Moving to Hawaii, help!

[SilverSage]

Hi there,
I will be picking up my new birds on Columbus day, a pair of Maximillian's Pionus and one Green Cheek Conure. In a few months, we are moving to Hawaii, so I am working on all the paperwork and planning to get them there without a hitch. I know I need 2 permits per container, one plant and one animal, and health certificates from a vet written in Blue ink and with specific wording, and a 7 day mosquito quarantine right before departure, and mosquito proof crates, but there does not seem to be a central location for information on this, and I am afraid I will miss something - anybody done this before? Please help me out!

 

[Birdman666]

I thought Hawaii required a 30 day quarantine when you get there... but I was wrong. It used to be the case. Not anymore. It is complicated. Call them, talk to a live human being, and be sure...

How to import parrots and other birds into Hawaii

 

[Mayden]

I imagine your vet will be well versed in what to write regarding the health certs and stuff.

By containers what do you mean? The huuuuge furniture type ones?

I'm sure if you look online you'll be able to find 'mosquito proof crates'. I'd imagine they're crates with some form of netting? Good luck with the move!

 

[Birdman666]

The best way to do the mesquito netting thing is to Cover the center of the inside of the crate with a cloth, leaving enough room for air holes, then cover the outside of the thing with mesquito netting, then cover the whole thing again with mesquito netting and zip ties... and hand carry it to the pet check in counter and instruct them on the urgency of not damaging the netting. If they don't know, they won't care...

(At least if they know, there is a chance they will care.)

 

[Agapornis]

Silversage, I'm so excited for you! Hubby and I are retiring in a couple of years and want to move to the Big Island. The only concern I had was about my birds. Will they let you bring the bird's container onto the plane with you? Please keep us all posted with how your move goes, especially with your precious cargo! So which island are you moving to???

 

[SilverSage]

Thanks for all the answers so far! There is no quarantine once we get there, but if we mess anything up the straight up send the birds back - no exceptions. They do quarantine dogs and cats once they arrive, but that is for Rabies, this is for West Nile. Though we are also doing the whole Rabies song and dance with our puppy, having a vet on our side really helps, but it seems that even on an army post, the vets don't send birds over often. They are ON TOP of our situation with the dog, but with the birds they said we are on our own. I had to call the emergency vet clinic nearby and beg them to make an exception to policy, since everyone else said they can't quarantine because they are not open overnight...?

Agapornis, what kind of birds do you have? There are lists you need to check out, such as this list, conditionally approved species. If they are not on this list, you probably can't bring them http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/files/2012/12/AR-71C1.pdf Check out this list of lists to see restricted and prohibited species, and we will both do our best to get our birds there! I have learned that you need both plant and animal permits, no kidding, and applying for the import permit costs $20.

As far as mosquito proof, I have to get an airline approved crate and make it mosquito proof. If it is broken at all, they send the birds back. My plan is to test several ways of keeping my birds from chewing on the mosquito netting, and then double or triple net, and put a note on the container saying something to the effect of "please be careful, if the netting is broken Hawaii will send my babies back without me " I am thinking of screwing wire mesh to the insides of the crates to keep beaks in, but I am afraid of the consequences if they tear it and have sharp wires in the crate for that long trip!

Oh, and we are moving to Schofield Barracks on Oahu. Delta allows birds on the plane as long as the carrier fits under the seat in front of you EXCEPT to Hawaii, probably because of Hawaii's strict regulations. However, my friend who took her dogs told me that if you travel on the same flight the pet crates are considered checked bags. I have yet to verify this.

I am very excited! Thanks again guys, and seriously, ANYTHING is appreciated, I don't want my birds sent back!

 

[Agapornis]

Whew, green cheek conures are accepted! Thanks for the link, and Birdman666, thanks for that link! It's very informative, I'm reading it right now and will bookmark it for the future. Looks like we will have lots of hoops to jump thru, but our babies are worth it!

Good luck with everything Silversage! I look forward to hearing about your relocation adventures!

 

[SilverSage]

It is a stressful list to look through! I kept trying to get them to tell me the conditions of conditionally accepted species, and the lady who answered the phone kept telling me to apply for a permit, but at the time we had not settled on a species yet. Finally I had to get forceful with her, which I HATE doing, and she said that anything on that list is fine and you just have to pay for the permit. It can take up to a month to get it though, and it is good for a year so we are starting early!

 

[crimson]

you could contact customs at the airport and get the required documents there....sort of straight from the horses mouth.

Also Weco & Monica are excellent informants when it comes to this sort of thing

gosh I wish I were moving there....I need a holiday, lol

 

[weco]

Thanks Crimson.....but Customs is federal & the HI dept of Ag is state, so, wouldn't be right place.....

This was how it went for someone 5 years ago…..what kind of a time frame are you working under?



First, you need to contact from the Plant Quarantine Branch. Call (808) 832-0566 this number is current as of 9-27-2013. And fill out a form and send them $5.00 in return they send you a permit to transport your bird to Hawaii which you need in your hands when you arrive there.

Second, you need to contact the HDOAIC, about a Poultry and Bird Import Permit from the Livestock Disease Control Branch. This permit must be affixed to shipping crate or crates which are issued only to accredited veterinarians. Call (808) 837-8092 this number is current as of 9-27-2013, 7 days a week, 8:00AM through 4:30PM Hawaii Standard Time or email request to [email protected].

3. Health Certificate. Issued within 10 days of entry. Must include:
a) Description of birds (this health certificate is from your veterinarian and must accompany each bird-One for each bird - but I believe it is provided directly to the vet from the HDOA)

b) Leg band or microchip numbers (except budgies, canaries,
cockatiels, doves, finches, lovebirds)

c) Statement birds are free of external parasites and symptoms of
transmissible diseases or evidence of recent exposure to
parasites or diseases (this statement is from your veterinarian and must accompany each bird-One for each bird)

d) Statement birds have not been vaccinated with a vaccine
containing a live agent during the 60 day period before
shipment (this statement is from your veterinarian and must accompany each bird-One for each bird)

4. 7-Day Isolation: Birds must be isolated in a mosquito-free/
mosquito-proof enclosure under the supervision of the veterinarian
issuing the health certificate. The isolation must be for a minimum of
7 days (168 hrs), and birds must enter the State within 36 hrs of
completion of the isolation. (except budgies) (this isolation period is to be conducted immediately prior to your departure and go to the airport from the vet’s)

The birds shall be released and shipped in a mosquito-proof container. (although the person I got this information from mentioned the mosquito-proof procedures, they were never asked about them, though the shipped their birds in mosquito-proof carriers, but they said you might want to check & be sure…..he said if whomever you’ve been talking to are not so friendly, just ask for the appropriate regulations and where you can obtain or download the forms)

ENTRY INTO THE STATE WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY THROUGH THE HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.



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Here is some more info that might help How to import parrots and other birds into Hawaii

Have you checked with base housing office to be sure birds are allowed? If nothing else, be sure that your birds DO NOT chew on any walls, mouldings or other Army woodworking…..your husband will get into big do-do if that happens…..

Here is some more info for you:

The vet will have to take care of the bird/poultry import permits. The owner usually takes care of the plant import permit.

It is up the vet to create the mosquito proof environment. It could be screened windows in their office, or they might use netting. The thing is that THEY are certifying the mosquito proof environment, so whatever they use is good enough.

And you are right, you put the birds into the kennels just before you leave the vets office on the way to the airport.

KonaKat was very lucky, or perhaps imported the birds before they were serious about the netting. The day before we left the head vet at the AG dept called us at home and reiterated that the birds WOULD be turned away if the netting was not intact. The first thing they did upon arrival was inspect the netting and fill out a form stating it was adequate. The airline also did their own inspection of the netting as well.

From that, it appears that your vet here, will be the last person to have their cage/cages open before they get to Hawaii…..

Unless you have a lot of time to make sure all this gets worked out, why not get your new birds in Hawaii?

Good luck.....if I find any other info that might help, I'll post it.....

 

[weco]

I may be wrong, but this sounds like your first accompanied tour outside of CONUS and because it's Hawaii, off base housing is not cheap.....I think you would be wise to call the base housing office and ask for information on off base housing pricing.....there may be housing info on the bases's website, if not, the housing office personnel should be able to provide you with whatever info you need or steer you where to get it.....

Good luck.....

 

[SilverSage]

Thanks! That is pretty much what I had found, except I didn't know the vet would handle the poultry permit, and the price is now $20 per container for the permit. The time frame we are working with is that we plan to leave in March 2014, but it could be later, my husband is trying to go to Mortar School before we leave. We may live on Post, but do not plan to. We have checked and we are allowed to own birds, and a friend who lives there is sending us a copy of her lease.

You make a good point about waiting, but we have thought that through. We checked on the Pionus, and they are legal but not currently available in Hawaii. With their easygoing personalities and relatively quiet habits, they have been nick-named "the apartment parrot." With Hawaii being such a paradise and therefore space coming at a premium, I feel that the Pionus would be ideal for Hawaiians, that is why I am taking a breeding pair with me. I had the fantastic luck to find a breeder who is retiring, so I was able to purchase a healthy producing pair for a reasonable price. I was able to visit and inspect the property where they were living, and spend several hours with the owner. During that time, she realized that my passion and love for birds ran as deep as hers, and offered me a hand fed baby Green Cheek Conure as a gift. I crunched the numbers and found that, since I was already doing all this for the Maximillian's Pionus, it is relatively little trouble and money to get the GCC there as well

For those of you who are concerned, rest assured that I take the responsibilities of a breeder very seriously, and ethical breeding is of utmost importance to me. I also have some experience in the field already, having bred Budgies, Tiels, and Quakers as well as owning finches and even a canary once. I know that each species is special and unique, and I am overjoyed and excited to get to learn about the Pionus beyond what can be learned in books and on the internet. I am a firm believer that is is parrot lovers that should be producing parrots, and my birds always have been and always will be raised in a home environment as pets and in a sense, foster children.

I believe that anyone who breeds bears a huge responsibility to educate and support not only those to whom they sell, but anyone around them with birds who may not have that support from the source of their bird. It is my dream that someday, birds in this country will have what dogs have: a general understanding in the public about their basic needs and psychology. I know that dogs suffer, but I feel that most people better understand the needs of a dog, and recognize when they are not being met, than they do with birds. So that is my dream, belief, and purpose in a nut shell, and the reason it is worth it to me to buy these birds here and take them to Hawaii. I am sorry if it was too long or to soap-boxy Thanks everyone so much for all your help! This is my passion and love, but I know I still have a LOT to learn, and I look forward to learning it

 

[SilverSage]

Also, yes, you are correct this is our first OCONUS PCS My husband is on top of the financial planning and we are looking into actually buying a house there, if we can find a respectable property manager for a good price, then when we move it will become our second rental property, since we already have one in MN. Like you said, the off Post housing can be pretty expensive, but thankfully his BAH pay is calculated according the the housing prices in whichever state he is stationed. Haha, there is nothing about birds in this post, but thanks so much!