Parrot Advice Guide

Parrot breeders are a crucial part of the parrots’ formative years as they take on the role of surrogate parents. The parrots’ personality and the way in which it behaves are directly attributable to how it has been handled and cared for as a baby.

When searching for a parrot breeder you need to place a big emphasis on their reputation and make sure they have a very good one. General pet stores or rescue groups may be a consideration but when you go to a breeder you have the facility which should always be used of finding out about the parrots history and get an understanding on how it has been raised until this point which all helps when you ultimately make the transition for your parrot from the breeders location to your home.

Bringing up a happy, healthy parrot relies heavily on the methods that the breeder employs. Feeding a baby parrot is a major part of the work that a breeder does as different species of parrots respond differently to feeding times. It is the breeders job to provide nutritious healthy food which is also safe for the parrot. Another key responsibility is to wean the baby parrots prior to them being sold to what are essentially unqualified owners, as weaning a baby parrot is a complex procedure that needs to be done by an experienced handler. The diet of a young parrot should contain warm soft food, fresh fruit or produce, pellets and seeds.

A major part of most birds lives including parrots is their ability to fly. The majority of owners choose to have their parrots wings clipped for 2 main reasons, the first is to stop their birds flying around their homes and potentially breaking valuables such as vases, pictures, ornaments and lights. The second reason is to protect their bird from injuring itself by flying into windows or other objects. However baby parrots do need to master the art of flying before they get their wings clipped and it’s in their best interest that you find a breeder who has allowed their baby parrots to learn how to fly. The development of your potential parrot and it’s emotional health rely greatly upon the environment it has been raised in and the care the breeder has provided early in its life. The advantage of using a breeder is that you can ask how the breeder has socialized the baby parrots in preparation of selling them and the more information you can get the better it will be for you and your feathered friend.

On the whole parrot breeders are legitimate, responsible and caring people who get emotional and financial reward for being involved with a baby parrot in its formative months but you must also beware that some are in the breeding business solely to make money, so you need to be somewhat cautious and remember to ask revealing questions. Certain forms of parrot transportation are illegal so you need to ask how the breeders birds are transported. You also need to know that a breeder has introduced bathing to their parrots at an early age, the best time being when the parrot is feathered partially. You should ask and be allowed to see the aviaries where the parrots have been raised and alarm bells should start ringing if your breeder doesn’t insist on using a contract for the sale, this is a prerequisite of all reputable breeders. Good breeders will be able to be contacted after your purchase to provide support and answer questions you have as a new owner. Certain species of parrot have a lifespan of between 60 and 100 years, so they aren’t a light undertaking, in fact they are a huge commitment and it is very worth your while putting in the extra effort to locate the correct breeder.

Good parrot breeders have more knowledge than your local pet stores do and if you choose to adopt a baby parrot from a breeder you stand a greater chance of getting a healthy, happy and well adjusted parrot that will last a long time.

Tags: buying a parrot, parrot breeder, parrot breeders, parrot rearing

This entry was posted on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 3:57 am and is filed under Additional Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.