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Parrot Keeping in Germany



PARROT KEEPING IN GERMANY


In Part III (July, 1934), of Vogel ferner Lander , the journal of the

chief German Society for Bird-keepers and breeders, is a most important

article by W. Schinke, President of the German Budgerigar Society,

headed “ Wohin (Whither), deutscher Papageien- und Sittichzuchter

Its subject is the recent German legislation against Psittacosis , and its

effect on such societies as his and on fanciers generally. He gives in

full the text of the new Ordinance of 3rd July, 1934 (an Ordinance

for the Control of Parrot-disease (Psittacosis) and other contagious

diseases), and also the Regulations of 14th August under this Ordinance.

The provisions are wide-reaching and detailed, and under them keepers

and breeders of any species of Parrot and Parrakeet must be registered,

must keep quite elaborate books, showing the number of their birds,

whence obtained, where sent (if disposed of), and much besides. These

are to be kept up-to-date and open to inspection by the appointed

officers, while the birds themselves and their abode are also to be

ready at any time for medical inspection. Deaths and sickness have

of course to be reported immediately. The penalties for infringement

of the Ordinance are heavy—fines up to 150 RM. and/or imprisonment

up to three years.


Dr. Schinke goes fully in the whole matter, taking a very serious

view of the situation, and shows that not only are the big breeding

establishments likely to be effected, or even put out of action altogether,

but that the legislation is so all-inclusive and so worded as to embrace

even the keeper of a few birds, if they are Parrots, as Budgerigars

indisputably are. He concludes by calling on all Budgerigar breeders

and other bird-keepers to do all they can to assist him and the Fancy

Societies in their efforts to mitigate, if possible, the hardships this

legislation is likely to cause. The whole reads as if Budgerigar-breeding

in Germany would be crushed out of existence by this weight of paper¬

work and control, and that seems to be the opinion of the writer,

though he has hopes that union may do something to help. The prospect

at the best is gloomy and if the article were to be translated into

English (it is well worth it) I should suggest that the title (instead of

“ Wohin ? (Whither ?), etc. ”), should be “ Woe ! ye German Parrot-

and Parrakeet-breeders ! ” E. H.



