(http://www.afn.org/~poultry)

September 2001

In This Issue:

2001 Meeting Meal Schedule
Poultry Documentary
Chick Shipping Emergency
Meeting Report

NEXT MEETING:

8:00 PM SHARP Friday, September 28 at the Pavilion in the garden behind the Mounts Building located at 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach - directly across from Palm Beach International Airport approximately 1/4 mile north of Southern Blvd.

Poultry Meeting Report

by Lee Salmon, President

Hello to all my Poultry family, and speaking of family, a very important member of our poultry family came back last month. We want to extend a GIANT Poultry Fanciers " WELCOME HOME" to Rose Greggs. It was so good to see you walk through that door, Rose!

On August 24, 2001 our meeting was called to order at 8:00. We had some very nice people who attended our seminar as visitors and I am happy to say they joined our club, Paul & Sandee Simpson and Brad and Laura Eppenbaugh. After introductions we moved on to Secretary's and Treasurer's reports which were approved and carried.

First on the old business agenda was a light discussion about our Seminar.

Thank you notes were signed
Discussion of special interest programs:
a. aggressive rooster training
b. dubbing of games
c. caponization
d. artificial insemination
The great lunch fixed by Kim Belvin
The Showmanship rules and ethics class.

Progressing into new business the upcoming In-Club Poultry show was discussed. This shall take place on October 26^th. This is also officially now known as the ever-popular PIZZA NIGHT. Trophies to be awarded are as follows; Best Cock, Best Cockerel, Best Hen, Best Pullet, Best Waterfowl, Best Exotic and Best of Show.

Dr. Porcher will come to Judge this fun event. He also gives us good info about each and every bird. Naming defects, problems, and stressing good points. This is a great pre-show preview. He is also this years designated Fair Judge. Let's all get behind this show and bring lots of birds for Dr. Porcher to look over. Each family is allowed to bring 8 birds.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

KFC will provide boxes for the chick sale.
Brenda's Bloomers will provide the plants for decorating the tent.
Dennis informs me that shipping birds should not be a problem this year.
There will be a program in the Village on Halloween night. Time frame, 4 to 10. More about this at next meeting.
Mounts Gardens Fall Family Festival Sun. Oct. 21st, 11:00 to 4:00. We can have our usual location. How about it guys are up for this one?
We discussed the possibly of having a Sanctioned Poultry show in the future. This is possible but will take a big commitment on our part.

We accepted nominations for club officers, they are as follows:

President: Lee Salmon
Vice President: Mike Robinson
Secretary: Arvis Okerson
Treasurer: Jeanette Robinson & Rose Greggs
Property Manager: David Gatchel
Historian: Rose Greggs
Librarian: Susie Robinson

A personal message from the President: As officers in this club, we are proud to serve and we "thank you" for the vote of confidence you give us each year. We strive always to meet the best interests of the club and it's members. See you September 28^th. Have a good month.

"We Are Crowing For YOU!"

Post Office Embargoes Chick Shipments

by Dennis Hawkins

The post office has been allowing people to ship baby chicks through the mail for nearly 100 years now with no serious problems. Our club relies heavily on chicks and ducklings that have been shipped through the mail for the fair. In fact, the entire hatchery industry is dependent on the post office delivering baby chicks.

Recently, peta and other animal rights groups have succeeded in convincing Northwest Airlines that shipping day old poultry through the mail is animal abuse. hsus, another animal rights group, erroneously claims that 30% of all chicks shipped through the mail arrive dead. They also claim that nearly all chicks shipped through the mail are for cockfighting purposes. These are obviously lies, but nevertheless, Northwest Airlines has announced that effective September 1, 2001, it will no longer carry live animals as mail. Consequently, shipments of live animals, including day-old poultry, will not be accepted by the post office for mailing from areas which rely upon Northwest for air transport.

For biological reasons, chicks must arrive at their destination within 72 hours of birth. Therefore, shipping by truck is not an option for cross country deliveries. Shipping by FedEx or UPS is also not an option because these carriers do not accept live animals.

Murray McMurray, one of the largest and oldest hatcheries in this country has announced that unless something is done soon, they will likely go out of business by the end of the year. Some smaller hatcheries have already gone under.

Several of the larger hatcheries have formed a special lobbying group for bird shippers. It is located on the web at: http://www.birdshippers.org/ . Our club is considering joining this group in support of shipping chicks.

YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED!!!

Peta, hsus, upc, and other radical animal rights groups are urging their members to write their Senators requesting a ban on shipping day old poultry through the mail. These groups have thousands of members. If the poultry/hatchery industry is to have a chance, we must help counteract the animal rights group's letter writing campaign with our own letter writing campaign. Please make 2 photocopies of the letter on the following page, sign them, and send them to your two Florida senators.

The post office is already on our side. However, they must comply with the wishes of the airlines that actually ship the mail. Legislative action is required to solve this problem. Please send your letters now TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! The end of the year is almost here.

Please Help!

Sample Letter

Senator _________________________________

________________________________________

Dear Senator

The United States Post Office is being forced to refuse shipments of day old poultry (baby chicks) through the mail because many airline mail carriers are refusing to accept live animals as mail. The airlines are doing this in order to pacify animal rights groups who erroneously believe that shipping day old poultry is inhumane. The most recent airline to refuse chicks as mail is Northwest Airlines. This has already caused smaller hatcheries to go out of business and one of the largest, Murray McMurray, will go under by the end of the year if nothing is done.

Animal rights groups claim that shipping chicks is inhumane because the temperature can exceed 85F during transit. However, in reality, temperatures below 85F are more of a problem for baby chicks. They are hatched at 100F and when they are received by the purchaser, they are once again placed in 95F to keep them from freezing.

Chicks must arrive at their destination within 72 hours of birth. During those first few hours, the chicks do not need food or water because they survive on the yolk of the egg which was absorbed through their belly buttons just prior to hatching. Therefore, shipping by truck is not an option. Also, since the USPS is the only shipping company that accepts day old poultry, shipping by FedEx or UPS is not an option either.

In addition to crippling the hatchery business, many small poultry farmers will also need to find a new line of work. Poultry fanciers and 4-H'ers across the country will also be hurt. A solution to this problem is desperately needed.

Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) has introduced S. 1397 which will encourage Northwest and other airlines to accept chicks from the U.S. Postal Service. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BILL!

Sincerely,

___________________________________________

Address: __________________________________

__________________________________________

Phone: __________________

Florida Senators:

Graham,Bob (D - FL)
524 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20510
(202) 224-3041

Nelson,Bill (D - FL)
716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON. DC 20510
(202) 224-5274

For other states, you may also phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and an operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request, or look up your senators at:

http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm (Use snail mail, not email!)

"We Are Crowing For YOU!"