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Buying in Birds Many bird owners will from time to time wish to increase the number of birds they posses. The source of the birds are very important. It is your responsibility as the potential customer to ensue you buy the correct species. the correct sex, the correct age and the correct husbandry background for your situation. There is no merit in purchasing an old female budgerigar that has been used to flying in the flight as a pet. You need to buy a young male that has never been in the flight. Some pet shops will not mention these important factors prior to you purchasing a bird. Please insure you get the right one.
One particular case that I dealt with two years ago springs to mind. A canary fancier had an aviary in the back garden with twelve birds in it . The owner went and purchased a new male canary from a local breeder and introduced it into the stock. Within five days birds started to die, one was brought to me for post mortem ( after five had already died ) and was diagnosed with canary Pox. This is a nasty Viral infection that is fairly commonly seen in this species. There was nothing that could be done apart from good hygiene and the isolation of affected birds. The end result was that all the original birds died within fourteen days. the bird bought in was carry a strain of the virus to which it was immune. The birds in the aviary had never been exposed to this strain and went down with virulent , fatal pox. A very rough way to learn a lesson. Please isolate all new birds |