STupid person award goes to>>>>

[LissaKokoKiwiKaseySam]

this individual who is trying to sell her pet macaw on Ebay..

she's offering free shipping thru UPS if you win!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...567735810&rd=1

[Tikibird]

I would asssume that buying a bird like that would be a dangerous move??What is the best way to purchase my Tiki came from a not so well educated pet store but being my first I didnt relize all that can go wrong. MAybe someone here could give some purchasing tips and pointers?? :icon_smil Would love to know before I get another one thanx.

[Merkuri]

Looks like somebody hacked their account and closed the auction... but I wouldn't have been surpirsed if eBay took it down. The selling of live animals is prohibited on eBay (well, except for a few exceptions, like snails... read about their animal policy here: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/wildlife.html).

[The Outlaw]

Do you know that the USPS routinely shipped young chicks (chickens) via the mail for years? I don't know if they still do, but they did. It just boggles the mind!

THE OUTLAW

[LissaKokoKiwiKaseySam]

Originally Posted by Tikibird

I would asssume that buying a bird like that would be a dangerous move??What is the best way to purchase my Tiki came from a not so well educated pet store but being my first I didnt relize all that can go wrong. MAybe someone here could give some purchasing tips and pointers?? :icon_smil Would love to know before I get another one thanx.

Tiki,

I am not hugely knowledgeable about shipping of birds,but I can offer you what I know. Resposible breeders ship birds all the time, with very few problems, but they use AIRLINE COUNTER TO COUNTER SERVICE. This is the ONLY way you should agree to purchase a bird that will be shipped to you. Someone recently posted that only fowl are allowed to be shipped via the postal service or UPS, and that if someone tries to send a parrot to you in this way, they are doing so illegally.

When buying a bird from anyone, or any place, you have to have a comfortable feeling of where you are with the seller. If you don't like what they are saying, the condition of their store, the way they are handling babies, then it is best to walk away. There is NOTHING more important when purchasing a life long companion than good rapport between you and the seller. You need to feel comfortable asking questions and should be able to trust the answers you get as correct..and don't be afraid to check them out- seek references, talk to the vet they work with ( and there had BETTER be one!)

A breeder should not be in a hurry to sell you an unweaned baby. In some states it is illegal to do so. If you are purchasing an unweaned baby ( and many will highly recommend AGAINST this practice), that seller must be willing to spend as much time as possible teaching you how to properly feed your baby...it CANNOT be learned on the internet.

Hope this helps some...

[The Outlaw]

Blake:

I'm not advocating it. God no. In fact, I won't even ship counter to counter. I was just amazed when I read about it.

THE OUTLAW

[CACPioneer]

My mom used to be a postmaster, and she would love the springtime because local farmers would order baby chickens (occassionally ducks too). She'd set the boxes on her desk and offer them bread and loved listening to their little chirps. So yes, they used to do it about 13 years ago...I'm assuming they still do it now. Those poor chicks though! They were often in a cardboard box just tall enough so that their heads cleared with little holes for breathing. And the boxes were usually packed with chicks...not much room for turning and moving! I don't think there was any food in there either...and definitely no water! I wonder what percentage of baby chicks/ducks survive shipment through USPS....

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

Do you know that the USPS routinely shipped young chicks (chickens) via the mail for years? I don't know if they still do, but they did. It just boggles the mind!

THE OUTLAW

Nancy, I know someone, a breeder, living in OK that used to and still does ship her birds by USPS. She just lies to the person taking the box. I used to try to put a stop to it when I moderated that site, but USPS didn't want the hassle or something.
Linda & HRC~