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Apart from the information listed on our Amazon Q&A Page, it is important for all bird owners to follow these important rules when adopting a baby or adult parrot. It is even more important if you already have other pet parrots in your home and you're looking to bring in a new addition.

First of all, the banner above is the first thing to remember: Do not buy a baby bird that hasn't been fully weaned. There is no way around that, unless you are a professional handfeeder or breeder yourself who does handfeeding on a daily basis and who's done it for years. Reputable breeders will not sell a baby that hasn't been fully and abundantly weaned. Feeding an unweaned baby DOES NOT bond you closer to it - as some breeders try to tell you. Get a bird that is fully weaned, and one that has already been eating real foods on its own for some time.

2) Breeder Checkup:
Do a background check on bird breeders before bringing any bird home. If you're buying it directly from a breeder, you can ask for references and talk to each of them. Find out how long they've had their birds, their business experience with the breeder, and the condition of their parrots. Ask local vets if they know about them. Also ask to visit the breeder's aviary to see the cleanliness, food quality, living conditions and meet the breeder. Same thing if you're adopting a bird from someone else's home. Visit their home, ask questions, meet the bird, and its humans. If it's a pet store, it can be more difficult since you don't know how many breeders do business with that store. This is when the likelihood of a disease may exist and not be obvious. A pet store selling birds should always allow you to take the parrot to a bird vet to get some basic tests done before bringing it home.

	Clear eyes and ceres; nostrils should be clean, clear and have no discharge.
	Look at the vent area and make sure that there is no discharge there too. It should be clean surrounded by feathers.
	A healthy parrot's beak should be well proportioned, and some light "peeling-look" in horn-colored parrots' beaks are normal. Black beaks should appear smooth with hardly any skin peels.

Their feathers should be clean, shiny, and in place. In other words, it shouldn't like like it's having a "bad feather" day.

In fact, a fatal & contagious disease called PBFD affects a bird that way - making it look like its feathers are out of place, and in many cases feathers start falling out. Their feet and nails should be clean and well kept. Their poop should appear normal - certain thicker parts are green, and sometimes include a small amount of clear liquid. Make sure a vet sees this when you take the bird in for its tests.

When looking at a baby bird that has already been weaned (see #1 above) , you will be able to see some of its personality - in the way it eats, moves, interacts with other birds and how it interacts with you when you pick it up and spend time with it. You can't do that with an unweaned baby. Having a sense of the bird's personality is important - as it will give you an idea of whether or not it is gentle and sweet, rambunctious, inquisitive and so forth. Each bird - depending on their genes, are hatched with different temperaments and personalities - just like human babies. Spending some time checking a baby bird out to assess its personality will make a world of difference in the long run - especially when it comes to compatibility with you and your family members, and the ability to train them in the future.

All new birds that enter your home, and especially a home that has other pet birds in it - must be quarantined/isolated for at least 30 days. Isolate only from other birds, but not from you and other human members of your household. The best way is the put the new bird & its cage is a separate part of the house where your other pet birds don't venture into; like the office, den, or guest room - but still in a place that is well ventilated, cheery and a place where it can enjoy its surroundings. It is imperative that new additions be isolated from your other birds. Take care of your current pet birds before you attend to your new bird. Once you handle your new bird, remember to disinfect yourself before handling any of your other birds.

During this quarantine/isolation period, or before you bring the new bird home, take it for a vet check. Find a good avian vet that specializes in birds. Tell them that you have a new bird and they will do the necessary fecal and blood tests for any diseases. There are many incurable diseases out there that young birds are susceptible to getting. The danger of this is that some parrot diseases can spread to other pet birds, causing fatalities before you even know it. Don't take that chance with a new bird. Do the vet tests for all major diseases; and keep them quarantined for at least 30 days. Do it for the the protection of your other pet birds.

At anytime when you visit a breeder or bird store where you're handling unknown birds, remember to wash yourself clean before touching your own birds when you get home. Immediately upon your return, remove your clothes and shoes, wash them, and take a shower yourself. This may sound like a bit much, but it's truly not. When a bird contacts a contagious illness, it can very often lead to a painful death. Avoid that at all costs.

On a personal note; we realize that many bird lovers (us included) have a weakness for wanting to play with any parrot they see - in pet stores, on the streets with strangers, at bird clubs etc.. but always stop yourself and do a quick visual check to see if the bird you're about to handle looks clean and "normal". It's impossible to tell at times and it's a chance you take everytime you handle a bird that you know nothing about. It's best to keep any birdie hugs, touches and kisses, to your own healthy birds. They will be grateful you did.