Breeders,Handraisers,&stores Oh MY!?

[Strawfrawg]

My breeder, an older lady probably nearing 70, has an insane amount of birds and clearly makes her living from selling them, but I was very pleased with the care she gives them and the environment they live in and would recommend her highly to anyone. She lets customers drop in on short notice and is willing to give spontaneous tours of her bird barn and grounds. The birds' cages and bowls are very clean, they have lots of toys and indoor/outdoor space, and their pellets are good quality and supplemented with fresh food for a couple of hours each day (I came once when there was very fresh-looking raw veggies and fruits in each cage, and once when she was taking the still-fresh-looking leftovers out and bringing the bowls in for a good cleaning.) She has a full-time assistant, and the two of them spend the day making toys in the nursery and interacting with the babies when they aren't feeding or cleaning in the barn. The birds in the barn were all very friendly and interactive considering they aren't pets. The barn is well-constructed and climate-controlled with a lot of indoor cage space. The birds look healthy, mentally active, and not neurotic or anxious. The sounds they were making weren't the sounds of unhappy birds.

Based on my experience with her and her facility, I believe some people make money from their birds while still caring very much for them. Once she got talking about her birds, it was hard to get her to stop and she handled the babies very lovingly. Using my bird as an example of the outcome, I'd say she's fantastic at what she does. She also emails me for updates on Marvin, which says something about her. She told me it's never easy to say goodbye to a baby she's helped raise.

Is she a rare exception? Maybe. But she gives me faith that some breeders have a genuine love and respect for their birds. so I just can't generalize...but I do think it's important for buyers to see the breeder's facility before making a purchase, and they should watch and listen very closely.

In a way, we all exploit birds. They are meant to be wild and we have taken them into our homes to be our companions. There are forms of "exploitation" that are responsible and compassionate, and some that are not.

[Eric&Rebecca]

Exactly.. there are people out there like this but sadly they are in a minority. I was very impressed with my breeders aviaries and then diligence that was taken with their care and even how friendly and happy they were. Every single bird was impeccable! The brother of my breeder has other types of birds in different aviaries but he has almost an acre of land. They were more wild but they are kept in a more wild enclosure but again the birds were impeccable!

Sadly there are tonnes of bad breeders out there and some very dodgy rescue centres as well from what i've heard in other places, though we don't have one. Even people who rehome just resell the birds so you can't even rescue that way. My friend rescued a bird from a bad owner and paid him £300 just to let the bird go to her. She was probably exploited but this bird was being treated so badly she just had to do something! He's now a very happy Grey living in her indoor/outdoor aviary with a TREE! Best aviary ever! All to himself LOL.

I think there's bad of everything, bad stores, bad breeders, bad rescue centres. It's how you select them.

[Pajarita]

Oh, I am not against paying for a bird if it's the only way I can get it out of a bad situation. I've done it several times.

And saying that some breeders care about their birds is a but disingenuous because, if they cared, they would not sell them to whoever has the money to pay for them regardless of whether that person can actually provide a good home or not. We would think very badly of people selling their babies so I don't understand how anybody who loves their birds as their own children could justify the commercialization of them....

And no, not everybody who has birds is exploiting them. I certainly don't! My entire life (and also my family's) revolves around the birds. My schedule for everything (work, outings, visits, etc) is based on my birds daily and seasonal biorrhythms -sheesh, I don't even go to visit my MIL and SIL during the winter because the day is too short for me to drive 3.5 hours each way without messing up my birds' routine. I don't even consider them my pets. As far as I am concerned, they are my wards and I am their guardian. They don't have to do anything for me, not even love me or even stop attacking me (although I do appreciate it when they do -LOL).

[feathermum]

ok, my head is spinning!!!! you guys got your birds for free?!? I seriously wish that could happen for me....even the 2 rescues I have were fairly expensive...that's the only reason my eckie isn't home yet...I have 2 pay her off which I don't really understand or think is fair.....she was droped off @ the store, I have paid for her testing & such, but have to pay an addinol 700$. THIS IS NOT A BABY, but a 2 yro drop off. @ the same I just love her & don't want to see go to the wrong person,for the wrong reasons. but still don't think it's right the way they have ppl pay such a high price for abandend parrots

[marie83]

The majority of mine have all been rescues or rehomes from people who knew they can palm unwanted animals off on me. There's two exceptions although I guess technically Tico was a rescue as I pulled her out of an aviary to wean as her parents abandoned her so I was saving her life (not my own aviary I might add...), the second was Ollie my Green cheek who I sought from a breeder for company for my other bird when I was out. I will never again go to a breeder, pet shop etc knowing what I know now, my reasons for this are on another thread in detail and I believe caused offence to a few people so feel free to go find it at your own risk.

My answer is - none of those, even if there were no other option.

[pennyandrocky]

some rescues will wave the adoption fees depending on the situation. i paid no adoption fee for mya . i've never paid for a bird they have all been given to me.