Is it bad idea to buy a tiel from a breeder who breeds them for shows?

Tropical · Apr 3, 2016

I would love to get a second tiel and have been looking for several months for a cinnamon tiel... there simply aren't any local to me which is bizarre since I reside in Palm Beach, FL. I found a breeder who is almost 2 hour drive away and she appears to be breeding strictly for show and goes to bird shows all the time and has tiel who competes in shows.

Allicastery · Apr 9, 2016

Sorry for the late reply...I personally wouldn't get one from a breeder because (at least with other animals and probably birds too) they inbreed them and this can cause health issues. I live somewhat around your area and I would just look up bird stores in south Florida. I've heard the ones in Deerfield are very good.

Allicastery · Apr 9, 2016

When I said by a breeder I meant by a show breeder...my bad.

JerseyWendy · Apr 9, 2016

Allicastery said:
Sorry for the late reply...I personally wouldn't get one from a breeder because (at least with other animals and probably birds too) they inbreed them and this can cause health issues. I live somewhat around your area and I would just look up bird stores in south Florida. I've heard the ones in Deerfield are very good.

But how would you know what kind of 'stock' you'd be getting from a bird store? How could you possibly know that the tiels the store is selling weren't inbred as well?

Allicastery · Apr 9, 2016

I guess it would just be more of a trust factor and I think that show breeders are just generally MUCH more likely to inbreed. In the very least the store I go to gives you a health guarantee and is very reputable in general. You're right that theres no way of guaranteeing either of them have inbred birds but I feel that if in one case you would be more likely to have gotten an inbred bird it would be from a show breeder.

Tropical · Apr 9, 2016

I agree. I'm sure many show breeders are definitely more concerned with breeding for looks rather than for health sadly.

I have been searching for a cinnamon tiel but just can't seem to find any local to me. I reside in Palm Beach, FL. I am actually willing to drive an hour back and forth if I had to.

I even looked at rescues and couldn't find any. I think I prefer a just weaned tiel so it is raised with my tiel... but I am not 100% strict on age.... just would really LOVE a cinnamon tiel. Normal tiels are my favorite just like Mother Nature made them to be... but I don't want to get another tiel that is identical to my current tiel.... it would be nice to have a cinnamon... it's fun to have something a little different.

psychocircus91 · Apr 9, 2016

My best advice would be to talk to the breeder as much as possible. I like to ask what enclosures they use, if their birds are flighted, what their diets consist of, how they socialize, ect. Since you have a bird already, you have a general idea of what to look for. If you can find any reviews on the breeder, these can be a great resource as well.

OOwl · Apr 9, 2016

You know, I used to belong to a bird club with several "show breeders," and I would buy one of their birds without hesitation. They are often some of the most educated breeders in the hobby, since they usually involved in continuing education regarding the dangers of inbreeding and the importance of biosecurity and aviary management techniques. When you get a cockatiel from a store, it may come from a "bird mill" where it's not about the hobby but about the bottom line. Please don't group all show breeders together. The ones I witnessed really seemed reputable.

thekarens · Apr 9, 2016

I'm guessing you haven't met a lot of show breeders. In my experience show people want healthy birds and work hard to get it.

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Is it bad idea to buy a tiel from a breeder who breeds them for shows?

Tropical

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Allicastery

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JerseyWendy

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Tropical

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Question about new potential tiel....

male or female

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