Should I get a cockatiel from breeder or bird show?

I am planning to get a cockatiel (don't know what gender yet...)

Anyway, there's a breeder in my area that handfeeds them with a spoon and tames them too. But there's also an upcoming bird show where there will be many different cockatiels for sale. Should I get a cockatiel from a bird show? Are the cockatiels from bird shows handfed? Or are the bird show sellers lying when they said their birds were handfed? How EXACTLY do bird show sellers handfeed 50 cockatiels in their home, by the way? I just want to make sure which is the best way to get a tame cockatiel.

I, personally, would NEVER buy a bird from a bird show, especially if there are many birds offered for sale. You just never know if one poor bird could possibly infected with a communicable disease.

And FYI, hand fed does not always mean 'tame'.
http://www.parrotforums.com/breeding-raising-parrots/54975-hand-fed-vs-hand-raised.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/54049-bird-show-question.html

One quick question: What happened with your GCC, the one with the drooping wing? http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/55036-left-wing-hanging-low-appears-different.html

I'd personally go with a breeder. You can visit the breeder, ask questions and see the aviary and set up for yourself. Good breeders provide support after you bring your bird home. Bird shows are great places to spread avian illnesses, you have no way of knowing what conditions your potential pet has been exposed to and more than likely you'll never see or hear from the seller again. I'm sure not all vendors that attend bird shows are bad guys but you are taking chances you wouldn't need to worry about with a breeder.

I agree about the disease risk factor being MUCH higher at a bird fair than from a knowledgeable, responsible breeder who is aware of taking precautions with the more common deadly and contagious diseases.

RavensGryf said:

I agree about the disease risk factor being MUCH higher at a bird fair than from a knowledgeable, responsible breeder who is aware of taking precautions with the more common deadly and contagious diseases.

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Though I agree, you'll find a lot of very good breeders who also participate in bird shows (not the same thing as bird marts.)

I always prefer a reliable reputable breeder who will let you visit your bird. Aside from the disease risk factor, and the stress increasing likelihood of illness, at a bird show you cannot be sure who actually raised the bird, or what his temperament really is. With a breeder you may even be able to see the parents or meet the siblings, and the breeder is more likely to know how the bird is likely to turn out. For example, I have two main pair of cockatiels (or did before both males were stolen), and I could tell you chinooks babies are smarter, more independent, and more likely to talk and learn tricks, but Apaches babies are much more people oriented and cuddly. Every. Time. But that is because I know the pair, and have raised their babies. At the bird show they likely cannot tell you that, and even if they could they likely won't have the time.

SilverSage said:

I could tell you chinooks babies are smarter, more independent, and more likely to talk and learn tricks, but Apaches babies are much more people oriented and cuddly. Every. Time. But that is because I know the pair, and have raised their babies. At the bird show they likely cannot tell you that, and even if they could they likely won't have the time.

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This is great Dani. We know that not all breeders (even some reputable ones) pay that much attention to this aspect. I think it's a huge plus when the breeder can tell you this sort of detail. I am so sorry these established pairs which you knew so well were broken up with the theft .

I think the breeder is probably best since you already know that they are handfed and tamed and know how they are taken care of, but it doesn't hurt to look around at a bird show too. I got 2 birds there before and they were both amazing birds. You can always ask the people there to hold the bird to see how tame it is. I got one of my cockatiels there and he is by far the friendliest tiel I have ever met. Likes people more than his own kind and even lets me touch his back which my other tiels HATE. My other bird was a lovebird who was so cuddly she would force her way under my hand and just snuggle under there for hours. There are a lot of liars there too though, just be wary..

Also something to keep in mind with tiels, my baby tiel that I got from the show was a gorgeous white-faced pearl cockatiel. Really, honestly a gorgeous bird. The breeder was honest with me though and said since he is a male, he will more than likely lose his pearling after his first molt. I'm still waiting for that to happen but I'm hoping he keeps at least some pearling. A lot of breeder won't tell you that though. Make sure if you find one that has a beautiful pattern such as pearling that they keep they keep it! Unless you don't mind, I still think whitefaced tiels are adorable. (Females by the way do not have this issue.)