Date In” box on Label 11.



Please note:
The Postal Service's Traffic Control System is used to advise
destination and transfer offices when any significant quantities of animals
are moving through the mail. Postal field personnel should ensure that the duration
of ground transportation (via trucks) is limited to a four-hour time period.
Any mailpiece identified as containing live birds must be handled
with care and sensitivity by postal employees."

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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by debbie276 » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:26 pm

So it seems it still is not allowed and they are well aware of the regulation and chose not to change too much of it.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by Sally » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:51 pm

According to a website I found, adult Gouldians will weigh between 15 and 30 grams, which is .5 to 1 ounce. I don't know of any finches that would weigh more than 6 ounces. It still comes down to the fact that some post offices follow the rules and some don't. I know a breeder on the West Coast who has shipped only USPS for years without problem. Last year, he showed up at the same post office he has always used and was turned down, told that it is illegal to ship finches. He now ships with the airlines.

And even shipping airlines, there are rules that must be followed. When I ship, I hot-glue the water container to the bottom of the shipping box, and I use those water containers that you referred to Cindy, the ones with a lip and a sponge inside. I put loose seed on the bottom of the box, include spray millet, and a horizontal slice of cucumber for additional moisture. Most airlines will require that the container must have at least one perch for the birds, and the shape of the container must be such that other boxes cannot be stacked right up next to it, blocking all ventilation.
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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by TheWhiteFinchAviary » Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:59 pm

I've spoken with USPS consumer affairs MANY times about shipping Finches, spoken with local post offices, and I've also spoken with post offices across the nation.

The truth of the matter is no, Finches are not allowed to be shipped via USPS (yet). None of the birds shipped by USPS are allowed to have food and water during transit as Debbie mentioned, so because of this any animal that may need food or water during transit i.e. Finches are not allowed. They simply have not figured out a way to include water in cardboard boxes without the box being ruined and the birds escaping.

Of course, there are ways around this to secure water safely. You can take a 7oz or 14oz drinker, put a sponge in the "foot" of the drinker to prevent spillage, then zip tie it to the side of the box. I would also suggest putting tape underneath to make sure the water will not damage the box. You can insure the shipment for $500 which only costs a few dollars and will also help to make certain that they don't get "lost" or stolen.

The other truth of the matter is that many post offices and consumer affairs employees will allow Finches to be shipped via USPS Express. They know the regs, but they also know that those regulations are being done away with. They've been trying to find a way to accept more domesticated exotic birds for some time. They want the profit and the expanded customer base like any other business would.

Will they allow Finches and other small exotics into the regulations soon? Probably not, unless they can find a way to safely ship them with food and water. Needless to say breeders have been figuring it out themselves for decades, they should take their advice.
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Re: the Finch Farm Oregon

Post by cindy » Sun Apr 06, 2014 1:38 pm

Sally wrote: According to a website I found, adult Gouldians will weigh between 15 and 30 grams, which is .5 to 1 ounce. I don't know of any finches that would weigh more than 6 ounces. It still comes down to the fact that some post offices follow the rules and some don't. I know a breeder on the West Coast who has shipped only USPS for years without problem. Last year, he showed up at the same post office he has always used and was turned down, told that it is illegal to ship finches. He now ships with the airlines.

And even shipping airlines, there are rules that must be followed. When I ship, I hot-glue the water container to the bottom of the shipping box, and I use those water containers that you referred to Cindy, the ones with a lip and a sponge inside. I put loose seed on the bottom of the box, include spray millet, and a horizontal slice of cucumber for additional moisture. Most airlines will require that the container must have at least one perch for the birds, and the shape of the container must be such that other boxes cannot be stacked right up next to it, blocking all ventilation.
Sally, the post office has relaxed some of their rules and many people now ship out of post offices in my area which means it goes through the main hub in Tampa (my understanding). There is one bird(broker) that routinely ships out of Tampa via USPS to places all over the country. He is shipping often multiple birds at one time.

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