Buying birds out of State

[Azballa7]

For those of you that purchased your birds from another state.... how did you go about doing this? Wouldn't you want to see the birds in person so you could pick out a healthy one? Or find one that enjoys your company?

[Melika]

While I didn't buy my birds from out of state, I would have if I had ever gotten to the point of buying a green-wing macaw. Honestly I trust the breeder on this one (of course I was going to buy from a particularly spectacular breeder http://www.wendysparrots.com/) as she/he spends more time with the chick than you would on a visit and knows their personality.

Also, many good breeders will not allow people onto the premises for biosecurity reasons.

[lilgiggles1012]

I got mine from Florida and im in Maine and we have bought one in person and either way feels the same

[MissK]

I would not be comfortable buying a bird unseen and unheard. However, I did make a very long drive to pick one up, with the understanding I would be really bummed if he turned out to not be right. He was right.

-MissK

[pattiB]

We are getting our new family member this Friday! I spent over an hour on the phone with the breeder. I totally trust him and his wife. They were so very informative and down to earth. They have been in constant email contact and have done so much to inform me of their concerns about the bird they are about to ship out to us. From Florida to Texas. I guess I would say if you can really talk to the breeder and get the feel for their love of the bird they are about to ship out and their concern of it's future, then there is nothing wrong at all with getting your next baby without actually seeing them. Our breeder made sure I understood that they took great care in the whole process. They were NOT brokers, but breeders. He explained the difference. He spends the extra time taming and correcting. He also took measures to send me photos of our bird taken right after I spoke to him. He's sent information about the airplane flight and also the aftercare when she gets here. ON FRIDAY!!!! yay!!!! I have her photos up on my icebox and already feel we've seen her personally really. After our long conversations, I think it depends on that, I totally trust who we have purchased from. He also offered his references for me to call. In the end though, it was his sincere concern for the future of his (soon to be ours) bird. AND he asked that if I ever found that I needed to rehome, he would buy the bird back from us. Its actually in the paperwork. THAT WON'T HAPPEN. but that is a true hearted breeder that has concern for his birds. I CANNOT wait to get her here so we can love her and make her part of our family! And of course we have paperwork on the health guarantee and all that stuff that had to be signed. They want us to end up with a tame, healthy, bird.

[lilgiggles1012]

What did you get and from where in Florida

[pattiB]

What did you get and from where in Florida

We have a 13 week old female IRN, blue. She's doing really well!
She came from
Tony and Patty
Zephyrhills, FL
813 368-6160

[InTheAir]

Patti, it sounds like you found a very responsible breeder.
Did they give you any recommendations on how to keep the bird also?

[pattiB]

OH yes, I think very much so. He spent more than an hour on the phone with me when I was just "thinking" about it. Before we made a decision. Then he spent lots of time in emails and more conversations about her care. He sent her well prepared on the flight, extra food, instructions, and her crate was well put together for her trip. He even put black screening on the open grill part of the crate, I guess to help her stay calm and feel secure inside. I thought that was a very good thing, when we picked her up. He felt these were his babies and wanted them to go to responsible owners. I guess I got lucky that way. I was very impressed with the phone conversations I had with him.

[InTheAir]

That's great. It'd be nice if all breeders who sell pets to people who are new to irns would provide detailed information on how to keep them and a returns policy.
We got our bird locally. The breeder didn't seem very picky about homes, but she did sell him fully flighted with the advice to leave him flighted a bit longer until he muscled up (he is still fully flighted a year on) and to socialise him well while he was young. She did a good job of handling him, so he was quick to adapt into our house and to trust us.