Bird Shows?

So, I have been told time and time again that "good breeders" would never take their bird to a bird show and expose them to disease and stress like that. Then on this site I have seen several references to people bringing birds home from these places. I have personally never been to one and I highly doubt there has ever been one in my area. What do you all think? Are these legitimate places to acquire birds? How do they work?

I met my breeder at a bird show when I was looking for a macaw. I got his name and number at the show and when he got babies, I put a deposit down and picked it up at his home. My bird never went to a show.

The way a show works is like going to a craft fair. Vendor booths are in a building and they are either selling birds or bird-related supplies. Birds are in smaller than normal cages for traveling purposes. Some birds are loose moving around on top of cages or they are in their cages. Many vendors are willing to let you pet or hold a bird as long as you disinfect your hands prior to touching. All must be licensed by the state in which they are selling.

Now days bird marts are much safe then they use to be. Long ago they where no more then flea marts and a place to dump birds cheap. That being said, a cheap bird can be just as good as a full priced one in the right hands.
Its buyers beware. If you buy form a mart or even a breeder take the bird to a vet within 3 days. Most states have rules that if a bird is sick and you have vetted in in this way you can get them money back for the bird and or the cost of the vet.

Going to one on Saturday... NEW TOYS!

The one in Central Florida, 1/11/15. is the biggest southern market, so they say.
I go almost to every one, about 4-5 a year. Great place to pick up supplies a lot cheaper than the corporate stores. And there i can also find stainless steel clips and quick links for hanging toys.
Since I live in Fl. I put toys and parts outside in the sun and let the UV's do there disinfectant thing.
I love shopping for my guys. It's so much fun.

I absolutely LOVE the bird shows here in Chicagoland! All the birds I've seen there are happy and enjoying the attention and admiration. There are usually good breeders there, and I always talk to them a lot about birds and how to care for them. There is a small entrance feee, but the prices are very low, and I always come home like a Santa with a bag full of toys and treats for my fids (that didn't cost me over $20-25). I never bought a bird there, but it seems like a good place to get one.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/44916-bird-mart-dangers.html

It's a lot of fun to go, but there is a risk involved.

I've been dying to go to a Bird Show just to try interact with different species that I've only been able to see online. Annd to get some good deals and save a few $$$ haha!

Does anyone know how to find one in your area. I live in San Diego and I would like to attend one this year, but how do I find it?

No, I no longer go to bird shows or bird marts. In fact, it's caused me to contemplate not renewing my local bird club membership, where the club expects members to participate (either by entering their own birds in the show, working for the club at events, or selling birds or related items at these events). I've spent a small fortune testing my own flock to ensure they are disease-free and we go through extensive measures each time we add a flock member, QTing off site, changing clothes after caring for new birds, double testing (testing before acquisition and at the end of QT before bringing into the house around existing birds). I'm not about to jeopardize my own flock's safety by taking them to a bird show. And I don't want to work at these events for my club either nor would I risk buying toys at such an event, much less a living bird (who may have entered the facility disease free and then exposed, under stress, greatly increasing the probability of developing at the very least an URI). I surely realize that not all birds will contract diseases in such a place or off something brought home from such gatherings. I just personally choose not to take the risk.

I will say I do miss the gatherings of other parrot people and getting to be around birds I've not had much exposure to. I wish so much that parrots could be vaccinated against horrible diseases like PBFD and and others. Hopefully someday that will happen (from what I understand it's just not cost-effective for animal healthcare companies to do the research studies to get vaccines approved for ALL species of birds). Until then, I'll keep my distance from bird shows (and bird marts).

I'm going to say, that I'm undecided. Mango was taken to a bird show when he was still weaning. The breeder I bought him from takes many of his babies to them for socialization. No one is allowed to handle the babies. But he thinks that this helps them adapt to noises and people, different birds and all the action happening at a show.
Now, all I can say, is it worked with my Mango! He's very social and loves going different places. He is VERY curious about everything and everyone!
I just worry about different diseases and infections as well. But, maybe it helps bild immunity as well?

One bird fair/show comes to Tallahassee once or twice a year. All the birds are very clean and healthy. I got a window perch, water/feed bowls, and some toys. They also have very reasonably priced cages. I love going but I will most likely adopt my next fid.

Oowl, I agree with you. I used to go. Especially when I was a newbie to birds, it was like a kid in a candy store. It was incredibly fun, and I miss it. Of course not everyone goes home with a disease, but as we know, there is risk. Craig, no it's not like a human building up immunity. They might be able to fight something off with a strong immune system, but not always (just like us in the wintertime in flu season) Young birds are especially susceptible too.

Kalypso, you can't tell by looking at a bird that it is healthy. If a bird is a carrier, or not in the later stages of disease, they can still look perfect. Avian viruses aren't rampant, but they are more common than many people think. I agree the prices are great though, and have so many products!

These breeders who attend mean well. They just aren't aware of the facts. Or, they feel the benefits of going are worth risking their flock. In most cases it's the former.

It's the testing of the tables and surfaces in the environment they've done here in the link below that really hits home. It hasn't to changed in recent years, and never will because disease is just something that people largely choose to ignore or minimize, because the rest is so rewarding, or fun, or exciting, etc. Bird Marts by Ernie Colaizzi

What's most especially scary for me is that at bird shows and bird marts the predominate type of parrots there are budgies and lovebirds (both of which are shown extensively at bird shows, which are, of course, different than bird marts). Budgies and Lovebirds can often live quite normally harboring PBFD and Polyoma. They LOOK fine. They ACT fine. They ARE fine. But they are like outbreak monkeys and can pass that on to susceptible birds, such as the young, the immune compromised (and stress can do that), and others like Greys and Cockatoos, which are especially prone to viruses. I'm certainly not trying to be a germ-a-phob. I'm not like that with my kids (they're vaccinated against some of the worst diseases known to man), but at this point in time, parrots are in danger of viruses there are NO cures for. What changed me and opened my eyes was a good friend who lost her Grey to PBFD. She has NO idea how he got it. She had no other birds but she did go to a bird mart and brought home toys purchased there, and he started getting sick not too long after that. He was 5-6 years old so it's not like he was hatched with it and it was just then coming out. It was heartbreaking hearing about her losing him to that terrible disease. We have no idea how she brought that home to him, but the dust/dander on the toys she gave him is a likely transmission vehicle.

I shudder to think how many people end up buying a cute little lovebird or budgie for their kid (or even themselves) and bring it home to the flock, not ever knowing they could be harboring PBFD. Will the home flock ever succumb to it? Maybe not, but that virus can live for YEARS in the environment and could rear its ugly head at any time.

I have lovebirds. I adore them more than any other species of parrot. But every single one that lives here has undergone extensive testing to ensure he or she wasn't a PBFD carrier. They also didn't come from bird marts or from breeders that attend bird shows. I protect their PBFD-free status with a very heighten sense of responsibility and diligence.

This issue is a pandora's box in the avian community. I worry about it and think it's not discussed ENOUGH. We as a community educate people on "don't use Teflon; don't feed your bird chocolate; don't smoke around your bird," etc., but I think we need to stress the dangers of avian viruses such as PBFD and others. There are sadly some things even good avian vets can't fix. I appreciate this topic being discussed.

OOwl said:

This issue is a pandora's box in the avian community. I worry about it and think it's not discussed ENOUGH. We as a community educate people on "don't use Teflon; don't feed your bird chocolate; don't smoke around your bird," etc., but I think we need to stress the dangers of avian viruses such as PBFD and others. There are sadly some things even good avian vets can't fix. I appreciate this topic being discussed.

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Agree again wholeheartedly Oowl. I've known too many "good and responsible" bird people over the years who have had the unfortunate experience of either PBFD or PDD. Myself included (Bornavirus which causes PDD) with my first Pionus. I purchased her from a bird store who I later found out purchased her and her siblings from a broker, which of course just like the fairs means unknown origin. I know of SEVERAL fairly regular members on this forum alone, who have had the unfortunate experience as well. THIS is the very reason I take opportunities to discuss the matter when it comes up.

I think that there are several reasons it's not discussed much or taken seriously. First is that it's an unpleasant topic, and people generally like to avoid unpleasant topics about their birds when there are so many more 'fun' aspects to talk about. Human nature I suppose. Also there's the idea that "it's never happened before, so it's not going to happen to ME, those things happen to other people". Or that quarantine is foolproof. It's not. Also it's not something definite or with a direct consequence - "do this and you will have this consequence" as it is with ingesting chocolate, overheating Teflon, etc. which is more plain to understand.

Hi! If you go to "www.birdfairs.org" you will find info on worldwide bird fairs!! It's great info! Hope this helps you and have a beautiful day! Ronnie