Buying from a Breeder Directly

[lovezebs]

zebsoc

I also enjoy seeing how people have their birds set up, before considering bringing one home.

However, I do understand how some people may be very careful and cautious with prospective buyers.

I recall reading a post somewhere (written by a breeder ), where she brought prospective buyers (who were bird owners) into her aviary, only to end up losing large numbers of her birds to some sort of bird plague, that they had unknowingly brought with them. She stated, that after that incident, no one comes into her aviary.

Personally, if someone that I don't know wants a specific bird (s), I will bring the bird in a travel cage , to some agreed on public place, and go on from there.

Having a video of your birds and set up on your phone, is an option. That way, people can see the birds, see the flights, etc.

[lovezebs]

Babs

I'll have to remember to bring a gas mask, if I come lurking in the night (and some t-bone steaks for the pups, and beer for Bubba.....or beer for the dogs, and a t-bone for Bubba. ...).

[zebsoc]

Rox - makes a lot sense not wanting people inside aviary. That's what I wish, is just to views the aviary from outside.
I can't imagine trying to catch birds inside an aviary.
I moved my birds from medium cages to flight cages and that was hard enough. Don't want to have to catch them now that they are in flight cages.

[ac12]

I can't imagine trying to catch birds inside an aviary.
I moved my birds from medium cages to flight cages and that was hard enough. Don't want to have to catch them now that they are in flight cages.

LARGE sheet of kinolin.
I use a small sheet about 15" square instead of a net or towel. The krinolin does not feak them out like the towel used to, because they can see through it.

[zebsoc]

Ac12 - thank you for letting me know about the way you catch them. Hadn't heard of that before.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

If you dont wanna wear a gas mask OMG dont give the dog a beer! That will turn into a guaranteed fart fest!

[lovezebs]

Babs

A fart fest..... I needed a chuckle this a.m., and that sure did it sweetie

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

LOL I found out the hard way when she cleaned up half a beer that spilled on the kitchen floor. OMG She almost cleared the whole house out!.

[lovezebs]

Babs

I'm cleaning over here, GET OUT OF MY WAY !!!

And everybody GOT!

[zebsoc]

Lovezebs - that is a very good idea seeing a video of their aviary.
It would give me an idea of the interaction between birds.
Some birds in a flock just get along together better than others.
And see if the flock looks healthy in general.

Besides quarantine, what do people do to help prevent bringing a disease or mites/lice/etc. Into one's own flock when buying new birds? (And home)
Any general preventative treatment of birds while in quarantine that is good to do?
Since my home is kept at about 80 degrees year round due to health, anything brought in is more likely to incubate/increase and spread rapidly.
And if I buy from spring through fall the temperatures in my area can get quite high. In the 90s in spring and 100s in summer, so birds kept outside will be in these temperatures regardly which can produce and spread abundant parasites and disease.

Any birds I should avoid because they don't do well in warm indoors climate year round?

[ac12]

zebsoc
PM me your email, and I will send you an XL sheet of my quarantine procedure, including medication treatment.

[wildbill]

well I just buy them-- catch them and then throw them in the aviary............. has worked well for 45 odd years I figure if they going to drop it won't matter much if I quarantine them or not. if I did after that the new arrivals could easily pick up something off the aviary floor - they could end up being a goner regardless.
once you have been around birds a while -you get an idea if they are healthy sitting on the perch or unhealthy laying on the floor. I think the only bird worth saving is an egg bound bird but those feathered friend which arrive/look sick I think they will never be any good and their time is limited .
I actually sold 20 diamonds to a very big breeders just days ago. I dropped them off and he said let them go in that aviary. huge aviary too 10 metres x 3 metres and 2.4 high. he plans to colony breed the fawn diamond. most are like that here - throw em in and see what happens not saying that's the correct thing to do but just telling what happens regular down under.
I am more into a S76 program for prevention of air sac mite for gouldians plus a complete aviary worm out twice a year. I am not into giving medication just to keep birds alive. some do here to bring them back up to scratch and then off load and sell them to unsuspecting buyers. that's no good for the bird and no good for the buyer.

[debbie276]

Personally I think it is a very dangerous thing to just throw the birds in with your others. If they are carrying anything you've just exposed your entire flock to it, disease or parasite.
S76 is not a preventive it will only kill mites IF your bird has them, not prevent the mites in between treatments.
I also don't believe in medicating for no good reason but do follow a quarantine procedure.
This is the most like what I do, https://ladygouldian.com/content/why-qu ... -new-birds , except I use Scatt because I like that it is active for 21 days instead of S76 that is active for about 8 hours and needs to be repeated more frequently.

[wilkifam]

That is totally normal for breeders. Many have closed aviarys.

[zebsoc]

Wildbill
Debbie 276
Sounds like S76 and Scatt are 2 products that are good to have on hand.

Wildbill - i agree sick birds not likely to make it.
I had 2 sickly birds and neither made it. Does seem that once sick, not easy to save, and can endanger spreading to other birds as they worsen. My other birds much more active/lively after sick birds passed and removed from area, tho they were in separate sick cage.