The following is a list of criteria we believe would classify a breeder as "bad":
• Birds kept in inappropriate cages: too small, bar spacing too wide, etc. No opportunity to fly and exercise.
• Birds kept with aggressive mates.
• Chicks being sold unweaned (not yet able to eat on their own).
• Birds being sold without providing any education as to the needs of the particular bird.
• Birds being fed an inadequate diet: seed-only, pellet-only, junk food, etc.
• Breeders who take their chicks to shows and bird marts in an attempt to sell them.
• Breeders who sell chicks to bad pet stores.
• Breeders who sell chicks to anyone who is clearly unable to care for a bird.
• Breeders who do not provide veterinary care, or an adequate health guarantee.
Avian Protection Society
What is a Bad Breeder?
In a perfect world, exotic birds would fly free in their native homelands, free to mate, raise chicks, and eat a diet nature intended. In a perfect world, they would not be bred for the pet trade.
Sadly, there are perhaps thousands of breeders of exotic birds in the United States. Some breeders operate "bird farms", factory-like facilities that often gavage feed (inserting a tube directly into the bird's crop in order to feed quicker) and force-wean chicks, providing limited or no socialization. Many other breeders keep a relatively small number of breeding birds and sell to the general public. Keep in mind that "good" breeders still contribute to the overpopulation of these wild animals in captivity.
Bad breeders aren't as easily recognizable as bad pet stores. The reason is that most breeders work out of their homes, and we must rely on others who have visited the home to report information. (Below, unweaned Cockatiels and a production breeding set-up).
