Springtime means baby birds are everywhere and it is the perfect time to consider bringing a pet bird into the household.
Unfortunately, at this time of year, we also see many problems in young birds that could have been prevented. A vast number of these problems are related to the sale of unweaned baby birds.
The sale of any young bird before it has been completely weaned onto solid foods is not recommended and considered unethical. In fact, the sale of unweaned native birds is illegal.
There is no evidence to support the theory that a young bird will bond closer to its owner if they are involved in the handraising process. In fact, it is more likely that an rearing by an inexperienced owner will lead to disease problems during handrearing (crop burns, infection, trauma to the throat and crop) and also more long term behavioural issues. Persistent rewarding of infantile behaviour and an inappropriate owner/bird bond can result. This is a common cause of feather picking, screaming, biting and sexual aggression in older birds when left untreated.
An experienced, ethical handrearer will be able to wean the bird appropriately, both physically and mentally, and will be able to provide a pet bird owner with good advice about the longer term behavioural needs of the bird.
Rearing chicks can be complex, difficult, frustrating and prone to complication when inexperienced people take on this role. The food must be prepared hygienically, and supplied to the bird in the right manner (syringe, spoon, tube) at exactly the right temperature (to avoid crop stasis, refusal by the baby bird and crop burns) and the right consistency. Deviations from any of these areas can lead to problems.
Already this season, we have already diagnosed the following problems in birds that were sold unweaned:
