Should I freight a bird I haven’t met…?

Hi all.

I have been searching high and low for a sun conure breeder that has hand-raised babies as a pet for my daughter. Sadly none seem to be available this time of year in our state, probably because of our colder weather. I have found several breeders in the warmer areas who have babies ready to go now, only catch is I can’t really travel up there now since our car needs a service, and I don’t have time off work until 3 weeks from now… so I was speaking with a breeder on the phone last night who said she’d be willing to freight. I am just wondering if this is a good idea or not? I told her I’d think about it. I was thinking of asks for more pictures and maybe a video… and paying through paypal since it’s safer. She advertising on a proper trading post website, and also states how tame and cuddly her babies are, know step up and recall etc to some level.

Do you think this is asking for trouble? Freighting a bird, especially one I haven’t met? I am worried it wont work out, but the other option is waiting 4-5months for breeders in my state… my daughter has bought all the cage and toys already and has already been waiting a month and it’s driving her crazy.

I know 4-5months is not a major wait in the long run but it is when you were so excited about something.

Just looking for some opinions on what I should do…

Thanks

Check your private messages.

not a chance and as for paypal you need to know the fine print, and the fine print that governs the country you live in. because if something is not done according to there rules, you stand to lose your money, if breeder does not follow through or bird arrives dead. this is a personal point of view though

https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Buying-with-PayPal/Am-I-covered-buying-a-pet/td-p/287780



i'd wait for the breeders in your state, that way you can see and interact with the birds

As long as you deal with a REPUTABLE breeder, I see no problem with it. But I wouldn't go freight. I would go airlines for the safety of the bird. But if it were me, I would consider another bird species. Sun Conures are one of the noisiest birds. If you check rescue centers, they are usually full of them for that very reason.

I agree sunnies are beautiful but they come with a big negative which is the unrelenting bird calls. I would also wait for a local or nearby breeder. Too much can happen. Personally, I want to see where my bird comes from and meet the breeder.

Pim, why dont you join an Aussie forum? They will have access to Australia and/or Victorian breeders which may help you.

Sorry Parrotforum, no offence meant, but to find a breeder in Aus you need to ask Aussies.

Hope I havent offended anyone here,I dont mean to, but we dont have the same parrot resources/breeders as you guys do so need to offer advice when asked. I know of breeders that do not even advertise, only word of mouth, so it makes it very hard for us down here.

Please remove this response if it contravenes any conditions of membership.

birdybabies said:

Pim, why dont you join an Aussie forum? They will have access to Australia and/or Victorian breeders which may help you.

Sorry Parrotforum, no offence meant, but to find a breeder in Aus you need to ask Aussies.

Hope I havent offended anyone here,I dont mean to, but we dont have the same parrot resources/breeders as you guys do so need to offer advice when asked. I know of breeders that do not even advertise, only word of mouth, so it makes it very hard for us down here.

Please remove this response if it contravenes any conditions of membership.

Click to expand...

lol that i understand, but as soon as some1 mentions paypal as a safe method of payment, i always think, they need to check the fine print, even with ebay purchases!!!

Personally, I wouldn't. I recently talked to a breeder about obtaining a bird and was thrilled when they said they don't let people adopt birds and just take them. They require, among other things, that you visit the bird several times at the aviary before deciding whether or not to purchase/adopt. Some people might think that's too much, but I found it reassuring. They seem to WANT their birds to placed in a good environment, which I see as caring for that bird and the adopter. They're also one of those breeders that takes its birds back if there's any reason a person cannot keep it. They really have a lifelong commitment, I think.

Someone who'll sell a bird, potential owner unseen, seems more interested in making a profit - to me, anyway. As others have said, I'd make sure it's a reputable breeder and really pay attention to how they do business and how much (or little) they seem to consider the bird's welfare...not that I mean to imply you won't be a great home for the little birdie

Hi Pim ! As l read your post l had goose bumps YOU ARE ME we are one in the same !
I am in vic , after many months looking for sun conures l also was going to fraight BUT l could not grt pass the stress that little would go throught ..
So guess what l now have 3 great contacts . Very happy to pass on to u , also they are breeders so better price than pet shopes , also l was worried buying from pet shop incase bird was near other sick birds .. So would love to help , u can have e.mail address if u need o.k.

Pim was little to fast with typing so hope u understand reply . Get / bird are missing words .

About 15 years ago I bought some hand fed baby parrots & had them sent to me never had any trouble. They were great birds. Recently I had a baby Red Fronted Macaw sent to me from another state. They told me that the bird was hand fed & used to being handled, etc. When I got the bird it would just scream very loudly for such a small guy & it did not work out in my home. My home is not that large 1750 sq. feet & the area that the birds are in is all hard surfaces at this point, hardwood floors, shades, not curtains, etc. The screaming of the bird just rubbed me the wrong way. I lived with 5 large parrots in the past for over 10 years, a B & G macaw, a Yellow Naped Amazon , a Citron Crested cockatoo , an African Gray & a Rosebreasted Cockatoo & it all started with a hand fed cockatiel. So I was used to noise, my Blue & Gold macaw was great, but I had hand fed all the large parrots myself so we were very bonded. The recent Red Front was used to being outside in a large flight aviary & was used to being with his siblings. The breeder however refunded all of my money when he didn't work out, so all I was out was the flight to return him to the breeder (about 90.00) & the money from the vet visit when I 1st got him. However, I believes times are different now on the internet regarding fraud than 15 years ago when I got the previous baby parrots. I believe that the breeder who refunded my money recently was very unusual & I do not think that most breeders would do this. If they misrepresent the bird I think that you would be on your own to deal with it. Have your checked Craigslist in your area? I see lots of GCC to be re-homed on Craigslist in my area.

Kerry, in Australia, there is no Craigslist. I dont think we even have rescues. I know in the state of Victoria, the RSPCA do not rehome any birds surrendered to them. We are very limited as to where to get birds over here. Its either breeder, if you can find a good one, online sites of birds for sale, or a pet shop. I am not going to say you guys are lucky with so many rescues, its actually quite sad, but good to see that there are so many of you who do what you can for these great creatures. I am sorta glad that it is a bit harder to get a good bird over here, cos you have to be committed to do the leg work to find your little buddy, takes time, lotsa travel, searching, phone calls etc. Dont get me wrong, you can get one from a pet shop quite easily but I have noticed that most of them now usually only have budgies and sometimes tiels, so you have to go to more bird specific stores for everything else

Good luck in your search birdybabies! You said the RSPCA doesn't rehome any birds surrendered to them.... I hate to ask then, what happens to them?

"birdybabies", On Pim's (who wrote this post) description it does not say where her/his location is.

Kerry, in another post, she said she lives in Geelong, just outside of Melbourne and works in Melbourne and was asking any Aussies, especially Melbournians if they knew of any good breeders. The bird is for her daughter as a birthday present. As I too, am from Melbourne, suggested a breeder to her plus a few sites but she didnt like the breeder and wants a baby not an older bird. But I wonder whats happening, as she has not posted since this one. Mmmm!
Rio's mum, you probably guessed right (euthanasia). I dont think, honestly, that many would be surrendered. The birdy population is not nearly as big over here as over there. I have no friends with birds, not a one and I know quite a few people (friends, acquaintances, relatives, workmates etc). It is not as easy to get the variety of birds you guys have and the price tag here is big $$$$$$. There is re-sales though (wont say re-home, cos they read more like a sale than a re-home/adoption)

Birdybabies, I don't read a lot of the posts regarding the small birds; budgies, lovebirds, parrotlets, conures, ringnecks, etc. as my interest is in the large parrots.
Thanks for the info.

here is nz there is a pet bus service, oz might be too big for that, but its great they'll lovingly freight your pet , with regular stops and lots of care

Hi Pagie, my husband is from NZ originally (Christchurch) What a wonderful idea, a pet bus service. But only the NZ'ders would do that. But then you are quite "tiny" compared to Aus and US, well to any other country really. Sorry, just a bit of Aus/NZ ribbing - just joking with ya.

ah christchurch thats where I am, what a fine fellow he must be although moving to oz is letting the side down a bit!! and yeah we know tiny!!! but ingenious............

Sorry to hijack thread, but how are you coping Pagie, with all that has happened over. Hubbys sister & extended family still living there.