Cigarette smoke

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Boo

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I think the breeder I am getting my baby sun conure from smokes. We didn't go into her house to see the baby - she just brought her outside, but I could smell the smoke coming from her or the house. The baby is only 9 weeks old. She was quiet when I met her, but she is a very tame baby and very active (she climbed up my shoulder and played with my hair, not lethargic at all). She looked a little fluffed up, but not super fluffed, and I think she was just content. She'll be about 10 weeks old when I bring her home, so it's not like she was living in cigarette smoke for an eternity.. do you guys think she'll be okay? I'm trying to get her out of there asap, but I can't until Wednesday. She looked and acted healthy. Are there any signs I should watch for (poop, etc) after I bring her home that will tell me if she's sick? The breeder breeds 3-4 different types of conures and also cockatiels, and I don't think she smokes in the room she breeds her birds in. If anything, I think they would just be breathing in the smoke coming from her breath.
 

jew1187

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She shouldn't be smoking in the house with the birds in their period. Really? The best thing and number one thing that that you should do is take your new conure to the vet ASAP. Does she have a health guarantee? I would personally go back and ask to see where the birds are kept and see all the conditions of everything.
 
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Boo

Boo

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She shouldn't be smoking in the house with the birds in their period. Really? The best thing and number one thing that that you should do is take your new conure to the vet ASAP. Does she have a health guarantee? I would personally go back and ask to see where the birds are kept and see all the conditions of everything.

There's a 2-week money back guarantee, so I can bring her back if she's sick. Is there a chance she'll be okay though?
 

Robert Gift

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... There's a 2-week money back guarantee, so I can bring her back if she's sick. Is there a chance she'll be okay though?
The hazards of second-hand smoke is exaggerated.
Will probably be fine. Lungs are alwayself-cleaning.
Inature, parrots sometimes get exposed to smoke and dust.

But good for her that you are getting her away from the smoker.
I would ask if the birds arexposed to any cigarette smoke.
 
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Boo

Boo

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... There's a 2-week money back guarantee, so I can bring her back if she's sick. Is there a chance she'll be okay though?
The hazards of second-hand smoke is exaggerated.
Will probably be fine. Lungs are alwayself-cleaning.
In nature, parrots sometimes get exposed to smoke and dust.

But good for her that that you are getting her away from the smoker.
I would ask if the birds arexposed to any cigarette smoke.

I have emailed her :). Still waiting for a reply. I think she really cares about her birds, because I just looked at all of her ads and she sells SO many different mutations of cockatiels, parrotlets, a B&G macaw, different types of conures, and also English budgies. All of them are handfed. She clearly puts a lot of time into taking care of them and handfeeding them, so it's possible that she just sits on her front step to smoke, and not in her house. Maybe she just didn't want us going in because we were strangers, or maybe her house was messy :p (like my room lol). Thanks for the reassurance :). I hope she is fine!
 

pet3graphics

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NICOTINE can be VERY irritating to conures, Sunnies especially... it can cause them to start plucking.

However, we just adopted out our Zoe (Sun Conure), who had no issue with cigarette smoke. This may have been due to her previous owner who raised her from a baby and smoked... we don't smoke in the house, but after having a smoke, she actually seemed more interested in playtime, even licking the fingers on the smoking hand... very strange!!

Zoe was either desensitized to nicotine or partially addicted.

Getting the baby out of that house would be best... the minor fluffiness you mentioned could very well be due to the nicotine in the air irritating his/her feathers and skin.
 

vedwed

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It is a debatable subject to be honest, yes it is bad, but it is not as bad in every case as some of those that are documented. My great aunt had a scarlet macaw for 62 years, she smoked like a train in her house and all around her bird, while I do not advocate doing this, her bird lived a long happy life. Ironically she died of lung cancer at 96 years old, her bird died at the age of 78 almost 10 years after she did, and was in fine health for those last 10 years.

So the subject is debatable and like any other poll/clinical study/research project one must look at all the aspects of the tests being performed, as well as those compiling the data garnered from the research, we all know statistics are manipulated to tell only what the statistician wants to show.

That being said, I do not smoke around my birds, I wont, and I don't suggest that others make a habit of it either, I just think everyone should educate themselves on all aspects of the topic in question, not just an overwhelming positive or negative theory that overshadows the facts that are out there as well.
 
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Boo

Boo

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The hazards of second-hand smoke is NOT exaggerated.

SMOKING… | feathershoppe.com

Oh.. :( Well, I found another breeder who is farther away, but I emailed her and she said that yes they do live in a smoke-free home, and they're willing to drive down here to meet and stuff. When my mom comes home I'll talk to her about it.

EDIT: I just remembered, my mom did notice that the bird's tail feathers were kind of greyish!!
 
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Boo

Boo

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It is a debatable subject to be honest, yes it is bad, but it is not as bad in every case as some of those that are documented. My great aunt had a scarlet macaw for 62 years, she smoked like a train in her house and all around her bird, while I do not advocate doing this, her bird lived a long happy life. Ironically she died of lung cancer at 96 years old, her bird died at the age of 78 almost 10 years after she did, and was in fine health for those last 10 years.

So the subject is debatable and like any other poll/clinical study/research project one must look at all the aspects of the tests being performed, as well as those compiling the data garnered from the research, we all know statistics are manipulated to tell only what the statistician wants to show.

That being said, I do not smoke around my birds, I wont, and I don't suggest that others make a habit of it either, I just think everyone should educate themselves on all aspects of the topic in question, not just an overwhelming positive or negative theory that overshadows the facts that are out there as well.

Now I don't know what to do! :( I think I'll try to get the baby from the non-smoker, but that baby is $25 more (still better than havng to spend hundreds more on vet visits), but I only have $300. I asked her if she would lower the price to $300. Maybe tolerance for smoking varies from bird to bird?
 

mellykyitus

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i've had rescued birds from smoking homes and for the first week they were very irritable, i think they were addicted to the nicotine. it also can get residue in there feathers and when they preen can digest the tar and nicotine.
 

vedwed

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Well I think it is like in any other animal/mamal in the world, we dont all have the same tolerance to the same things, some have great immune systems, while others have weak. Just because something can tolerate smoke, does not mean it should HAVE to, her bird was a lot larger than a conure, and was also not a baby when she got him. Smoke around anything that is just developing its resperatory system is not generally a good idea, as it will cause deficiencies in proper lung maturity.
That extra $25 could possibly be the difference in a lot of the birds lifespan in the long run. Seems a small price to pay for a longer companionship, and better over all health for the bird from the start. Not to mention probably will save you more than $25 in vet bills.
 
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Boo

Boo

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NICOTINE can be VERY irritating to conures, Sunnies especially... it can cause them to start plucking.

However, we just adopted out our Zoe (Sun Conure), who had no issue with cigarette smoke. This may have been due to her previous owner who raised her from a baby and smoked... we don't smoke in the house, but after having a smoke, she actually seemed more interested in playtime, even licking the fingers on the smoking hand... very strange!!

Zoe was either desensitized to nicotine or partially addicted.

Getting the baby out of that house would be best... the minor fluffiness you mentioned could very well be due to the nicotine in the air irritating his/her feathers and skin.

Oops, sorry! I must have posted my response late and completely missed your post. I decided not to get that baby, as I don't want to spend all of my money on a sick baby.

i've had rescued birds from smoking homes and for the first week they were very irritable, i think they were addicted to the nicotine. it also can get residue in there feathers and when they preen can digest the tar and nicotine.

I read that when I looked at the link Spiritbird posted, and that's really scary! Not to mention disgusting.. a girl in my class did her health paper on tobacco, and there's paint and sewage and stuff in cigarettes.

Well I think it is like in any other animal/mamal in the world, we dont all have the same tolerance to the same things, some have great immune systems, while others have weak. Just because something can tolerate smoke, does not mean it should HAVE to, her bird was a lot larger than a conure, and was also not a baby when she got him. Smoke around anything that is just developing its resperatory system is not generally a good idea, as it will cause deficiencies in proper lung maturity.
That extra $25 could possibly be the difference in a lot of the birds lifespan in the long run. Seems a small price to pay for a longer companionship, and better over all health for the bird from the start. Not to mention probably will save you more than $25 in vet bills.

I talked to the other breeder, and she said she would be willing to lower the price to $300 for me! She is such a life saver. I'm going to be handfeeding the baby myself, as he isn't weaned yet. His hatch date is either January 6th or January 10th (she has two left). Also, the other breeder replied to my email and said that she and her husband don't smoke, and the birds have their own room. But I don't know if I believe her because I definitely smelled smoke, the baby's tail was greyish, and the breeder's teeth were very yellow. She also seemed very pushy throughout the whole thing. I feel much better about the breeder I just talked to today!
 
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Boo

Boo

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Update: The breeder didn't want to give back my deposit, so I'm going to be buying her bird. The smell wasn't that strong at all, just a little, and I only smelled it in two breaths that I took, so I don't think she's a heavy smoker. Also, I think the bird was a little fluffed up because it was kind of cold outside. The first thing I worried about was actually the bird dying from the sudden temperature change, unless the lady has poor heating inside her house or something. So I think it will be okay.
 

Kokihi

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Update: The breeder didn't want to give back my deposit, so I'm going to be buying her bird. The smell wasn't that strong at all, just a little, and I only smelled it in two breaths that I took, so I don't think she's a heavy smoker. Also, I think the bird was a little fluffed up because it was kind of cold outside. The first thing I worried about was actually the bird dying from the sudden temperature change, unless the lady has poor heating inside her house or something. So I think it will be okay.
Hmm...I personally would have argued with her until she gave me my money back. She doesn't seem like the kind of person that would be pleasant to deal with, and that you mentioned she was pushy and you felt better about the other breeder also adds to that. If you do get that baby, make sure to take it to the vet right away.
 

Spiritbird

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Any responsible breeder should be more than willing to give your deposit back. Not nice at all! I am sorry you had to get her bird. I pray everything goes well for you.
 
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Boo

Boo

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Update: The breeder didn't want to give back my deposit, so I'm going to be buying her bird. The smell wasn't that strong at all, just a little, and I only smelled it in two breaths that I took, so I don't think she's a heavy smoker. Also, I think the bird was a little fluffed up because it was kind of cold outside. The first thing I worried about was actually the bird dying from the sudden temperature change, unless the lady has poor heating inside her house or something. So I think it will be okay.
Hmm...I personally would have argued with her until she gave me my money back. She doesn't seem like the kind of person that would be pleasant to deal with, and that you mentioned she was pushy and you felt better about the other breeder also adds to that. If you do get that baby, make sure to take it to the vet right away.

Would they usually give your money back if you argued with them? I felt like she would have just ended up ignoring me if I kept emailing or calling her. I'll maek sure the bird sees a vet asap!

Any responsible breeder should be more than willing to give your deposit back. Not nice at all! I am sorry you had to get her bird. I pray everything goes well for you.

Thanks! I hope all goes well too. But she seemed pretty healthy when I saw her. Hopefully that is the case.
 

Kokihi

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Update: The breeder didn't want to give back my deposit, so I'm going to be buying her bird. The smell wasn't that strong at all, just a little, and I only smelled it in two breaths that I took, so I don't think she's a heavy smoker. Also, I think the bird was a little fluffed up because it was kind of cold outside. The first thing I worried about was actually the bird dying from the sudden temperature change, unless the lady has poor heating inside her house or something. So I think it will be okay.
Hmm...I personally would have argued with her until she gave me my money back. She doesn't seem like the kind of person that would be pleasant to deal with, and that you mentioned she was pushy and you felt better about the other breeder also adds to that. If you do get that baby, make sure to take it to the vet right away.

Would they usually give your money back if you argued with them? I felt like she would have just ended up ignoring me if I kept emailing or calling her. I'll maek sure the bird sees a vet asap!

Any responsible breeder should be more than willing to give your deposit back. Not nice at all! I am sorry you had to get her bird. I pray everything goes well for you.

Thanks! I hope all goes well too. But she seemed pretty healthy when I saw her. Hopefully that is the case.
I personally got my Tori from Petsmart, but any reasonable person would give back a deposit if you choose not to purchase their bird, especially because of something like that. Unless you signed a contract with her that says you won't be getting your deposit back, she should give it back if you ask for it. My personality is a bit outspoken, so if I had asked and she said no, I would have continued to pester her about it. I certainly wouldn't complete the purchase.
 

MikeyTN

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$25 more really isn't that big of a deal!!! Look at it this way. Spend $25 more for assurance or go with the lesser priced one and wonder?
 

MikeyTN

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Oops... I didn't read second page before posting. I would make her give your money back.
 
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