Picking Up Your
New Baby Bird
~ 1 Week Before ~

Cage:
  •    Should be safe & appropriate size & bar spacing for the species & size of your baby.
  •    Should be clean (used cages should be properly sterilized).
  •    Should be equipped with several toys.

Carrier:
  •    You need an appropriate carrier for the species & size of your baby.
  •    Kennel cabs (plastic cat/dog carriers) work well and are usually inexpensive.  The cat size          
    (smallest) is appropriate for most birds.
  •   Put a soft towel on the floor of the carrier.
  •   Attach a perch if possible.
  •   Bring another towel to shield the carrier from sun or make the baby feel safe.
  •   If you have a long drive, you should bring a ¼ wedge of apple for your baby to eat during the drive
    home.  This will provide both food and moisture.

Vet:
  •   You should have already chosen a qualified avian vet.  Please let me know if you need a referral.
  •   Schedule your new bird check up as soon as you set the date for pick up.  It’s often difficult to get  
    an appointment so you need to schedule in advance.  
  •   A new bird check up within 72 hrs. of pick up validates your Health Guarantee.  

Diet:
  •   See my recommendations for diet on this website.  You need to make some decisions about
    diet before you pick up your baby.
  •  I STRONGLY RECOMMEND you continue using a sprouted diet for at least the first 3 months.  If
    you change the diet of a newly weaned bird it may not eat well, if at all, which could be life
    threatening.

Where to buy sprouts:
  •   You can make your own mix by following my sprout recipe.
  •   You can buy a sprout mix from me.
  •   You can buy a sprout mix from www.ChinaPrairie.com
  •   I will provide you with a 2 – 3 day supply of sprouts when you pick your baby up.  This will last until
    your first batch is ready.
  •   Purchase an avian vitamin powder to add to the sprouts daily.
  •   Purchase a calcium supplement to add to the sprouts 2 – 3 times weekly.

Your Balance:
  •   Please ask for your balance several days before your scheduled pick up date.
  •   Your balance may be paid in cash or postal money order.  Personal checks, and cashier’s
    checks are not accepted for a final payment.


~ The Big Day ~

  • Confirmation:
  •   I would appreciate a confirmation phone call as you are leaving.

Be on Time:
  •   Please don’t be early!  If you are, I may not be ready for you.
  •   If you are running late, or early, please call to let me know.

When you Get Home:
  •   Enjoy your new baby, but make sure it’s able to spend the majority of it’s day in the cage.  New
    babies are still not very good at eating, so you don’t want to keep them away from the food for long
    periods.  This will soon change as he/she settles into a new routine.
  •    You can make it easier for your baby to find it's food by putting shallow dishes on the floor of the
    cage for the first few days.  Be careful not to locate dishes under perches or food and water will
    quickly become soiled.
  •   Always be observant of your bird’s behavior, and never ignore signs of a sick, stressed or hungry
    bird.  Birds should be bright eyed and alert.
  •   At the first sign of trouble, contact your vet or contact me.  Do not ignore warning signs, as a sick
    bird can go down hill very quickly.