What a GREAT breeder looks like!

[PetriTheGreenCheek]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to take a minute to explain my visit to the Cuckoos Nest and why it's different than any other breeder I've been to so far in Michigan- and why we chose to buy from Vickie.

It's really easy to buy from the first breeder you meet with, especially when you're looking for a rare bird. We were looking for eclectus, and there are VERY few breeders in Michigan.

When we visited the Cuckoos Nest, we had to drive almost three hours! But Vickie gave us great directions, and we arrived right on time, 11am. First things first, when we pulled up to her business, things were CLEAN outside the house. The yard was picked up (and there were no massive weeds or various rusting objects that another breeder here in MI had).

As we walked to the front door, we were greeted by the birds! In a large outdoor aviary, beautiful birds- macaws of all kinds, greys, cockatoos, even a hyacinth(!) were hanging around in a huge outdoor avairy. One glace at the bird's feathers and the perches and floor of the cage made it clear that this place wasn't just a clean place for people, it was clean for the birds.

Vickie welcomed us, was friendly and kind. She took us right in to see some of the grown up Ekkies she had- though they were all spoken for. They were in a huge indoor aviary (these birds were SPOILED and that's the best person to buy your birds from!!!!).

After chatting a little, my husband and I were led into the room where the babies were- and again, I can't stress enough, it was SPOTLESS. We washed our hands, and Vickie swathed the little 8 week old Ekkie male we'd come to see. She handed him to my husband, wrapped me up a little female and took another younger male for herself. Then she invited us into her living room and we all sat down at the table, socializing the babies to our voices and touches, while we chatted.

Vickie encouraged us to ask any and all questions! We probably chatted at least an hour, if not more. We asked questions from how she did things, to her belief on diet, and lots more. She was happy and personable answering our questions- including the personal one: "If you raise Ekkies as your speciality, why don't you have one as a pet!" She explained that macaws were her passion but that a breeder pair awhile back needed to be re-homed, and she fell in love with their gentleness and beauty. So she had decided to breed them as well!" LOL.

We could have paid for the bird, the cage, and the whole sha-bang right then, but Vickie didn't push us. She asked us to simply put a deposit down on both, and we did. She also didn't try to up-sell us anything (up-sell means to try and push something else we should buy from her our new baby boy would love). Because of this (and also her impeccably clean facilities and wonderful manner), my husband and I will be giving her ALL our business, the bird, the cage, the perches, the food, the initial toys, the bottlebrush stand, and more.

For those of you looking for a baby bird- GO AND VISIT YOUR POSSIBLE BREEDERS, it's worth it, because you'll know exactly what you're getting!

At the Cuckoos Nest, and from Vickie, we're getting A+ quality.

[Ashling]

That sounds fabulous. She sounds like a genuine, caring person and I think all parrots deserve that kind of treatment. Congrats on the new baby! I bet he'll be really healthy and happy!

[Chief's Mom]

Your experience sounds a lot like ours when we got Chief. Except we got to take our baby home that night We stayed for more than 4 hours talking, questioning, playing with the four baby macaws she had at the time. Chief was down to one feeding a day, and we have handfeeding experience. She made us handfeed the babies with her to make sure we could handle the pumping of a big bird. We communicate on a monthly basis by email. And I would buy another bird from them in a heartbeat if we decided to get another baby.

[PetriTheGreenCheek]

After seeing her Macaws, my husband wants one of those too!

Right now though, we live in an apartment. Eventually we'll be into a house, and THEN we'll get a macaw.

I've had birds my whole life, but our GCC was his first bird. HE didn't think he'd like them!!!


When we're ready for more birds, you can be sure we'll be visiting Vickie!

[Freedomoflight]

That is awesome. It is so great to hear happy accounts of breeders like that- thats what breeders should be like! Thanks for sharing