How do we prevent problems after purchase?

Many birds are kept in the Netherlands, partly as pets and partly in breeding stocks. Many thousands of birds are bred every year, the majority of which will change owners. Every bird owner has started by purchasing one or more birds. There is also a continuous exchange between bird stocks through purchase, sale and/or exchange. The experience of the (avian) veterinarian is that it is precisely through this exchange that many disease problems are spread and come to light.

Birds that have participated in exhibitions and birds that are taken home after a bird market can also be a cause of transmitting a contagious disease. It is therefore extremely important that as much attention as possible is paid to preventive measures.

The starting point is the importance of the birds and the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases. An attempt has been made to create a general overview that can be used for the different bird species.

First of all, the aspiring seller must ask himself to what extent the purchase of a bird is a conscious choice and not an impulse purchase.

After purchasing, the buyer can guarantee good housing, nutrition and care for a bird. When purchasing a parrot, cockatoo, macaw, etc., we must remember that these birds are purchased for the rest of their lives and that this choice is a major responsibility. When purchasing a dog, it is common and normal to then go to a puppy course. When purchasing a parrot/parakeet, it is advisable to make an appointment for a purchase inspection in combination with a behavioral consultation. The Bird Advisory Practice also provides courses on the responsible keeping of parrots and parakeets.

The origin of the birds

Birds can be purchased through various 'channels'. Birds are often bought and sold 'anonymously' through bird markets and bird trade. The buyer generally does not know the selling party. The origin of the birds is unknown and the circumstances of the seller are also unknown. The birds are often not individually identified

Birds may have had different owners and it is unclear why the bird in question is being sold. It is advantageous to buy birds from enthusiasts who have reliable information.

Identification

It is important that birds are individually identified by means of a foot ring. This makes it possible to check who bred the bird and its age.

There are also other ways to identify a bird individually, where the transponder (microchip) in particular is a useful tool. With other animal species such as dogs and cats, it is common for a pedigree to be given to the buyer upon purchase. It is also common for racing pigeons to provide information about their (ancestor) parents. This is not (yet) common in most birds. In the case of many species for which the number of (breeding) birds is limited, it is very important for the future that when exchanging birds, it is important to prevent increasing relationships within a particular species.

Putting together breeding couples that involve inbreeding has numerous negative effects in the long term within the bird hobby. Within (international) breeding programs of endangered species, information about the origin is accurately maintained to prevent problems.

When purchasing, it is also important to have background information about the seller's housing. This may concern birds that come from an unheated room or open aviary or a heated enclosure.

It is also important to have background information about the food that was given to the birds. This can be taken into account when switching to your own power supply.

The advice is to preferably purchase a bird from the person who bred the bird themselves. This means that the bird does not come from the trade and that the seller is a breeder and not or not also a trader.

The purchase of baby parrots

The advice is not to purchase a baby parrot until it can eat completely independently. The advice is not to purchase a baby parrot that has been raised by hand.

It is a persistent misunderstanding to think that a baby raised by hand will be a better companion later on. In practice this turns out not to be true. Rather, it is the opposite. There is a great commercial interest for breeders and sellers to sell the birds as young as possible. It is important for the development of the young bird that it stays with its parents for as long as possible. Many baby parrots raised by humans develop behavioral problems and may exhibit biting, picking, and screaming behavior. Many of these birds then end up in shelters or end up back in the trade and move from one address to another. The Parrot Foundation, together with the Clinic for Birds / Advisory Practice for Birds, has conducted a successful campaign against hand-rearing.

The outcome is that hand rearing of parrots is legally prohibited as of July 1, 2014. A step forward in the welfare of parrots in captivity.

The research and inspection of the (purchased) birds

When purchasing birds, it is important that the birds are examined/inspected. Experience has shown that many birds are purchased without seriously examining the bird. It is essential that sufficient time is allowed to assess the purchased bird as thoroughly as possible. It is important to conduct this research systematically.

This research can consist of different parts. The enthusiast can carry out an important part of the research himself before making the purchase. Another part will have to be done by the (avian) veterinarian, whereby additional laboratories may also be necessary. Assessment from some distance and, if possible, in peace. The bird must have the opportunity to sit on a perch. The posture and position of the bird can then be viewed.

Furthermore, it is assessed:

Abnormality of the nostrils and eyes.
The beak.
The breathing. In case of shortness of breath, the abdomen will 'breathe along' and tail wagging may be noticed. The beak must be closed.
Both paws, toes and nails.
Striking abnormalities, such as a drooping wing.
Feather abnormalities and moulting disorders.
Soiling of the feathers under the tail with feces or urine.
The feces. This involves looking at the color and shape. There are clear species differences that need to be taken into account.
The urine consists of two parts; a bright white part and a more watery part. The urine should not be too watery. If the color of the white part is different, one should suspect that there may be an internal problem. Especially in liver diseases, we can see that the urine turns yellowish or greenish instead of chalky white.
If there is an opportunity to let the bird fly, its performance can be assessed. In addition, it can be examined to what extent the bird will show shortness of breath after exercise.

Assessment in hand:

Each bird will have to be handled before purchase. Various matters can be assessed here.

The head, both eyes and both nostrils. You can listen closely to see if abnormal breathing sounds are audible.
The beak and, if possible, also in the beak and pharynx.
The neck and the crop or chest entrance
The chest. Where the muscles are viewed and felt.
Losing weight and being overweight or obese.
The sternum. Attention can be paid to the degree of calcification and any curvature.
The abdomen is felt for abnormalities. The leg bones can also be felt. The belly can be viewed, depending on the bird species. Especially in finches, the intestines and liver can be assessed through the skin after 'blowing away' the coverts.
Both wings are spread and the bones and joints are felt and compared. The pens are examined against the light to look for feather mites or lice, among other things.
Feather abnormalities and moulting disorders can be detected. Both at the wings and at the tail.
The body is searched for lice.
Both paws, toes and nails. The ring is read and it is checked whether the correct size has been used.
The cloaca. This also involves checking whether feces are sticking. In Amazons and Macaws it is important to check whether there are any visible bulges from the cloaca, suspected of contagious papillomatosis. Particularly in budgerigars and other species, indications of parakeet mange can be found, where gray and/or white skin growths and beak abnormalities are visible.

Additional examination options through the veterinarian

It is essential that it is agreed with the seller when purchasing that additional research will be carried out to assess and check the birds. Agreements can be made that the purchase can be canceled depending on the findings of the (follow-up) investigation. You can discuss with the (avian) veterinarian which examinations and tests are suitable for the bird species in question.

Birds often show no external symptoms despite the presence of (contagious) bird diseases. Birds try to hide symptoms of illness as much as possible. In nature this is for self-protection. A bird in the wild with external symptoms is noticed by others of its kind and predators and rejected or 'caught'. Birds continue to eat well in the event of many diseases, often to compensate for weight loss and because birds can die from intestinal bleeding without passage of food through the intestinal tract.

For every purchased bird without external symptoms, it is therefore useful to have it checked for the presence of (contagious) diseases by means of additional research. Avian medicine has continued to develop over the past fifteen years, with more and more diseases being recognized and there being more and more research methods and tests that the (avian) veterinarian can use.

The additional research may consist of:

Examination of the stool This can be done directly under the microscope and/or after making specific stains. This includes looking for internal parasites, bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Stool culture can be done for bacteria, fungi and possibly viruses.
Swabs that can be done from the throat or crop, cloaca, skin, etc. This includes looking for parasites and staining and cultures can also be done for bacteria and fungi. Especially when purchasing Amazons and Macaws, it is important to examine the cloaca, cleft palate and throat for the presence of papillomas. A smear from the cloaca and the cleft palate can be examined for parrot disease, Circovirus, polyomavirus and Bormavirus.
For example, blood tests can be done for Beak and Feather Rot Disease, Bornavirus, Parrot Disease and Polyomavirus. Furthermore, blood tests can be done to assess internal disorders.
X-ray examination to look for indications of glandular dilation syndrome.
Endoscopic examination that allows inspection of the abdominal cavity, trachea, esophagus and crop. An endoscopic examination can provide valuable information, especially when determining gender and assessing the genitals.

Agreements regarding the purchase and the purchase contract

It has already been indicated that it is important to make clear agreements when purchasing. It is preferable to record this in writing to avoid misunderstandings later. Some points to note when purchasing are:

Identification of the bird
Period within which the bird is examined and checked and during which the purchase can be canceled depending on the findings. A gender determination can also be included if the seller sells a particular bird as a male or as a female.
The costs of the (follow-up) examination, such as a sex determination or an examination for beak and feather rot disease.

Quarantine

A quarantine is defined as a period during which the bird is isolated in such a way that no exchange can occur between the different birds. The best known is the quarantine applied to imported birds. It is legally established that birds are isolated for a period of at least 30 days before being released.

The 'import quarantine' has been introduced to prevent the pseudo-avian flu virus from creeping in. The importance here is to prevent the disease in poultry farming. The period that has been determined has been chosen in such a way that birds infected with fowl flu show symptoms of disease within this period. For most contagious bird diseases, this period is too short to have any certainty that the birds will not pose a risk to other birds after this period. Various bird diseases or infections are spread by 'carriers' whereby the birds in question can spread diseases and infections for a long time, without showing symptoms themselves. Some examples of this, depending on the bird species, are: worms, lice, mites (feather mite, trachea mite), trichomoniasis, coccidiosis, salmonella, campylobacter, parrot disease, herpes virus, beak and feather rot disease, gastric gland dilation syndrome and polyoma virus.

It is therefore not possible to choose a quarantine period such that there is no longer a risk of spreading diseases after purchase. In general, a period of at least 6-8 weeks is indicated. There is a viral disease in Amadines and Astrildes with serious eye infections, shortness of breath and a lot of mortality. It can take 3-4 months after a purchase before the symptoms become visible. The same applies to most contagious bird diseases.

The importance of a quarantine:

The new birds are given the opportunity to adapt to the changed circumstances and environment in peace. It is important to recognize that birds are placed in a stressful situation due to or after a purchase, making the birds more vulnerable and more sensitive to problems. Birds must therefore be cared for under favorable conditions. The ambient temperature may not be lower than the ambient temperature at the seller's.
The opportunity to observe birds, have them examined and, if necessary, treat them. It is important to weigh purchased birds. This makes it possible to always check whether the weight is correct and to what extent there are changes in the weight. Weight loss may be the only indication that a bird is having problems.
Treatment during the quarantine period is always in consultation with the (avian) veterinarian and depends on the bird species, its origin and the findings of the research. It is not wise to treat purchased birds with all kinds of medications for numerous infections. A large proportion of infections can be proven or ruled out through research. 'Blind treatment' should be avoided as much as possible because it often leads to unwanted use of medication.
In the event of death, the bird is always examined to determine the cause of death. This is important in view of the agreements made with the seller and to take additional preventive measures, depending on the findings. Preventive vaccinations can be carried out during the quarantine period. Preventive vaccinations are available for (carrier) pigeons against paramyxovirus, poxvirus and salmonella. A preventive smallpox vaccination is available for canaries. Preventive vaccinations are also available for ornamental poultry and ducks. Especially in zoo collections, birds susceptible to pseudotuberculosis are vaccinated against this disease
Get the birds used to different foods. It is important to know what food the birds were used to before purchasing. If necessary, you can gradually switch to a different diet.
Preventing a contagious disease from being transmitted to other birds. A separate area must be created for quarantine where there is no exchange between the purchased birds and the other birds. The room and cages must be able to be properly cleaned and disinfected. Materials, food bowls and drinking bowls, perches, etc. may not be mixed up. The enthusiast first takes care of his own birds and then the quarantine birds. It is recommended to wear separate clothing such as a dust jacket and to change or disinfect footwear.

Conclusion

All preventive measures when purchasing birds are in the interest of the birds. It is very important that the birds already in the buyer's possession are also protected. In the case of a breeding stock, the value and importance of the (breeding) stock is generally much greater than the value or importance of the purchased birds. Within the hobby, the costs of research are often compared to the value of the individual bird. However, costs must be compared against the most valuable birds in the stock. The purchase costs of a bird must also include an amount as an investment in good preventive measures. Problems or mortality afterwards is a painful and sad experience after purchasing a living room bird.

Problems in a breeding stock after the purchase of birds can have major consequences for a breeding stock. This problem is even more important given the increase in contagious viral diseases for which no treatments are available. The problem is also becoming increasingly important because there are (will be) no imported birds from nature available to compensate for losses. In the coming years, the value we should place on many captive bird species will increase. This development increases the responsibility of those who keep valuable, rare species in breeding stocks.

Summary and recommendations

Don't buy birds from a seller you don't know.
Do not buy birds 'via-via'.
Do not buy birds without reliable identification.
Try to obtain as much background information as possible (origin, housing, nutrition, pedigree) of the birds.
Do not buy a bird that cannot yet eat independently.
Do not buy birds without making proper agreements about the seller's responsibility in connection with 'hidden defects and diseases' in the birds and about examinations, checks and tests.
Do not buy birds without systematic examination and checks through a purchase audit.
Do not buy birds without the possibility of a good quarantine facility.
Make the most of the quarantine period.
Make an appointment for a behavioral consultation.
Follow the course “Carring for Parrots/Parakeets”.

In general, the advice to bird owners is to join a national and/or local bird association in order to be/stay informed of developments. It is also self-evident that bird owners support organizations that stand up for the interests of birds in nature, within aviculture and as domestic birds.

Copyright © Advisory Practice for Birds | drs. Jan Hooimeijer. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied without written permission from Jan Hooimeijer. Sharing the article in its original form is of course permitted (and even desirable) on the condition that this is always done with clear source information. The article has been compiled with the utmost care. However, the author cannot accept responsibility for any damage of any kind resulting from defects in the content.