Choosing a Parrot - Do you need a Parrot Breeder? - Family - Pets

If you are thinking about adopting a parrot then one of the first decisions after you have settled on which species of parrot you think is right for you will be where do you turn in order to get him or her. At this point you have 4 main choices and some are better than others. The choices are going to one or more parrot breeders, the local pet store, a bird rescue center and lastly and very rarely you may come across a private sale.

Generally parrots have a high intelligence and complex characters which is why we are drawn to them in the first place but this also means that they require the proper care and attention from birth, through their formative years and into adulthood to ensure that they grow up well balanced, healthy, happy and without behavioral problems. Parrots have a tendency to get stressed if there is any change in either there environment or day to day routine so the initial trip home after the purchase and the first few days in your home will be stressful for your new family member but there are steps you can take to minimize this.

The more information you can get on your potential parrot before you do adopt, the better with this knowledge you can facilitate the transition easier for your new parrot into their new home surroundings and routine.

If you choose the local pet store it is very unlikely that you will receive any real detailed information on your particular parrot as they will often not have any information available or you may be served by someone who is just working at the store for the pay check and actually has no interest in parrots or any other pets. Obviously this is not always the case and there are plenty of pet stores where all of the employees are knowledgeable and helpful but you as the purchaser need to be aware of all of the possible scenarios.

Another option is the local rescue center where you may find a perfectly healthy and happy parrot but you must take into consideration that you will rarely find a young parrot at a rescue center and their is a higher probability that the parrot will have behavioral issues resulting from his previous treatment, whether from poor care, diet or environment. Again this may not be the case but it is hard to have proof of the history of a parrot from a rescue center.

The third option which is very rare is a private sale from an individual which is similar to the rescue center option with the benefit of meeting the person who has cared for the parrot and have a chance to see the parrots' surroundings but again the negative here is the lack of experience of the private vendor.

The fourth option is to go to a parrot breeder to choose a parrot. You will have the option to question the breeder extensively on how they have reared the parrot, including feeding the parrot, from weaning the parrot, which needs to be performed by an experienced handler through to feeding solid food and the type of food chosen as well as asking when they introduced bathing to the baby parrot, the best time being when they are partially feathered. Another benefit of a reputable breeder is that they will often make themselves available after the purchase to answer any questions and queries that may arise in the first few weeks for you as a parrot owner.

Overall there may be merits for each of the options I have described for adopting your parrot but the major advantage that a breeder has over the other 3 is that you can have proof of the parrots history and you have access to ask all of the questions that you need to ask before purchase and in doing so you raise the probability that you will adopt a happy healthy parrot free of any behavioral issues.

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