Bird Buying
INTRODUCTION
I. Owning a bird as a pet has been popular since the Victorian era when the parlor was not considered completely decorated unless it had a canary in a very small brass cage on a table or in a corner.
A. It has been only recently, however, that the health and management of pet birds has become a real concern of the pet owner.
II. Chances are that most of you have or will own a bird in your lifetime.
A. Before you go out and purchase a bird, you need to know how to find the best place to buy one.
1. You can buy a bird from either a breeder or a good pet store.
BODY
I. The first and most important tip to remember about bird buying, is to try to buy from a breeder.
A. To find a breeder in your town, you can look in the local newspaper in the classifieds or you can look on the internet.
1. Looking on the internet is probably more effective because you could also look for breeders in surrounding areas and find the bird for a cheaper price.
a. Also, you can find breeders from other locations that will be able to ship your bird to you.
i. One drawback about that, is the fact that you will not be able to visit the aviary to see the conditions the bird was raised in. ii. Also, shipping your bird may cost more than the bird itself.
a. You may get lucky and find a breeder in a nearby state and you could drive there to pick up your bird which would be cheaper.
2. Looking in the local newspaper will be better because you will be able to visit the breeder's home.
a. But not many breeders are listed in the paper.
II. If you are unable to find any nearby breeders, then you can visit good local pet stores.
A. Buying from a pet store usually costs twice as much as buying from a breeder.
B. Before you look at any birds, make sure that the store is a good pet store.
1. A bird's cage shou...