Lift the Wisconsin Poultry Ban at Small Animal Swap/Sales

I`ve been going to swaps for over 30 years. Was very enjoyable an friendly meet many people thru the years that became friends.

Small chicken farms were NOT the problem, so why are we the one being punished.

It was always fun going to the animal swaps with my grandpa and I would love to take my children to them to enjoy

This ban has screwed up everything. The only places that have a problem are the huge meat bird farms. Even if it were to affect back yard flocks, it is so contagious that all the birds would die anyway, before they could be sold.

Really wish this ban was lifted, I am a 4H kid and it makes it really hard to continue expanding my poultry project with not being able to buy at swaps.

Very good points Emma!

This ban needs to be lifted. The commercial poultry industry are the ones that had the contamination problem...NOT back yard flocks. For whatever reason, it is the 'back yard' farmer that is hurt by the commercial industries 'lack' of biosecurity. The swaps are much safer than any fair by all means. At the fairs the birds are caged not only next to each other where they can reach each other through the cages, but also on top of each other where their droppings can and do fall into the other cages. Any swap I have been to (and there have been many) birds are placed by that owners vehicle/table and that's it..no other birds are in reaching distance of the other birds. The fairs may be for the kids in 4h/ffa programs to show their birds, but by NO means does that mean that all the kids raise their own birds..I have seen first hand many times where the birds are NOT raised by the kids, nor do the kids actually take care of the birds at the fairs--most times it's the parents caring for these birds during fair times. Where as at the swaps, this is that persons reputation, income and lively hood. They care for and tend to their animals on a daily basis. They know the ins and outs of their birds. They are healthier than fair birds as well. As a matter of fact, just recently I was at not only 1 but 2 local fairs, where what did I see, but SICK birds being shown and caged next to others. Under no condition should these birds have been allowed to be brought to the fair, let alone shown. To say that the fairs are a better place to allow poultry is utter nonsense. The ban is a completely unnecessary thing that was placed. It has done more harm to ones who depend on it, than I think anyone wants to admit. This ban NEEDS to be lifted ASAP. There is still time this year to lift the ban and allow the 'backyard farmers' a chance to sell their poultry at the swaps.

I fully agree with this petition.

Location: Merrill, WI The avian flu first presented itself within the commercial industry here in Wiscosnin. It is the commercial industry who failed to follow protocol. That said we ask that this ban be lifted so that the local farmers of Wisconsin can get back to doing business. Many of which, depend on local swaps. Moreover, there is no evidence to suggest that swaps pose a much greater risk than local fairs. That said the ban holds no validity. We ask that the ban be lifted! Thank you!

Yes lift the band.

Please lift the ban! This is our livelihood you are governing.

I do not feel there is any reason for the ban on small breeder and feel it was the commercial Raised chickens ways that caused it all. chickens r not meant to be closed in in tight quarters.

If we can have them at the Fair we should be able to have them at a swap meet. End of story.

Lift it up!!

None of the small family owned birds are sick. let people trade birds as needed.

Sparta, Wisconsin

I see the swap meets being a lot safer then the fairs, as stated in the petition.

10 years ago Featured

This ban has certainly effected our Willow Row Exoctics bird sales & the biggest swap we usually attend in Fondu Lac wis this fall has been cancelled!

Altho this does not affect me just now, as I am new to chickens, it might in the future. Go after the commercial chicken people, not us backyard folks.

Please lift the ban so that we can get back to our livelihood. My mother and I started raising poultry after I got into showing them. She worked very hard to get quality stock for me to show and in return had been selling chicks at local swaps to help with the costs of raising these birds for me. This has caused major downfalls for our family as without being able to share these with other 4H, FFA and Boyscout families who show we are not bringing in enough money to even pay for their feed bill. We don't have alot of money and my mom has given up so much to be able to do this for me and this ban has put us to the point we may have to stop all together and I won't be able to show anymore. I love showing the birds at our local fair and was anticipating showing thru APA at one point. I attend all the swaps with my mom and work side by side with her in all that we do with the chickens, ducks and geese. This ban is effecting me just as much as it is her and I'm sure it's causing much hurt to many other kids and families through out the State of Wisconsin.