Jerry,
 -> People need to learn to ask questions-- like WHERE did the pet-store
 -> bird they're considering come from, was it hand-fed, is it
 -> vaccinated, etc. If the potential buyers were more well-informed
 -> about the product (birds), then the low-quality breeders wouldn't be
 -> able to sell junk birds to the stores or directly to the buyers.
I don't agree with what you are saying. First off, a potential buyer does not 
need to know what breeder the bird came from...they wouldn't know the 
difference anyway. And why would a store give a buyer a list of breeders 
names. It would be stupid on their part. A reputable store can buy from 
reputable stores at a reasonable price and is done more often than not. 
A store will learn quickly which breeder have good, clean stock and will 
elimate the breeder that don't. Reputation is built...both by the breeder and 
the store.
 JR> The 21st century public, I believe, is generally an educated
 PH> public..I think it is HUMAN NATURE to want something for nothing 
 PH> and to get the best possible price regardless of the ultimate cost.  
Cost and quality do not go hand in hand. An expensive bird does not guarentee
quality...but usually has a little to do with greed. Also, where a breeder is 
located dictates the cost many times.
Breeders with closed avairies do not want the public at their facility. 
There is also more security if you deal only with pet shops. 
 JR> (some of us) continue to sell our birds at wholesale prices to pet
 JR> store that increase the price 10's fold...Folks who do this are
 JR> opportunists who see the opportunity to make a couple of
 PH> bucks...People
I do not know of a pet shop that increases their prices 10 fold. Normally 
they double the price that the bird is bought for. Gee, I wonder if I could 
go 
to Computer City and they would sell me all the products that I wanted at 
their cost...I donnnn't think so. Breeding is either a hobby, or, a business.
We do not give our birds away, so why resent it when someone else does not 
give the bird away. 
 PH> I don't think that a pet shop is necessarily a bad place to buy a bird.
You're right about this. It isn't, if you know the people you are dealing 
with. There are plenty of breeders selling there sick birds at bird fairs for 
a reasonable price. 
So, my opinion is that what you pay for a birds does not = quality.
Fran
--- PPoint 1.92
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