You can get a bird from a variety of places: pet stores, commercial breeders and individuals. Your choice of bird and your purpose for getting a bird will have a direct influence on where you buy him.

Start by doing some legwork. Ask your bird-owning friends, bird club members or an avian veterinarian for recommendations. Look at lots of birds, listen to each seller and ask questions. Try to locate those breeders and experienced people who are willing to help educate you without the benefit of a sale, the ones who are genuinely concerned about the health and well-being of birds. Take your time and don't pick out a bird on impulse; after all, you will be living with your decision for a relatively long time.

Where Should You Go?

If you are a novice buyer, go to a pet store where the owners are knowledgeable about birds, or to an experienced breeder who has a reputation to protect. Pet stores will guarantee the health of your bird, and some will even offer an exchange policy if it turns out that you and the bird are not exactly compatible.

If you are purchasing your bird primarily for exhibition, go to a breeder rather than a pet store; there is a considerable difference between the average budgerigar and its show counterpart and a pet store salesman may not be the kind of authority you should consult.

Also, not all pet stores stock an extensive range of parrots or softbills; if you want the largest range, you must find time to visit a specialized bird farm (check bird-keeping magazines, such as Bird World Magazine, Bird Talk Magazine or American Cage Bird Magazine, for details).

Things to Ask

No matter where you decide to make your purchase, interview the breeder or store personnel before adopting your bird. Ask them these questions:

• How many birds do you own or care for? If the number seems excessive, beware. You may be purchasing an improperly or ill-socialized bird who may be nervous, unaccustomed to change and being handled, wary of new foods and generally untrained. Such a bird will require more time to adjust to new surroundings and will require the care of an experienced bird owner to help it recover from its poor beginnings.
• What species are they? Some breeders specialize in one or more species and are experts on those species. If there are multiple species, how much contact is there between them? How does this affect what your bird may be learning, and how does it affect which diseases he might be exposed to?
• Do you breed your own birds, and how long have you been breeding them? Is this an experienced breeder who truly understands bird genetics and the optimum conditions required to produce a healthy bird?
• How long have you been at this location? This is more important to know when it comes to the more expensive birds, but you do need to know whether you are dealing with a reputable, established breeder. A company that has been in business for a long time at the same location most likely has developed a reputation that can be investigated.
• Where do your birds come from? Be sure that you understand where the young and breeding stock comes from, and that all import and conservation issues have been observed. Some birds are restricted, and many imported birds carry diseases that domestic birds do not carry.

The answers to these questions will vary widely between establishments, and how you react to much of what you learn will depend on your own background and comfort level.

After you've interviewed the seller, zero in on concerns that are particular to the birds you are choosing from. Ask the previous owner, seller, or breeder these questions:

• Diet. What kind of diet are the birds put on? Are they given vitamin supplements? When are the baby birds weaned? You want an establishment that serves their adult and babies a blend of food that includes pellets, fruit, vegetables, beans, pasta and grains; only a small portion should be seeds and nuts.
• Health. Has the establishment ever had any major health problems? Who is their veterinarian, and how often does he examine the birds? Are the birds vaccinated? Does the written contract contain a health guarantee? Be suspicious of the breeder or store owner who says he has never had any health problems with his birds. Because baby birds are so delicate and have an underdeveloped immune system, they can succumb to all sorts of things. You are looking for honesty and integrity.
• Care. What cage sizes do you use? What kinds of toys do you provide? How much time do you spend socializing with your bird? How often are their nails and wings trimmed? The best environment for housing birds is a large cage with natural perches which should be able to provide plenty of exercise for the birds. Each cage should have several toys; they entertain the birds and satisfy their natural instincts to chew. Nails should be clipped every 6 to 8 weeks, and the wings clipped as needed. Make sure the store owner or breeder has taken responsibility for all these vital necessities.
• Leg Bands. Ask the owner to explain the leg-banding requirements for their birds and show you what the bands mean on any bird that you consider. Most birds will receive leg bands that identify the breeder, quarantine location, or other information. This banding must occur before they are sold. Your dealer should explain the reasons for this and how the information will apply to your particular bird in your particular area. Most bands should never be removed.

Contracts And Agreements

Never purchase your bird from a business that does not provide written contracts. These contracts should contain a health guarantee, and you, as the prospective new owner, should be allowed three days to have your bird checked out by your vet. Read the contract closely so you know what your options are following the exam, including: reimbursement, veterinary care or exchange.

The Establishment's Facilities

If you're looking in a store or breeder facility, examine the surroundings carefully. Here's what to check for in the current habitat to see that it has done justice for your prospective bird:

• Check for a clean, non-smoking environment.
• Make sure the cage bottom paper is being changed daily or at least every other day.
• Make sure that thorough cage cleanings are done weekly with a disinfectant.
• Check to see that food dishes are cleaned daily.
• Check to see that cages, perches, toys and dishes are cleaned and disinfected for each and every bird in the cage each week.

The Seller's References

When purchasing your bird, the most important thing you should do is verify that all of the information you have been given is accurate. Call references and their vets. Remember, they aren't going to offer the names of anyone who would portray them negatively; make an unannounced visit. Trust your instincts and use the information you have been given to make an informed decision.

Where Not To Buy Your Bird

Auctions and Swap Meets

Never buy birds at auctions or swap meets; the health and previous history of these birds are unknown and they may come with a history of problems. You want to purchase your bird from a source that has given him the proper start in life as well as proper care.

Bird Fairs

Also, a bird fair cannot altogether be trusted as the ideal bird marketplace. These events offer prospective buyers almost any species of exotic bird, all sorts of cages, cage accessories, feeds, treats, toys, breeder supplies and anything else that could be even remotely linked to birds. Many bird lovers, breeders and prospective owners believe these fairs are the place to be; goods are often marked down well below pet store prices and haggling over price is expected.

Sound too good to be true? For informed and educated buyers, going to fairs can be fruitful, but for those who are new at it, buying at these events can be a heartbreaking, and sometimes, terribly costly experience. You can't always be sure of what you are buying. Vendors at these shows come from all walks of life. Most are respectable people who will offer, and honor, a verbal guarantee for your purchase of your new bird, but there are others who won't, and yet some who will say they will, and then renege on that guarantee when problems arise. If you don't know what questions to ask a vendor, you may find yourself purchasing a sick or un-weaned bird without realizing it. Some sellers don't realize how important the methods used to hand-feed, wean and socialize a bird are to his long-term behavior. If you discover that you have purchased an un-weaned bird, you will have to continue hand-feeding him until he is weaned. If the bird you have chosen is newly-weaned, taking him into a new environment can be detrimental; it can cause him to stop eating and starve to death in a short period of time.

Cost Considerations

A number of factors determine the asking price for a bird including health, temperament and availability. Those birds commonly bred in the United States such as finches, budgerigars, cockatiels and lovebirds, are priced relatively low. Larger, imported birds, like Amazons, cockatoos and macaws, will be more expensive. Many of these species are no longer being imported, or breeding attempts have failed, which raises the price even higher.