Parrot Parenting. Carol Frischmann

sources of parrots will provide a health guarantee for their birds.

      Hand-Fed vs. Parent-Raised Birds

      The best companion birds have been handled by the breeder very early in their lives. Whether young birds have been raised by their bird parents, by humans, or by a combination, the key is that they have been exposed to and handled by people from the earliest part of their lives. An advantage to birds at least partially raised by bird parents is that they are not imprinted on humans. In other words, parent-raised birds are clear that they are birds of the parent’s species. They identify themselves as birds and are clear that their potential mates are birds. Hand-raised birds (meaning removed from the parents’ nest and raised only by humans) become imprinted. Generally, these birds are needy and prone to behavior problems. For this reason, many good breeders share rearing with the parents, leaving the chicks in the nest until they are fully feathered and flighted.

      Visit Your Potential Bird More Than Once

      When you’ve identified several potential birds, spend time with each in an environment that mimics your home. Bathe the bird or feed him. Observe how the staff handles him.

      Discuss the purchasing process. What paperwork does the seller provide? You should expect to receive:

      •A bill of sale that provides a description of the bird, the sales price, and the hatch date and band number of the bird

      •A care sheet that describes the bird’s routine

      •A health guarantee for your bird, explaining the right of return. A health guarantee usually provides several days for you to have your bird seen by a veterinarian.

      If your prospective seller is unwilling to provide these things, move on, no matter how much you like the bird. An unwillingness to provide them indicates that the seller may not be reliable.

      If your prospective seller provides these things, you should return at least one additional time to spend time with the bird you like most. Again, ask to help in the bird’s care. Watch the process of caring for your prospective bird and other birds. Talk with the seller about suitable veterinary care in the area, a local bird club, and other resources that may support you in your efforts to become knowledgeable about your companion.

      Once you and the seller are agreed, a final step in the process is the health examination. For this, you should use a veterinarian who devotes a large part of her practice to birds. The veterinarian should do a well-bird exam and provide a health screening as a part of this process. As you will learn more in Chapter 7, birds should be screened for the more common diseases that afflict this species. For the screening, expect both blood and feces to be collected from your bird.

      Health Check

      As you begin your selection process, rely on a bird’s general appearance as the best indicator of health. A healthy bird has clear eyes and cere (where skull and beak meet, containing the nostrils), smooth feathers, all his toes, and clear legs and feet. His vent (where he eliminates feces) will be clean. The bird should be active, show curiosity, and perhaps approach you. If you’re not sure whether a bird is healthy, or if the cleanliness of the facility is suspect, move on. Remember, a healthy bird is both physically and emotionally healthy.

      Molting birds or birds growing new feathers create confusion for a new bird person. The spiky, coated feathers sometimes cause people to assume the bird is ill. Developing feathers poke through the bird’s skin from the inside, and new feathers emerge covered with a waxy coating similar to your cuticle. This is normal. Birds replace all their feathers once each year, and, between molts, they replace individual feathers year round.

      Another health indicator is the appearance of the bird’s enclosure. The room should be well-lit and relatively clean. The cages should not show a buildup of feces or dried food. The birds’ food and water should appear to have been changed twice daily. Although birds are messy, the facility should appear clean and the water and food fresh.

      No matter whether your bird will be young or old, you want to select a healthy bird. Once you have done the initial screening and eliminated some sources of birds from your list, you can look more closely at a specific bird. You will need to have that specific bird checked by a veterinarian for those things you cannot see. This may be impossible to do before you actually purchase or adopt the bird. If so, make arrangements to have a vet examine the parrot within a few days of acquiring him and have the source agree that nothing is final until you get a clean bill of health from the vet.

      Why all the fuss about getting a healthy bird? Your bird is a substantial investment of time and emotional energy. In addition, your financial investment in the purchase of your bird, annual medical care, and proper housing, including toys, is equally substantial. Ensuring that you have a healthy bird from the beginning means that you are unlikely to make these investments and then spend many more dollars providing medical support to a bird who was unhealthy from the beginning.

      A healthy bird has clear eyes and smooth feathers.

      Choosing the Right Parrot

      To find the parrot of your dreams and not the pet of your nightmares, potential parrot parents must be honest with themselves. The first decision is about the parrot species. Only after that decision has been made should the family begin to consider individual parrots as potential pets. Liz Wilson, a well-respected parrot behaviorist who was known to say the things that everyone needed to hear—but not everyone wanted to hear—published widely on this subject. In choosing the best parrot species for a family, Ms. Wilson suggested the following questions be part of an honest family conversation about acquiring a parrot before the decision is made:

      Question 1: Does everyone in the household agree that a parrot would be a happy addition?

      If the answer to this question is yes, then the next step is to decide on the species.

      Question 2: Are there chronic health issues in the household that might affect the decision about a pet parrot?

      One of the most frequently seen health issues, especially with children and older adults, is allergies or respiratory problems. If any family members suffer from these sorts of health problems, have them handle multiple species of birds. By handling various species and being exposed to the feather dander, they can determine whether there is a species of bird that does not aggravate their health condition. For fragile individuals, potential parrot parents should consult with a physician because, despite air filters, birds produce a certain amount of “feather dust,” and frail individuals may become increasingly sensitive over time. For these families, an alternative to purchasing a bird of your dreams is to share responsibility with a friend for a bird or to work with a bird rescue organization. There’s no reason to purchase a pet you know will aggravate the health of a family member.

      Question 3: Are you limited financially?

      If your family is limited financially, this will restrict your choice of species to a smaller, more common parrot. Not only will the price be smaller, but also the size and price of cages and toys will be smaller. For a larger species of parrot, the initial purchase price can be more than a thousand dollars; the toys and furnishings, including cages, can be more than twice the purchase price; and the ongoing costs of toys, veterinary care, and a proper diet can cost as much each year as in the first year.

      Most people find as much joy in a small parrot, including budgerigars (parakeets), as in a bigger bird, and there is the relief that they are not financially extending themselves more than is comfortable. Not only are these small parrots cheerful, busy, and interesting to watch, but also they are amusing in their antics. Many budgies can learn to talk and make excellent companions. In addition, budgies have a life span of no longer than ten years or so. If you feel insecure financially and insist that you must have a parrot in your life, consider a budgie.

      Question 4: Are you already too busy and feeling stressed about getting everything done?

      Parrots need lots of daily interaction to remain psychologically healthy. If you must have a bird to be happy, Ms. Wilson always suggested considering