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Where should you look for a pet parrot? The most obvious place is a pet store, but is that really the best place to find a pet bird? There are also breeders, either full time professionals or hobby breeders, that sell birds to the public at wholesale. Of course, you could look through classified ads to find a good deal on a "used" bird. Each source has advantages and disadvantages, and knowing what to look for and expect will help you make the right choice for you and your family. The choice will depend on your particular circumstances; your expectations, your experience with birds, and your budget.
The choice of where to purchase your new bird is critical. A good, reputable pet shop can be a source of information and support for novice parrot owners but you pay a premium price (at least 40% more), for that privilege. The emphasis is on reputable. Just because a store has a big name and a hefty advertising budget, doesn't mean that the birds are better quality, or that the store will stand behind the product that they sell. Even supposedly respectable stores can have a greater concern for the bottom line than the welfare of the animals they sell, and the amount of training that a sixteen year old sales clerk has received probably makes them a poor source of information regarding the future attributes and needs of your pet. Quite often, the selection at a pet store is limited unless you are willing to be placed on a waiting list. Remember too that when you purchase a bird from a pet store, you have absolutely no idea where the bird came from, and under what conditions it was raised. You need to be sure that the pet store owner purchases livestock only from reputable sources. Make sure the bird that you buy is captive bred. It is totally irresponsible to accept a bird from the wild (which are smuggled illegally) now that so many quality breeders can fill the needs of the pet industry.
Breeders are usually much more familiar with the behaviors and requirements of the birds they sell. Breeding parrots is very difficult. It requires knowledge about nutrition, housing, and bird psychology. For that reason a good breeder can be a wonderful source of accurate information. There is also the added benefit that the cost of a bird should be 25-50% less than a comparable bird from a pet store. However, just as there are puppy mills where breeding dogs are kept in poor conditions and are denied veterinary care just to make a profit, there are some irresponsible parrot breeders that keep their birds in less than optimal conditions. Don’t expect any breeder to give your entire family a guided tour through the breeding area. Breeding birds need privacy, and are easily disturbed by strangers. But ask to be allowed just to peek into the breeding room so that you can verify that the living conditions of the animals is reasonable. Don't expect the Taj Mahal, and don't be aghast when you see shredded newspaper and seed everywhere. But do expect the room to have good lighting and ventilation. Expect the cages to be relatively large, with food and clean water available. The bottom of the cages may be littered with seeds, but there should never be massive accumulations of feces. The birds themselves should appear active and healthy. The health of the baby bird will depend on the health of the parents.
There are essentially two kinds of breeders. Professional breeders have dozens of breeding pairs, extensive breeding facilities, and spend many hours every day in the maintenance of the stock and hand rearing of the chicks. The selection available through a breeder is usually quite extensive, and if they don't personally have a particular species, they usually can refer you to another breeder that does. Although professional breeders are very knowledgeable, they rarely have time to give extensive advice to novice bird owners, or talk on the phone for an hour about how to correct behavioral problems. You will need to educate yourself, or find other parrot owners to turn to for support. If you choose to buy directly from a large breeder, you might also want to inquire as to the name of their avian veterinarian, and ask for permission to call the vet and inquire as to the practices of the breeder and the health of the birds. The greater the number of birds that move through an aviary, the higher the likelihood of transmission of disease throughout the stock unless stringent quarantine measures are followed.
Hobby breeders have only a few breeding pairs which are essentially pet birds that produce chicks. Some of the most affectionate baby parrots come from hobby breeders. These people raise parrots because they truly love the little creatures, and the chicks are pampered and smothered with affection. Hobbyists are also more likely to give friendly advice and support, as they love to talk about their little companions.
Regardless of whether you purchase from a pet store, a professional breeder or a hobby breeder, you should demand a health guarantee. This guarantee should allow sufficient time for a thorough inspection by an avian veterinarian including blood work. If the results of the exam indicate any illness, the purchaser should be given a full refund, or accept the bird on the condition that the breeder pay for the cost of veterinary treatment to return the bird to perfect health. Ensure that the veterinarian in question is a true avian specialist, or the guarantee is worthless. Once the agreed upon time has elapsed, the responsibility for any health problems will fall upon the new owner.
If your budget is limited, and you are willing to adopt a "problem bird", there are many animals that need good homes that can be purchased cheaply including the cage by searching the classified ads. Just remember, you get what you pay for, and many older birds cannot be handled or scream uncontrollably. It is also unlikely that you will receive a guarantee of any kind on the health of the animal. In some cases special circumstances may force the sale of a sweet natured, gentle family pet to a stranger. But more likely than not the animal is being passed on because the owner can't deal with the mess or the noise or the biting. If you have time and patience you may be able to develop a loving partnership, but expect much less from these second hand animals. You don't know what baggage they retain in their little head, and fear can be difficult to overcome for an animal that relies so strongly on instinct for survival.
So good luck. Take your time. Choose wisely. And most importantly, when you bring that darling home, give him as much love as you can, and you will have it returned tenfold.
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