When buying a parrot, macaw, cockatoo, cockatiel, conure, lovebird or other type of tropical bird for a pet, it is important that they purchase the bird from a reliable breeder. Selecting the right bird breeder has far more to do with the treatment and health of the bird than it does with the price.

Before you select a bird breeder, you should ask many questions to make sure you will receive a bird that is in good health. You might consider asking how long the person has been breeding a particular breed of bird. Find out what other types of birds they breed and how long they've been breeding birds. You might also check with the local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any unresolved complaints against the breeder.

It's also important to view the facilities used by the breeder to make sure they are in good condition and look clean. You want to make sure your bird is disease-free, and clean cages can be a sign that the breeder takes care of the birds. You should also make sure the food looks fresh and that and the birds are fed a healthy diet. Some people also recommend that the birds are weined off of hand feeding prior to purchase, otherwise they may become reliant on hand feeding.

Finally, you will want to make sure the birds are sociable and look healthy. While you can't necessarily detect a sick bird from the outside, you should do your best to make sure they look healthy.

List of tropical bird breeders by breed (search by state):

African Grey Breeders
Amazon Breeders
Caique Breeders
Conure Breeders
Cockatiel Breeders
Cockatoo Breeders
Eclectus Breeders
Hybrid Bird Breeders
Linnies Breeders
Lory & Lorikeet Breeders
Lovebird Breeders
Macaw Breeders
Parakeet Breeders
Pionus Breeders
Poicephalus Breeders
Quaker Breeders
Ringneck Breeders