Bird Marts - The Single Greatest Threat to Avian Health in the New Millennium!

Bird Marts - the single greatest threat to avian health in the new Millennium!

I cant post the page it is too long but well worth the read

that's scary for sure.

That is just horrible! I knew the bird marts were bad but I never realized how bad they were, those poor victims. A lot of people don't even know it either, which is even sadder.

Hmmm.. nice try but the article is way overblown.I wonder if the author has his own pet business or is a breeder. You could also certainly have the tests run by another group of people and show that there are no diseases whatsoever. I think this is a case of reader beware: everyone who sits down to write an article has an objective to push. I'm sure there are diseases at bird shows just as there are at Wal-Mart, gas stations, and public toilets, so common sense and caution is always in order.

I guess the air born viruses are the ones to worry about the most in a show setting. Most breeders showing will have birds there that are 'safe'. I'd think the public are the ones to worry about - if they too have a bird & are they healthy. There are a lot less birds at the shows - because of disease issues.

I had the opportunity to go to a local Budgie Club's annual bird show put passed in favour of a small home breeder - didn't go because in the end the numbers of birds was too intense for me - how could i decide! + i wanted less opportunities for exposure to disease.

Nice to think about the issues. I also agree about looking twice at 'articles' that are inflammatory or passionate. The news is full of alarm - where/what are the solutions people!

I never thought in terms of being overblown (I need to wakeup to the possibility). It just seems that I have come across a lot of disease outbreak comments etc with the pet boarding here and the lovebird incident. In South Africa there are current adverts running to start a stud book for Cape parrots in captivity as the wild population has been damaged due to nest robbing and PBFD. It can be that the Cape parrots became infected by escapee greys from Congo. I know I am very careful about washing if I came home from visiting other birds before touching my own.

Not to start a debate, but the ones here are very clean. Needless to say, they could be better, but.

We got Harley from a bird fair. She has never had any illnesses or any issues period. Personally, I think it is a little exagerated, but, there are those bird marts out there like that. Maybe it's because the ones here are very nice and clean, but I have never seen any issues with buying birds or toys from there. If I did ger another bird from a bird fair, quarentein, vet check and proper sanitation percautions would be taken, but I really think the article is a little over whelming.

I would love to see a recent article. That one is outdated by what- 6 years now? Avian medicine, and health practices, have grown by leaps and bounds. I would love to see that 'test' repeated, and findings reported.
I got my little Sierra at a birdmart. The birdmart also hosted a birdshow at the same time...
ALL vendor cages had a certificate of health on them- signed and dated by a veterinarian. Same with birdshow participants, and there were vets on staff to answer any questions. One of the cleanest birdmarts I have ever been to.

And really, with things like this, a lot of time it chaulks up to common sense.

Cricket came home from a bird mart with a slight bacteria but nothing serious at all.