Parrot Breeders
If you are purchasing a parrot from a conscientious and reputable parrot breeder, you have a better chance of getting a healthy bird than if you buy one at a pet store. Not infrequently, birds sold at pet stores come from so called mill breeders, who produce chicks in large quantities, keeping them in poor sanitary conditions. A parrot raised in an unhealthy environment is much more likely to go down with contagious diseases. Besides, with lack of control over birds’ genetics, there is an increased risk of serious hereditary disorders.
Sometimes, it can be hard to find a breeder. It is also more expensive buying from breeders than at pet stores. It is noteworthy, that there are pet stores dealing in hand-reared birds with good nutrition and health control, so it can be worthwhile to purchase birds at such stores. If you think you have found a breeder, you’ve got to be sure this is a reputable and trustworthy one. It takes a visit to a breeder’s home for a potential customer to properly evaluate if he or she can be trusted. Just a few signs can give you a correct answer to this question.
One more important thing about choosing a chick is whether or not you should purchase a hand-reared or just parent-weaned bird. Hand-reared birds are better accustomed to humans, and hence they are usually more people-oriented and responsive to training. On the other hand, there is a possibility that a hand raised bird can bond with the first person to handle it and will have difficulty bonding with anyone else. Therefore, a weaned parrot may be even more apt to get used to its new owner.
When visiting a breeder, pay attention to how many birds he or she has and if they are kept in clean cages. Also take a look at each bird and make sure they look healthy. If you see too many cages, and they are dirty, or birds look shabby or suspiciously reluctant to react toward your presence, do not buy a bird from this breeder. Improper sanitation and poor look of birds are indicative of the breeder’s striving for fast profit being a greater priority than his or her birds’ well-being.
If things appear to be good at first sight, take a closer look at each bird and chick. Eyes and nostrils should be clear of discharge, and feathers should be shiny and close-lying, not frayed. Vent (the area around anus and reproductive organs) must also be clean. Keelbone should neither be too prominent (this may indicate dystrophy) or concealed (a sign of obesity).
Once you have conducted these few procedures and put together the results, it is time to make a decision. Buy only if ALL of them have tested positive! There are no exceptions as to the quality of a bird’s life when it comes to purchasing one. Please, remember, conscientious breeders do not sell their birds to everyone. A good parrot breeder will be as inquisitive about your qualities of a bird owner as you are about his or her birds, and will probably pay a visit to your home to make sure you have what it takes to provide a healthy and sound life for a parrot.
