PH>There really should be some sort of bird equivlent of the AKC that
PH>would set breed standards and have a registry of birds that met
PH>those breed standards through a judging process like there are for
PH>dogs, and set breeder standards and certification processes for
PH>breeders, particularly considering how expensive some parrots are.
PH>If I'm gonna put out a Grand for a Cockatoo or a Macaw, and spend
PH>another Grand on a cage and toys and food, I want that bird to be
PH>healthy and free of genetic defects.
That'd be very tough, because MOST bird diseases are not well
documented, and there are no accurate tests for most of them.
Unfortunately, the bird food/toy industries are not supporting avian
medical research at the same rate that the dog/cat food makers support
research for those animals. So testing birds to set standards would be
very difficult to perform at this time.
There ARE bird "breed standards", but they are just show conformation
standards which usually bear little or no relation to how REAL birds
look. There are some fairly new certification standards for breeders,
called the MAP (Model Aviculturist Program). It is designed more to
protect breeders from the government, should they decide to license bird
breeders, than it is to set standards for the birds themselves.
For now, your best protection while buying an expensive parrot is to get
referrals from LOTS of people, and check references on every breeder you
consider buying from.
PH>How many people actually DO do some research and learning before they
PH>go purchase a bird?
Unfortunately, not as many as I'd like. I tend to attempt to educate
people who call me, but many people don't WANT to be educated. (Those
people also don't get one of my babies. ).
PH>the Keas in the show, of course...), etc...and then there's that
PH>statistic that indicates most owners get rid of their parrots and
PH>don't keep them. What was it? Five percent keep the bird? That has to be
PH>based on owners not knowing what they were getting into when they bought
PH>their parrot.  Of course, buying the parrot book with the bird is
PH>buying the book too late...
I hadn't heard that statistic before it was mentioned out here recently.
I wonder where it came from? If it's true, it is surely because of owner
ignorance. I can't imagine that 95% of the birds sold in the US are THAT
bad that nobody wants them!
I like your last sentence, about the book and the bird. That's TOO true!
--Kathy
 * SLMR 2.1a * Borger King: We do it our way, your way is irrelevant.
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