Читать книгу Birds For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 76

Two factors are arguably more important than any others when it comes to buying the right bird with pet potential:

 Species selection: Have you chosen the right kind of bird for what you want in a pet? Have you looked beyond the flash and feathers and selected the bird with the level of care, interactivity, and noise that you can live with? (If you’re not sure, turn to Chapter 2 for a look at pet bird species, or visit Chapter 19 for our list of best birds for beginners.)

 Finding a reputable source for a healthy, well-socialized pet: If you choose a species that’s right for you and then go to the wrong source to purchase your bird, you may be in store for a disaster as big as, if not bigger than, picking the wrong kind of bird in the first place.

Retail outlets are not only the most popular places to get pet birds but also among the better sources. This advice is the opposite of what experts advise when people are looking for puppies and kittens. Reputable dog and cat breeders do not sell to pet stores. Pet-store puppies and kittens too often come from breeding operations where animals are mass-produced with no consideration for health or temperament, often under unspeakably cruel conditions. Others may come from casual local breeders with accidental litters to place.

The bird world is different. Although sickly, mass-produced birds are an occasional problem in the pet-bird trade, many pet stores either breed their own birds or contract exclusively with reputable local breeders. (Some retailers take care of the hand-feeding, while others buy only fully weaned babies.)

For the bird buyer, putting pet stores into the mix means you don’t have to deal directly with a breeder to get a great pet bird. Sometimes you can’t go straight to the breeder — they work through pet stores because they don’t want contact with the public.

When you visit a reputable store or retailer, don’t be surprised if it seems as if you’re being interviewed as if you were adopting a human child. It’s a good sign if a retailer or breeder’s questions send the message, “Are you a good enough candidate to take home one of our babies?” It suggests they’ve put a lot of time and effort into raising special birds, and they want to make sure their birds go to the best homes possible.

Why do many aviculturists steer clear of selling directly to the public? The reasons are as varied as the breeders themselves, but commonly they’re concerned about privacy and security. As any police officer can tell you, inviting strangers into your home is risky. The risk increases when you have an aviary full of breeding birds whose potential worth runs into thousands of dollars each. Easily stolen, these birds can be sold through ads or at flea markets, netting the thief a few hundred quick dollars for not much effort. (Another reason for thinking twice before buying a “bargain” bird: He could be stolen!)