Without wishing to
denigrate the many scrupulously honest pet dealers who operate in this country,
I recommend the prospective pet-owner to buy his or her bird direct from the
breeder. Seeing the quality of stock from which the proposed pet originates is
a useful guide to the quality of the individual itself. This is obviously particularly important if
the newcomer is intended to be part of a breeding colony. It is not always true
that the physically perfect specimen reproduces perfectly. But if the family of
that bird is seen to be of uniformly high standard, then it is reasonable to
assume that the desirable traits are an inherited quality which will be passed
on through the progeny.
Even when a bird is to
be a singly kept pet, it is helpful to buy from the breeder. He can provide
information about the kind of diet the chick is accustomed to, which will help
speedy acclimatization to the new home. Most breeders will be happy to advise
the novice in cage bird keeping, and to act as an information bureau for useful
local names and addresses, such as that of a vet who is a specialist in
handling bird cases.
For canaries, British
birds, foreign finches and exotic birds, the best
buying time is late summer or early autumn.
By then the new season’s chicks will have achieved their first adult plumage and, singing types will be warbling their first songs, so that sexing is infinitely easier. Budgerigar breeders, aware of the appeal of a new pet as a Christmas present, have managed to regulate the sex cycles of their stock so that chicks of the marketable age of six weeks plus are available during the festive season, are hardier and healthy throughout their lives as a result of this.
By then the new season’s chicks will have achieved their first adult plumage and, singing types will be warbling their first songs, so that sexing is infinitely easier. Budgerigar breeders, aware of the appeal of a new pet as a Christmas present, have managed to regulate the sex cycles of their stock so that chicks of the marketable age of six weeks plus are available during the festive season, are hardier and healthy throughout their lives as a result of this.
The journal Cage birds
regularly lists the meetings of local breed societies and through contact with
the secretary of such an organization it should be possible to get the names of
several breeders specializing in each type of bird. As with all purchases,
shopping around before making a final decision generally ensures value for
money. Before buying a pet bird, visits to various aviaries will also help the
beginner to build up a fund of useful knowledge about the species he or she
wants to keep.
