Visit the vet after picking up new bird?

[AnimalNut]

I am a new bird owner who has been doing a tonne of research. The breeder I am getting my little girl from does not vaccinate-- do I need to vaccinate her? Take her to a vet? What is standard for Conures? I can't seem to find an answer specifically for conures.

Any advice for when I bring her home, what to do and what to have in her cage re: sleeping tent, food, toys....

Thanks!
Krista

[GoldenPhoenix]

if the breeder does not take thier birds to the vet before purchase for a last check up then it might not be a good idea to buy a bird from them. from my research it usually mean thats the breeder is not willing to put time and money into raising quality compainions. were the cages overly dirty?, does the place smell?, do the parents look healthy. always ask to see the parents. and access thier living conditions. and if you still get the bird. take her to the vet ASAP she needs vaccinations and a record of a clean bill of health to help with future vet visits for diagnosis. for a conure a cage no smaller than 20 by 20 by 20 should be used but if the cage is that small make sure there is plenty of outside cage time. there should be at least 3 perches and 3 diffrent toys in the cage. the bird should have room to streach its wings and move around without bumping into toys and perches a food and a water dish are advisable, you can have bowls at the bottome of the cage or have clip on dishes that clip to the side of the cage. for feeding i would recomend pellets and fresh fruits and veggies NO AVACADO(TOXIC) you can feed seeds, but don't let your bird get addicted to them. when you get her home let her sit in her cage for a couple of days to get used to her surroundings. talk to her and use her name but don't have your face up by the cage. just sit next to the cage and talk quietly to her. she might be shy at first but give her some time to relize that you are not a threat but her friend and care taker. good luck :)

[AnimalNut]

I met the bird at the breeders aviary/home. She was on a perch when I came in. The owners home did not smell, though I did not see her (the birds) cage. I did however see both this bird, and another I was considering, as well as her own parrot when I inquired about it. The local pet store (I am in a small town) is pretty bird knowledgable and purchases birds from her. I feel fairly confident about her and the bird-- I spent a good 30-45 min there.

People around here are not big vet-goers. Farmers in them I think. Though I will be sure now to book a vet for right away.

What tests/vaccinations are typical for new conures?

[jenseits]

As I understand it, you should get a clean bill of health for your birds, as determined by an avian vet, when you get them from the breeder, but vaccination is not standard.

Birds don't generally get vaccines, afaik. If I'm way off on that, I'm sure of the more experienced owners here will contradict me

[AnimalNut]

Clean bill from breeder that says they will replace if there is anything wrong? That seems to be what most in my area say, but it is my responsibility to take to vet.

Krista

[birdlover912]

The breeder I purchased Orrin from didn't take him to the vet, but instead they gave me 72 hours to take him to the vet. If the vet found anything wrong with him either the breeder would cover the costs or replace the bird.

When Orrin went to the vet, the vet gave him a overall evam and a fecal test.

As for a cage, get the biggest one you can find (with 3/4 inch bar spacing or smaller only), several different perches(cotton rope, concrete or sandy pedicure perch, multiple wood perches with varying diameters), 3 dishes (stainless steel will last the life of your bird;beware of plastic dishes that may get chewed up. Get one dish for pellets, one for water, and one for fresh & cooked foods), and lots of toys(make sure they are safe first). A sleeping tent is optional. Some birds like them, some don't. They can be a potential hazzard, so watch for strings that your new bird could get hung on or catch a toe.

A varied diet is best. Orrin gets a base diet of pellets, a small amount of seeds(they are high in fat), assorted fruits & veggies cut in strips or chunks(green beans, carrots, peas, corn, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries). He also occasionally recieves a chunk of whole wheat bread, cooked beans and rice, yogurt, an almond, cheerios and dried fruits. You can search online for a list of bird safe foods. Remember never to give your conure avacados, chocolate, or any sugary, salty or greasy foods. If its not good for you to eat, don't give it to your conure. You probably won't have much trouble getting your new baby to try new foods because conures generally aren't picky eaters. :)

Let us know how it all goes! :)

[AnimalNut]

Thanks all for your replies! I am picking her up this weekend and am so excited! Guess I am off on a toy buying excursion to brighten up the boring (but large) cage!!

Thanks again! Krista

[Addicted to Tequila]

What kind of conure is she?

[GoldenPhoenix]

well im glad the living conditions were clean

[xafsmom]

if the breeder does not take thier birds to the vet before purchase for a last check up then it might not be a good idea to buy a bird from them. from my research it usually mean thats the breeder is not willing to put time and money into raising quality compainions.

I don't think that's accurate at all. Most breeders do not get their babies 'well bird exams'. If they run a closed nursery, and check their breeders routinely, and culture their chicks regularly, AND practice proper aviary management techniques, then it's not necessary. Any ill chick would be found prior to offering it for sale.

Most breeders put in considerable time and money just hand-raising their birds, moreso if they're MAP certified.