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pet stores either breed their own birds or contract exclusively with reputable local breeders. (Some retailers take care of the hand-feeding, while others buy only fully weaned babies.)

      For the bird buyer, putting pet stores into the mix means you don’t have to deal directly with a breeder to get a great pet bird. Sometimes you can’t go straight to the breeder — they work through pet stores because they don’t want contact with the public.

      

When you visit a reputable store or retailer, don’t be surprised if it seems as if you’re being interviewed as if you were adopting a human child. It’s a good sign if a retailer or breeder’s questions send the message, “Are you a good enough candidate to take home one of our babies?” It suggests they’ve put a lot of time and effort into raising special birds, and they want to make sure their birds go to the best homes possible.

      

Why do many aviculturists steer clear of selling directly to the public? The reasons are as varied as the breeders themselves, but commonly they’re concerned about privacy and security. As any police officer can tell you, inviting strangers into your home is risky. The risk increases when you have an aviary full of breeding birds whose potential worth runs into thousands of dollars each. Easily stolen, these birds can be sold through ads or at flea markets, netting the thief a few hundred quick dollars for not much effort. (Another reason for thinking twice before buying a “bargain” bird: He could be stolen!)

      THE AVIAN VETERINARIAN AS A BIRD-BUYING RESOURCE

      If you’re fortunate enough to have an experienced and qualified avian veterinarian in your area, consider tapping into her knowledge of bird sellers in your vicinity. Veterinarians see and hear it all — the healthy birds and the sick ones, the good advice people get from reliable sources and the counsel so poor that the vet must struggle to keep her jaw off the floor. Over time, any good veterinarian makes sense of trends — good birds and good advice from some sources, and the opposite from others.

      Don’t expect a veterinarian to trash-talk any particular source, though. Aside from demonstrating a lack of professionalism, a veterinarian who issues negative comments leaves herself vulnerable to accusations of violating the doctor–client relationship and to possible litigation. But any good veterinarian will be happy to steer you toward pet stores and breeders who consistently sell healthy, well-socialized pet birds and dispense up-to-date advice. Just ask!

Reputable sources show themselves by their actions and their words. So, leave your credit card at home — you’re going shopping. The buying comes later.

      Pet stores

      A retail bird or pet store has to have a lot on the ball to make it in a competitive marketplace. Before you even consider making a purchase, check to make sure all aspects of the business are up to snuff. The following sections cover some key areas to check out.

      The staff

      People working in a pet or specialty bird store should know what kinds of birds they have and be able to discuss the characteristics of each species. If you’re dealing with salespeople who can’t tell you the difference between a yellow-naped Amazon and an African grey (beyond appearance), you have to wonder what else they don’t know about birds, like proper care, nutrition, and preventive healthcare of the animals in their charge.

      Speaking of proper nutrition, a qualified employee can talk to you in an educated manner about proper feeding, such as formulated diets and the choices that are available. Look and listen for a staffer who is knowledgeable about proper cages, toys, and other bird gear.

      

A staffer who staunchly defends an all-seed diet and wants to sell you birds trained into this dietary approach is, at the very least, not current on the latest nutritional knowledge. Retailers are not in the business of seeing or recognizing how birds ultimately develop illness and even die because of those diets. (Turn to Chapter 6 for the latest on feeding.)

      Pet-store staff need to know their limits. Medical advice is best left to a qualified veterinarian. Avoid any retail outlet where the staff is eager to recommend and sell useless over-the-counter products.

      Expect the staff of a reputable store to truly care about any available birds. After all, birds aren’t “merchandise” for sale; they’re living, breathing, sentient beings, in need of proper placement in appropriate homes. A conscientious operation wants to make sure you’re the right person for the role of bird companion and that you’re going to take good care of your pet. Listen for it — a caring and sometimes detailed inquisition is a very good sign.

      A first-rate pet store employs people who are clearly interested in and knowledgeable about birds and who understand the importance of a good working relationship with veterinarians and bird trainers. The emphasis, always, should be on prevention of problems through education of the customer — that’s you.

      The store

A good pet store should be clean and bright (see Figure 3-1) and odor-free. But before you find any operation guilty of unsanitary surroundings, consider the difficulty of maintaining a single bird, much less a shop full of them. So, cut the staff some slack if a bird has made poop soup in her water dish or if her food-scattering antics have made the floor a little cluttered. Temporary untidiness is to be expected, especially if you come in several hours after the store opens. What’s not acceptable, however, is evidence of long-term sanitation problems — a 3-inch pile of feces underneath perches, for example.

      Photograph by Kim Campbell Thornton

      FIGURE 3-1: A clean and well-lit bird store is a wonderful place to familiarize yourself with birds before you buy.

      Pay attention to how well the store attends to its animals. Make sure that birds are kept in a controlled situation, where staff can oversee any interaction between them and the customers. Note whether the birds are placed near other stress-provoking pets.

Look, too, for a variety of appropriate cages, toys, and perches. A selection of good reference books and magazines is another plus. You should see pelleted (formulated) diets on the shelves and in the food dishes. Seeds, nuts, and other foodstuffs are fine, as long as the store clearly recommends a balanced basic diet. A good pet store avoids unproven or dangerous products such as over-the-counter antibiotics or mite treatment products. (And make sure the staff doesn’t use these questionable remedies on the birds in the store!)

      

A store that operates safely and sensibly keeps grooming and boarding services in a completely separate part of the establishment, to protect its birds from exposure to disease.

      As you develop an overall impression of a pet store, look carefully at the birds themselves. Consider how healthy and well cared for they appear to be. Pay attention to telltale details such as appropriate cages, as well as toys and perches to keep them happy. Available birds should be interested in people and want to be held (some species more than others, of course — not all birds are born to be love sponges). If the store is hand-feeding babies, you may be able to see them through a window, but beware of any store that invites you in to handle these young birds, at least not without requesting that you wash your hands and put on some protective clothing.

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