NSW Bird Sale Code of Practice
All of the major bird sales in NSW are run according the NSW Bird Sale Voluntary Code of Practice. We (as well as the other bird sales who run under this code) do so to promote the long term future of bird sales in NSW and Australia. Everyone's co-operation is appreciated.
Note: The Code of Practice was last updated in 2015.
The code of practice consists of the following:
- Copy of this Code of Practice shall be prominently displayed at the venue of the event, and a copy shall be provided to all sellers upon request.
- All animals other than birds are banned from bird sales with the exception of Service/Guide Dogs.
- The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry and/or remove any person from the premises for any reason.
- The organisers have a Steward or a recognised Avian Veterinarian inspect any or all of the birds offered for sale by a seller and at its sole discretion shall (upon the advice of the Steward/Veterinarian) determine if the birds shall be allowed to be sold.
- The club operating the event and the Steward/s in attendance shall take all reasonable care to protect the well being of the birds at the sale, but shall not be held responsible for escape, injury, death or physical condition of the birds. The seller is deemed responsible for the sale of his/her birds and all of his/her actions. The stewards shall instruct the seller to remove birds showing signs of injury or stress. THE DECISION OF THE SALES MANAGER IS FINAL.
- A start & finish time to be advised.
- All stewards must be clearly identifiable either by clothing or badges.
- All impulse buying of birds shall be discouraged.
- Only birds in good health, full feather and fully sufficient (fully weaned) can be offered for sale. AT ALL TIMES THE WELFARE OF THE BIRDS IS PARAMOUNT.
- Appropriate precautions (e.g. padded roof & solid floors) (wire is not permitted) should be taken for the housing of “flighty” species such as doves, quail and pigeons.
- Wire fronted cardboard boxes, airfreight boxes and carry cages shall not be used. All birds must be displayed in display/show type cages/boxes. All cages/boxes must have a solid base/tray (to prevent droppings and scraps from falling onto table area). All cages/boxes MUST have adequate ventilation. Sellers must be able to alter a wire cage by adding solid walls (i.e. cardboard, corflute or a towel) if their birds are not comfortable with their surrounds.
- Only compatible species shall be held in the same cage.
- All cages must be clean and tidy, and in good repair and condition.
- All cages must have at least one perch, and must contain appropriate food and water.
- Cages suitable to the size of the bird must be used. The bird must be able to stand on a perch with the bird’s head not touching the roof and the tail not touching the floor.
- Allowing for perch length, the number of birds must not exceed 60% of the perch space used by all of the birds when perched. Therefore the cage should not be visually overcrowded. Overcrowded cages will not be accepted.
- Excessively sized cages should be discouraged.
- All sellers must wear a seller’s number and the seller and his/her number must register with the sale organisers. Name, address and phone number must be recorded by the organisers.
- All sellers should supply the buyer with a receipt with the information containing the sellers name, seller’s number (the sellers number as supplied by the event organisers), phone number and the type of bird.
- Transfer aviary/room/cage shall be provided and sellers shall be encouraged to use them for all bird transfers.
- A net shall be provided in case of an escape.
- All events must be covered by an appropriate public liability insurance policy.
- Signs must be prominently displayed and loudspeaker announced advising, “All incidents, accidents and injuries must be reported to the sale organisers and/or ambulance officers present” or words similar. A record must be kept of any reports.
- All licensed birds sold or offered for sale should comply with National Parks & Wildlife Services Licensing requirements.
- All care and caution must be taken in the event of extreme weather conditions.
- Payment of seller’s fee is agreement to all conditions and rules as set by the Organisers and as set out in the Code of Practice.
- Organisers have the right to refuse any bird or person/s in breach of this Code of Practice, entry to the venue or to take part in the sale.