Hatching quail or pheasants

[Grizzly95]

I am thinking of getting my kids an incubator, problem is I livein town and don't want/need chickens. So the other idea was to hatch some quail and release them. I know that pen raised birds have less of a chance to survive, but I see quail all over here in town. That and many of my neighbors feed the local wildlife (birds and squirrels).
  We hatched some chickens when I was little and thought it would be a cool thing for my kids to see. I would love to hear any thoughts on this; or if you live in the area and would like the birds released in your area and have any ideas for me. Thanks

[270Shooter]

It would be cool. You could just go out to your hunting area and release them. Hopefully after a few years of doing this you could have a really good spot .

[Grizzly95]

I have kind of lost touch with the bird hunting, I suppose that would make it more fun. I am mostly looking towards the expierence the kids would have. Any of you guys that live in the Spokane area and would like more birds in your area lat me know, I am not looking for any money from anyone for the birds that hatch. I have sent an email to the game dept in regards to doing this and any legal issues.

[yelp]

Griz..found this for ya

WAC 232-12-027 Game farm license provisions. It is unlawful to operate a game farm without a current, valid Washington state game farm license.

     (1) Game farms licensed prior to January 1, 1992, may continue to possess, propagate, sell and transfer wildlife they lawfully possessed on January 1, 1992, under their license issued by the department. Transfers of wildlife other than those species listed under subsection (2) are restricted to licensed game farms authorized by written license to possess said wildlife.

     (2) Game farms licensed on or after January 1, 1992, may purchase, possess, propagate, sell or transfer the following wildlife:

     (a) Game birds - pheasant, of the genus Phasianus; gray partridge of the genus Perdix; chukar of the genus Alectoris; quail of the genus Colinus, Callipepla, and Oreortyx; waterfowl of the family Anatidae.

     (3) Application for a game farm license shall be made on a form provided by the department.

     (4) The director or designee of the director may issue, with conditions or restrictions, a game farm license, if the applicant meets the requirements of subsection (1) or (2) above and complies with the following criteria:

     (a) The applicant is the owner or tenant of or has a possessory interest in the lands, waters, and riparian rights shown in the application.

     (b) The rearing and holding facilities are adequate and structurally sound to prevent the egress of game farm wildlife.

     (c) Operating conditions are clean and humane.

     (d) No hazards to state wildlife exist from the operation.

     (e) The license covers only the immediate premises and areas described on the application where wildlife will be held.

     (5) Holders of a game farm license must make annual reports no later than the 15th of January to the director on forms to be furnished by the department. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160.

     (6) A licensed game farm must be inspected annually. All inspection costs will be paid by the licensee. The inspection must occur during the months of June, July, or August. An inspection form will be provided by the department and must be completed and signed by a licensed veterinarian or an agent authorized by the department. The inspection form must accompany the annual report and be submitted to the director no later than the 15th day of January.

     (7) During June, July, or August, a licensed game farm must conduct annual avian influenza disease testing of ten percent or a maximum of thirty representative game birds on-site. Testing required under this subsection and subsection ( of this section must be performed by a qualified testing agent approved by WDFW. Testing is not required for the year in which all birds on-site were transferred from a game farm that has complied with the testing requirements of this rule within one year of the transfer. Copies of testing records must be kept for one year. The licensee is responsible for all testing costs. Any test results indicating the presence of avian influenza disease must be reported immediately to the Washington state department of agriculture state veterinarian.

     ( If birds being held on the game farm exhibit symptoms of respiratory infection, diarrhea, central nervous system malfunction, or more than twenty-five percent flock mortality, licensed game farms must test for one or more of the following diseases as soon as possible upon the observation of symptoms: Mycoplasm gallisepticum and Mycoplasm synoviae, pullorum, salmonella, histomoniasis, and exotic Newcastle disease. The licensee is responsible for all testing costs.

     (9) A game farm license is not required for captive-bred mink, Mustela vison, and captive-bred silver fox, Vulpes fulva, lawfully acquired from a licensed breeder or fur farm and held for fur farming purposes.

[yelp]

griz some more ....
WAC 232-12-271 Criteria for planting aquatic plants and releasing wildlife. (1) Release by persons other than the director. It is unlawful for persons other than the director to plant aquatic plants or release any species, subspecies, or hybrids of animals which do not already exist in the wild in Washington. If such species, subspecies, or hybrid does already exist in the wild in Washington, it may be released within its established range by persons other than the director, but only after obtaining a permit from the director.

     (a) Application for a permit must be made on a form provided by the department. It must be submitted at least thirty days prior to acquisition of the wildlife or aquatic plants intended for release or planting, and must provide all information indicated.

     (b) Permits will only be issued if the director determines there will be no adverse impact on the wildlife or wildlife habitat of the state.

     (c) Each permit shall require that at least thirty days prior to planting or release of wildlife or aquatic plants they must be made available for inspection by the director. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to show that the wildlife will not pose a disease threat. If the director is not satisfied that the wildlife or aquatic plants do not pose a disease threat, they shall not be released or planted in the state. Director approval for release or planting may be withdrawn for cause.

     (d) Each permit shall require that an applicant intending to release wildlife in the state shall report immediately to the director the outbreak of any disease among the wildlife intended to be released. If the director determines that such outbreak presents a threat to the wildlife of the state, the director may immediately order such action as necessary including quarantine or destruction of stock, sterilization of enclosures and facilities, cessation of activities, and disposal of wildlife in a manner satisfactory to the director.

     (e) Each permit shall require that wildlife to be released shall not be branded, tattooed, tagged, fin clipped or otherwise marked for identification without approval of the director or as required in WAC 232-12-044.

     (f) Legally acquired pheasant of the genus Phasianus; gray partridge of the genus Perdix; chukar of the genus Alectoris; quail of the genus Callipepla and Colinus; and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) may be released without a permit for purposes of dog training, and hunting pursuant to WAC 232-12-044. Game birds of these species released for these purposes must be purchased from facilities that have been inspected by a certified veterinarian within the past twelve months. Rock doves may be released without permit for purposes of bird dog training.

     (2) Release by the director. The director may plant aquatic plants or release animal species, subspecies, or hybrids which have been planted or released previously in Washington if they do not pose a disease threat and if planting or release will not cause adverse impact on the wildlife or wildlife habitat of the state. Before releasing any species, subspecies, or hybrid of animal not already existing in the wild in Washington, the director shall report to the commission on the planned release, stating the basis for determining that the planned release fulfills the criteria set forth herein. The director may release nonnative species, subspecies, or hybrids not previously released in Washington only if the director in his or her sole discretion has determined that:

     (a) There is no reasonable expectation of adverse impact on the wildlife or wildlife habitat of the state and there is an adequate plan for evaluating such impact following the release;

     (b) The commission has classified the species, subspecies, or hybrids to be released pursuant to RCW 77.12.020;

     (c) Suitable habitat is available;

     (d) The nonnative species, subspecies, or hybrids to be released are free of exotic pathogens;

     (e) The release serves the public interest.

     (3) This section does not apply to release of classified or unclassified fish or shellfish by persons who have caught or taken the fish or shellfish, provided the fish or shellfish are released into the water or on the tidelands at the approximate location where taken, except that fishing contest participants may release fish at a contest-designated location in the same body of water from which the fish were taken.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-12-271, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.020, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. 01-10-048 (Order 01-69), § 232-12-271, filed 4/26/01, effective 5/27/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.055, 77.12.040 and 77.16.150. 91-24-015 (Order 521), § 232-12-271, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/23/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.020, 77.12.040 and 77.16.150. 89-12-044 (Order 397), § 232-12-271, filed 6/2/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 82-04-034 (Order 177), § 232-12-271, filed 1/28/82; 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-271, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-675.]

[yelp]

griz last one...
WAC 232-12-044 Use of game birds for training dogs, field trials -- Marking requirements. It is unlawful to possess game birds acquired from a licensed game farmer for the purpose of training dogs, field trials, or hunting unless the birds are marked in the following manner:

     (1) Captive reared waterfowl shall be physically marked in the following manner:

     (a) Removal of the hind toe from the right foot.

     (b) Pinioning of a wing: Provided, That this method shall be the removal of the metacarpal bones of one wing or a portion of the metacarpal bones which renders the bird permanently incapable of flight.

     (c) Banding of one metatarsus with a seamless metal band.

     (d) Tattooing of a readily discernible number or letter or combination thereof on the web of one foot.

     (2) All other game birds shall be physically marked by removal of the first joint of the outside toe on the right foot prior to four weeks of age or marked by a band purchased from the department.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 83-12-055 (Order 206), § 232-12-044, filed 6/1/83; 81-22-002 (Order 174), § 232-12-044, filed 10/22/81; 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-044, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-120.]

[Birdguy]

Griz our fantastic game dept does not allow the release of any game species.... That being said it would be an awesome project for your kids. Quail and pheasants are a little tougher to raise then chicken but chukar are quite easy and fun. I have been raising gamebirds for a few years now and would gladly help out with any questions you might have. I own and operate a licensed game farm (expensive hobby). PM me for more detailed info. Good luck.

[280ackley]

Back in the late 80s and early 90s my grandpa was given pheasant eggs from the Centralia Game farm.  He wasn't the only one they gave them too and the only requirement was that he had to release the birds.  Times have probably changed but the WDFG used to give excess eggs away.

[yelp]

bearmartin...I worked at that gamefarm in highschool...your correct they had a chick and egg program and the requirement was you had to release them by fall, if I remeber right.  That game farm by the way is the one they are looking at closing down...due to the budget issues. 

[280ackley]

I volentered a lot of time there and was also very good friends with the people that ran it.  We probably ran in to each other there.  If it gets closed it will probably ruin the put and take program in SW Washington.

[Old Dog]

Birdguy, I also own and operate a licensed gamebird farm.  I'm Old Dog Gamebirds, and I have manchurian ringnecks, melanistic mutants, and Alaska snow pheasants.  I wintered some chukar for breeding this season, but I can't tell the sexes apart .

 What's the name of your farm, and what birds do you have?

[boneaddict]

Old Dog ....males will have spurs on their legs, females will not.  They will have an oval "scale" but will not have the bony bump.
Grizz, I sell eggs all over the country to folks that are doing just what you are doing.  I'm sure I can get you some if you are doing a project with your kids(for free). I am pretty much going out of business.  Feed is killing me.   If you stick to exotics (Red Golden Pheasant for instance) you don't need to mess with the cost and hassle of the gamefarm license.....It is still not legal to release them though

[blacktail luv]

When i was a youngster we lived in town.  We had a big lot and out in the woodshed dad built me a pen about ten by ten that i had my pet pheasants in.  He even got me a little incubator for the eggs.  It was a cheap one that you use to see in the back of the field and stream magazines and stuff.  Non of my eggs ever hatched but i loved the whole experience, eventually my small flock of pheasants got loose and left, but you would see them quite often.  Anyway it was a great experience, you kids would never forget it.  Once yours hatched, maybe they could accidentally escape into the neighborhood.

[Grizzly95]

My kids never can remember to close a door behind them I don't want to pose any threat to the native birds in the area. I would love to hatch some exotics, but I do live in city limits and have 2 labs that would try to destroy anything between them and something that sparks thier interest.

Boneaddict, I have a friend just out of town that has a variety of chickens (I think they are exotic cause they were never like that on our farm growing up) will exotic pheasants and other birds survive in the same pen or general living area as the chickens? Once again, I don't want to take any chances on spreading disease or causing an adverse reaction. I didn't realize giving my kids a good life lesson would be such a pain.

[boneaddict]

Most of the time they will co-exist fine.  It does depend on the species.