Talking Green Parrot recommends that only fully weaned, vaccinated, vet checked babies be purchased by a prospective pet owner. We feel that it is in the buyers best interest to insist that the breeder or pet store finish the task of weaning all babies that they sell directly to a pet owner. You should also look for a breeder or pet store who begins teaching their baby parrots socialization skills and vocabulary training right from the start of the handfeeding process. This will give each baby the best start possible.
Most people purchase an unweaned baby bird because they have been indoctrinated into thinking that it is better for the baby to build a bond directly with them and/or they wish to save a little money by doing something they think will be fun. Not so!
Baby birds that are not properly weaned will not learn the behaviors that make them the enjoyable companions the buyer is seeking! The novice owner has no idea how to react to a screaming or begging baby and so this undesirable behavior can easily become the norm for that baby as it learns to beg or scream incessantly. Others inadvertently teach their baby birds to bite by improperly responding to the first inquisitive attempts of a baby to investigate with its beak. Even teaching a baby to eat a variety of foods can be challenging for those who have no experience doing so. Many baby birds are destined to be sold from their first home to a series of unending homes because they were raised with the best of intentions, yet in a state of total ignorance of the proper training methods needed to raise a well socialized, loving, well behaved companion.
Usually the buyer takes the baby home when it is on one or two feedings a day, which almost anyone can work into their schedule. They are unaware that the baby must be weighed each day to be certain it is not loosing too much weight while weaning. How much is too much? The novice bird owner has no way to know since this is usually their first baby of that type! If they are told, they will spend the money saved by purchasing the baby before it is weaned to buy the equipment needed to finish weaning the baby! This would include a scale, syringes, a sanitizing agent, formula, probiotics, digital food thermometer/s. Of course is is only if no problems arise during the weaning process.
Another mistake that novice bird owners frequently make is not taking the temperature of the formula with a thermometer. Experienced breeders know that your wrist will eventually become desensitized to testing formula, and that in order to ensure that you are feeding formula at the correct temperature to prevent burning the baby, you must use a thermometer! When baby birds are weaning they become very resistant to eating tepid formula and will spit it out immediately if it is not hot enough. This is when the few degrees difference between acceptable and overheated is crucial. Unfortunately the baby WILL eat the formula when it is too hot, even though it may severely scald the inside of its crop! Even minor crop burns require a veterinarian's care which can include surgery to remove the burned tissue. This is not an inexpensive or simple procedure! Especially if the baby has been fed overheated formula repeatedly at each feeding, slightly burning the crop over and over until there is no healthy tissue left in the crop wall to save!
Another common mistake by a novice bird owner is not buying a baby bird that has been checked over by a qualified avian veterinarian. Most babies sold pre-weaned come with absolutely no guarantee. This means that you take full responsibility BEFORE having a vet examine the baby. It also means that paying for the vet's examination becomes the BUYERS responsibility! This is certainly not in the buyers best interest! It also means that the buyer would be responsible for any pre-existing condition that the baby may harbor subclinically prior to purchase.
When you're ready to purchase a baby parrot, make a list of what you would like the seller to provide.
© 2001 -2004 by Talking Green Parrot Aviary
Scooter
Scooter was sold to an elderly lady in Tampa, Florida. The new owner did NOT recognize that this baby was abnormal,
even though the deformities Scooter suffered were severe.
Note that Scooter was unable to stand or perch. Scooter could not eat without assistance either, because he couldn't position
himself so that he could eat from a dish. Two certified avian vets reported that this baby would never have been able to wean.
The prognosis was not good for Scooter and he died several days after these photos were taken.
Please, when buying a baby parrot take the time to protect yourself and to support only good and responsible breeders
who go the extra mile to sell only fully weaned, fully fledged, vet checked baby birds. It will be worth your time.