Purchasing from bird marts

It's a lot of fun to attend a local bird mart/show and possibly pick up a new pet there. Although you can find some really good buys there, you must be cautious as to what you are buying. Some breeders actually will sell you a sick or unhealthy bird. More on that later. There are also breeders at shows that buy canaries in bulk from Florida, or other states, and sell them to unsuspecting customers as their own private stock. If they didnt raise the birds themselves then they have no idea of the health history on the bird. Many of the bulk purchased birds are under a great deal of stress from being in overcrowded cages, being flown in in a crate on an airplane, and having been raised in sub-standard conditions. This is much like a puppy farm.

Here's a tip on things to look for: Does the bird have nice round eyes? Is the vent area under the tail clean? Do the tips of the tail feathers look dirty or ragged? Are the body feathers nice and tight? Do the feet look scaley and red? If you see a bird like this DO NOT buy it. You can also check to see if the bird has on a leg band. Many breeders put these on their chicks, which means they themselves raised the bird. The band should contain a set of numbers, one being the year the bird was born. This is important. A breeder may sell off old stock, and if you are just looking for a pet these older birds would still be okay. You can tell by looking at an older bird if it just looks "worn out". Probably not your best choice, in that case.

Most breeders will tell you the truth. They also know that you have picked up their business card from the sale table and that you may contact them later about potential issues with the bird. Always get a name and phone number. If the seller is reluctant to give that out then I wouldn't buy from them.

Keeping birds is an awesome experience! They make great pets. Be sure you are getting a good clean, healthy bird, no matter where it comes from. Enjoy! :>