what to look for in a breeder

[DerTier]

Im sorry if this has been asked already, but I couldn't find quite what I was looking for in my research of the forums.

There is a local breeder of many types of conures and such that is the only one around that offers peach front from time to time.

I keep thinking up questions but i feel like i may not be asking the right ones. With the price tag these guys come with, I want to make sure I'm doing my best to get a healthy happy bird.

So far I've asked about weaning and I *just* sent an email asking if they are clipped after they fledge, but I'm unsure what else I should be asking. (I dont plan on keeping my bird clipped, i'm hoping to harness train it to keep it safe from flying away)

It looks like they keep a closed aviary as they have a ton of policies about not returning items due to possible contagion, but is not allowing visits due to this concern a red flag?

thoughts? input on how to care for a young bird if its vastly different than adult care is also appreciated

 

[wrench13]

Parrots that are parent raised in an open aviary, without much or any human contact are going to be harder to tame then ones that were raised mostly by humans , with a lot of contact and holding etc. I don't like that they will not allow visits.

 

[SilverSage]

1) babies need to be allowed to FULLY FLEDGE, as in become expert fliers, not just "given their first few flights"

2) babies should be abundance weaned, not weaned on a schedule (force weaning is the term but no one who uses it calls it that) and they should be weaned onto pellets and fresh food, not onto seeds. Seeds being introduced is ok, but they shouldn't be the only thing the babies know how to eat.

3) there should be a health guarantee. If the bird is checked out by an avian vet and found to be ill within a certain amount of time (3 days is standard), the breeder should pay the expenses and/or refund the bird and take it back to treat it at his own vet. Don't buy any balogna about it not being possible to take the bird back without risking the breeding flock. The health guarantee should be in writing.

4) are you saying you aren't allowed to visit the baby, or you aren't allowed to see his breeding setup? I don't allow people into my bird room, it upsets my breeders and upset nesting birds can destroy nests. However you SHOULD be allowed to visit available babies until you make your choice of one, even if that takes several visits. Prohibiting enough to time choose the right baby and not allowing enough time for the buyer to become 100% comfortable is a HUGE RED FLAG.

5) if the breeder knows you want to harness train your baby and if you put a deposit down on a specific bird, the breeder should be willing to introduce the Harness to that bird or else allow you to visit regularly and do it yourself. The earlier they start wearing it the better. If he claims he has too many babies to preform this service, then ask yourself how he could possibly have time to give your baby all the other attention he needs, and if the breeder you are working with is really just a glorified bird mill.


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[DerTier]

their site says "Due to disease and security reasons, we do not give tours or allow visitors to our nursery, We are not a pet store nor do we have a storefront. Our facility is private and family owned."

I sent a followup email to clarify but to me it sounds like they may not allow any visits from the way the text is written

 

[SilverSage]

I wouldn't allow you in the nursery either. But I would allow you in my living room to meet all the babies you were interested in.

Don't be fooled by bold claims. If you can't find a good solid breeder in your area, consider buying from a better breeder further away. Finding someone who is more concerned about the welfare of the birds and making the right match is important. A lot of breeders just duck out of the work of customer care and making a good match by pretending that it's wildly unreasonable for you to carefully choose which companion you will spend the next 30 years of your life living with.


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[DerTier]

I dont expect anything crazy like going into the nursery, I just want to see the breeders area and make sure they aren't a flipper or mill, and that their birds are in good condition.

How would one go about finding a reputable out of state breeder? At that point i'd still be concerned about not being able to see their birds or the conditions they are breeding animals in.

It could just be I need to give up on getting a peach fronted, and settle for something else, but their personality and everything about them just seem like they'd be the perfect first (and likely only) bird for us.

Thanks for all the input so far!

As a rescuer, I've seen all the squalid horrific things people do to animals, and in addition to not wanting a sick animal (because I'm new to birds!), I definitely dont want to help a flipper or mill

 

[SilverSage]

Don't give up on a peach front! Just might be a little bit longer of a process than expected.

You might not be able to see the breeding area. I don't allow anyone in mine and there is a very good reason for that; strangers send nesting birds into a panic when they show up close by. Some people have large outdoor setups where it isn't a big deal and the birds just fly to the tops of their aviaries and yell at you. In my small indoor setup, the birds would throw themselves around in their cages and could injure themselves. Not only that but some birds if highly enough stressed will literally destroy their nests. I had a pair of GCCs rip their babies to shreds after a predator got into the area around them (not into the cage). Basically it's a safety hazard. But what you can do is ask for pictures of the parents. These will almost always be taken in their breeding enclosure and should give you a good idea of their body condition and living conditions. I believe it's ALWAYS wise to see at least pictures of the parent birds.




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[SilverSage]

Also ask about what the parents are eating. That should give a good indication of how much effort is being put into their care. They should be getting pellets and tons of fresh at minimum.

As for finding a good breeder, a great place to start is by joining every conure group you can find on the internet. Obviously our forum is the best but I don't know that we have many active peach front conures around and you really want to find the people who own them so you can ask for references. If someone says the breeder they got theirs from doesn't breed anymore, contact them anyway because they probably know who does.


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[DerTier]

Thanks for the input as breeders too Just goes to show how different birds are from anything else I've tried to get from a breeder I definitely dont want to harm any animals or cause anyone any trouble!

I wish I could rescue but I doubt I'd be allowed to never having owned my own bird before.

 

[SilverSage]

Don't count rescues out; that may be a great place! Each rescue is different, they may not mind especially when you explain your situation.


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