What is a reliable address for purchasing a parakeet or parrot?

"Where can we reliably purchase a parrot/parakeet? Can you give me some reliable addresses?"

We receive this question regularly, so we are happy to provide some more background information.

If someone wants to purchase a bird, it is good that the prospective buyer makes the various considerations. The choice to purchase a bird has far-reaching consequences for the owner, but certainly also for the bird. First of all, it is good to remember that parrots are not domesticated animals. Domesticated pets have been kept in captivity for thousands of years and are animals that do not occur in nature. It can range from cats, dogs, rabbits, but chickens are also among the domesticated pets.

There are several advantages to purchasing a domesticated pet:

Domesticated pets are, as a result of thousands of years of selective breeding, completely adapted to living with humans as pets. Part of domestication is that there is a large variety of breeds of the same species with a variety of properties and characteristics.
Domesticated pets have qualities and characteristics that are of interest to humans. The Labrador was bred to retrieve a shot duck from the water. The tackle was bred to chase badgers and foxes out of their dens, etc. etc.
Breeders and owners of domesticated animals generally have more knowledge about keeping these animals in captivity.
An important advantage of keeping domesticated pets is that veterinarians throughout the Netherlands have sufficient knowledge about preventing and solving (health) problems.

There are good reasons to only purchase a parrot/parakeet if there are good answers to a number of questions.

Questions the prospective buyer should ask themselves are:

Why do I want to purchase a parrot as a non-domesticated animal and what are the consequences?
Which type do I want to purchase and why?
Do I have sufficient expertise about the background of the species, nutrition, housing, care, behavior and handling of the bird(s)? This minimum expertise is not generally available among breeders and not at pet stores and therefore not among parrot owners. This expertise is also generally absent among veterinarians. This expertise is required to ensure health and well-being and to prevent problems or to recognize them in a timely manner. Incompetence of the breeder/seller/owner and veterinarian is ultimately the main cause of serious welfare problems, health problems and even the main cause of death in parrots.
Do I have the time and options to ensure that the parrot/parakeet comes outside as often as possible for a walk, a bike ride, etc.?
Do I have an extra space where the parrot can spend the night in a separate sleeping cage?
Is it possible to offer the parrot enough privacy to prevent the parrot/parakeet from being the center of attention?
Which avian veterinarian do you collaborate with for a purchase check and for further guidance?
Which bird veterinarians can I contact in case of emergency situations? Experience has shown that this question only arises when problems suddenly arise, and it can then be very difficult to find a solution. Especially if it takes place outside normal working hours, on weekends or during public holidays.
Are there reliable shelters/accommodation addresses where the parrot/parakeet can go in case of absence due to holiday, illness or other private circumstances?
Because parrots/parakeets can outlive the owner, the question is whether there is an arrangement so that the bird can be cared for within the family or circle of acquaintances and not end up in the trade?

If there is a satisfactory answer to these questions, the question arises of reliable addresses where a parrot/parakeet can be purchased?

Based on my experiences as an avian veterinarian, the starting point is that purchasing a bird through “the trade” should be regarded as bird-unfriendly and unreliable. The experience within the Bird Advisory Practice is that “the trade” in birds has no regard for the health, welfare, interests and rights of birds. Subsequently, the trade also pays no attention to the interests of the buyer. The trade that stands out is the trade in birds through pet shops, bird markets (whether or not linked to a bird exhibition) or via the internet. Channels where a reasonable person would not purchase a dog as a companion animal. This sector almost always concerns animals for which the seller does not collaborate with an avian veterinarian. The advice on nutrition, housing and care is almost always outdated, incomplete and generally even incorrect. Sellers are expected to sell healthy animals/birds. Buyers of birds do not realize that sellers are obliged to maintain a legally required warranty period.

“The trade” generally does not work with an avian veterinarian. It is therefore essential to inquire about the name and details of the avian veterinarian with whom the seller works when purchasing. The answer may immediately be a reason not to purchase a bird from this seller. The breeder, the intermediary and the final seller rarely or never work with an avian veterinarian who has examined the birds, tested them for diseases and drawn up and signed a formal health declaration. We must therefore by definition regard sellers who do not work closely with an avian veterinarian as unreliable. In the trade, the birds have sometimes been tested for a limited number of infectious diseases.

In such situations, any tests/results are not reliable if the results come from laboratories that accept blood samples/swabs sent by an owner/breeder/seller. This way there is no guarantee that the laboratory results match the identity of the bird. In addition, the results are unreliable if the birds are kept in an environment with other birds that may be infected with infectious diseases. Research results via the trade are (unfortunately) generally completely unreliable.

Growers come in different “categories”.

My experience as an avian veterinarian is that breeders often have several breeding flocks for commercial reasons with the intention of breeding as many young birds as possible for sale. Fortunately, there are exceptions to this observation. These exceptions have birds with the intention of doing everything we can to ensure the welfare and health of the birds. These bird lovers strive for a longer-term relationship with the birds where the birds are tame, have a name and feel comfortable in the presence of the owner. Naturally, these enthusiasts work closely with an avian veterinarian and take the advice from avian medicine seriously.

Unfortunately, we must generally regard parrot breeding as a commercial activity. The concept of hobby and “birdwatching” suggests that it is harmless and bird-friendly. . The idea that breeders breed birds as a matter of course because of the importance of the birds is naive in my opinion. This position is based on my experience as an avian veterinarian for more than 30 years. It is based on experience that the majority of parrot and parakeet breeders do not demonstrate that the interests and welfare of the birds are a real priority in the areas of feeding, housing, care and behavior of birds. This is already clear when we look at the available space that the breeding couples have. It is no exception that 5 breeding couples are kept in a space that I, as an avian veterinarian, consider to be a space where a maximum of 1 breeding couple can be kept. Parrots are rarely kept in aviaries where the birds can actually fly around. The birds can often at most “fly” from one perch to another perch. By limiting the space required, it becomes more like battery cages than full-fledged housing for parrots and parakeets.

The housing generally resembles the old-fashioned housing of lions or elephants in an outdated zoo. It is remarkable that there are still breeders where the breeding birds do not go outside. We must regard this as a gross neglect of the welfare of the birds. Breeders where the birds have a hopefully spacious outdoor aviary are doing much better. It is remarkable that the birds generally do not have heated indoor enclosures. The basic principle for a good indoor environment is that the temperature can be adjusted to the unfavorable climatic conditions in autumn, winter and spring. Temperatures must be able to be above 25 degrees Celsius in the indoor environment under unfavorable climatic conditions. We should regard this as essential for well-being and the prevention of health problems.In addition, it is important to be able to influence the relative humidity in an indoor environment to prevent it from being either too dry or too humid. It is no exception that growers believe that it is sufficient if indoor areas are kept frost-free. This indicates that there is insufficient expertise in the field of keeping parrots and the welfare of the birds is grossly neglected. Just as with bird traders, it is natural to ask a breeder/seller which bird veterinarian they work with. If an owner of horses, cows, dogs, cats or pigs is asked who the veterinarian is for these animals, the owner will without hesitation be told the name of the veterinarian or the name of the veterinary practice. Every poultry farmer has a poultry veterinarian and every pig farmer works with a veterinarian who specializes in pigs, etc.

The average parrot/parakeet breeder cannot name their “own bird veterinarian”. Bird owners add that they have never needed an avian veterinarian. When working with an avian veterinarian, the questions are: how often there is contact with the avian veterinarian per year, whether the bird sold by the avian veterinarian has been examined and tested for infectious diseases and whether the avian veterinarian may be contacted with questions and to issue an official health declaration. It is also obvious to ask for a statement from the avian veterinarian that this is included the buyer has not died of a contagious disease in the past 2 years. It is therefore not obvious to purchase a bird from a breeder who does not really work with an avian veterinarian. It is important to remember that a veterinarian is not the same as an avian veterinarian, just as a livestock farmer does not work with a veterinarian, but with a veterinarian who has specialized in cow medicine.

It should go without saying that breeders/sellers agree that, if evidence of a contagious disease is found during the purchase inspection, the seller will not only take back the bird and refund the purchase price, but also pay the costs incurred by the buyer in connection with the purchase inspection. These agreements should be part of the warranty that the seller is expected to offer. Unfortunately, the majority of growers are considered reliable on these points. We can hardly consider breeders who are unreliable on several points as bird lovers, because there is structural incompetence and/or unwillingness, whereby the interests of the birds are subordinate to other interests.
As far as I am concerned, breeders/sellers who sell some of the young farmed birds through bird markets, middlemen or the pet shop are out of the question. In this way, breeders/sellers demonstrate that the health and welfare of the birds is secondary to commercial interests. The risk is that young birds that are not sold through a bird market, exhibition or pet shop are taken back, with all the associated risks with regard to infectious diseases.
It is extremely sad to see that parrots from the majority of breeders die or "disappear" at a young age, while the life expectancy of the birds is at least 3 times longer. Parrots that “disappear” have often died at a young age without the bird being examined or have been sold to the trade or to another breeder because the breeding results were insufficient. Breeders do not realize that, for example, a Gray Redstart can live to be 80 years and older if the requirements are met with regard to food, housing and care, including handling the bird. As far as I am concerned, breeders who have been breeding parrots for 20 years and where it is normal that there are no parrots in the stock that are at least 20 years old are excluded. As far as I'm concerned, breeders who do not realize that the now banned hand rearing of baby parrots should be considered a cause of serious problems in parrots are left out.
As far as I'm concerned, breeders who don't think it's normal for the breeding birds to have their own names and don't think it's normal that the breeding birds are really tame are excluded. So do not buy a bird if the breeder/seller cannot prove that the breeding birds are tame. Tam also means tame in the presence of strangers.
As far as I'm concerned, breeders/sellers who are involved in breeding mutations are excluded. Breeding mutations is not in the best interest of the birds. We must regard mutations as abnormalities that do not occur structurally in nature. Inbreeding is often an important part of mutation breeding. An important motive for breeding mutations is that these birds have a higher commercial value. Mutation breeding should therefore be regarded as a commercial bird-unfriendly activity and not in the interest of the individual bird and certainly not in the interest of the species. Given the motives for breeding mutations, it is difficult for me as an avian veterinarian to consider such breeders as bird enthusiasts, because the interests of the birds are subordinate to other interests.
As far as I'm concerned, breeders who deliberately breed hybrids are excluded. The main reason for breeding mongrels is that these birds are more valuable and popular because they deviate from normal. The motive of breeding hybrids is not in the best interest of the bird and breeding hybrids is not in the best interest of the species. Given the motives for breeding hybrids, it is difficult for me to consider such breeders as bird lovers, because the interests of the birds are secondary to other interests.

What are the characteristics of a reliable grower?

We work closely with an avian veterinarian who has specialized in bird medicine.
The breeder's choices are determined by the interests of the birds. This is also in the interest of a potential buyer.
With regard to nutrition, housing and care, well-being and health are guaranteed, and the knowledge and expertise of bird medicine is taken seriously.
Reliable pellets are used as the main food, with Harrison's Bird Foods being the first to be advised by the Bird Advice Practice.
A breeder who has been breeding parrots for 20 or 30 years therefore has parrots of at least 20 years or 30 years that are still being bred.
The breeding birds are tame and have a name.
No mutations or hybrids are bred.
No birds go to an exhibition.
No birds are sold or purchased through bird markets, traders or other breeders who do not meet the aforementioned points.
Birds are sold with a formal health certificate from the avian veterinarian with the agreement that, if indications of a (contagious) disease are found during the purchase inspection, the bird will be taken back and the costs of the examination will be reimbursed.

The conclusion is that it is not exactly easy to find a reliable address for purchasing a parrot/parakeet.
It means that the necessary homework must be done and time must be invested in order to make a responsible choice. This is the opposite of the impulsive purchase of a parrot/parakeet with a high chance of a negative outcome in which the parrot/parakeet suffers.

Parrots that end up between a rock and a hard place deserve a second chance.

In the Netherlands, many hundreds of parrots end up between the cracks every year, comparable to dogs and cats that end up in a shelter.

When purchasing a parrot, it is obvious to remember that it is nice if a parrot gets a second chance, as also applies to a dog in the shelter. There are several shelters for parrots in the Netherlands. Parrots are given up for many different reasons. The main reason why parrots are given up is because the owner did not ask the right questions when purchasing the parrot. The owner's incompetence is the reason for a range of health problems and a range of behavioral problems.

In addition, parrots get between two stools because the owner dies and family or friends do not want to care for the parrot because of the parrot's behavioral problems. Often the owner could supposedly do anything with the parrot, but the parrot was aggressive towards other housemates. Very sad when we consider that the owner has made major mistakes in dealing with the parrot and that the parrot ultimately suffers from this and has to go to a shelter or is offered via the internet. It is a good thing that parrots/parakeets who end up in shelters get a second chance.

It is better than purchasing a parrot through the trade or other unreliable channels. Unfortunately, we cannot assume that a parrot sanctuary is a reliable address. To assess whether a parrot sanctuary is a reliable address, the same criteria and questions apply that apply to breeders and pet stores. Unfortunately, we have to think of parrot sanctuaries as locations where all possible contagious diseases can be present and given a chance. Good cooperation with an avian veterinarian is therefore of great importance, and an avian veterinarian should actually have a decisive voice when it comes to the policy of a shelter. It is therefore essential that a parrot from a rescue center has been examined by an avian veterinarian and that there is a formal, dated health declaration signed by the avian veterinarian.

There are parrot rescue centers that breed parrots and then sell the young parrots. We must regard this as an undesirable situation for several reasons. It would be unthinkable that a dog shelter would breed sheltered dogs and then sell the puppies. Breeding young parrots in a shelter is also unthinkable given the problem of infectious diseases in parrot shelters.

The avian veterinarian plays an important role in the sale and purchase of a parrot/parakeet.

When people talk about an avian veterinarian, there can quickly be misunderstandings about the question; “Who is a reliable bird veterinarian?” Every veterinarian can call himself an avian veterinarian, even a veterinarian who mainly focuses on animals other than birds. It is not obvious if the veterinarian's main expertise and experience is in the field of domesticated pets such as dogs, cats, etc. that a veterinarian profiles himself as an avian veterinarian. It is unusual for veterinarians to advertise themselves as cat veterinarians or dog veterinarians, even if the majority of patients are cats and dogs.

A veterinarian who profiles himself as a cat veterinarian will therefore distinguish himself by focusing mainly on cat medicine and not treating dogs. This also applies to an equine veterinarian and a poultry veterinarian. It is good to remember that non-avian veterinarians often deal with a limited number of mammal species. There may be many breeds, but ultimately these breeds involve a very limited number of animal species. An avian veterinarian deals with a large number of different bird species with a wide variety of backgrounds, origins, requirements regarding nutrition, housing and care and a wide variety of diseases and behaviors.

To me, an avian veterinarian is a veterinarian who spends most of his time on avian medicine and where avian medicine is also the most important expertise.

An avian veterinarian focuses on further training, attending conferences/symposia and making contributions to the field, mainly avian medicine. There are too few avian veterinarians in the Netherlands and there are also too few veterinarians who have an additional interest in avian medicine in addition to their "normal work".

By requesting the Curriculum Vitae of veterinarians, it can be assessed whether it concerns an avian veterinarian or a veterinarian who has an additional interest in birds in addition to his other (main) activities.

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.