Buying An Unweaned Parrot In Thailand

Parrots are a lot cheaper here than in the West.

Breeders here are as good as in the West.

The problem is, they want to sell unweaned birds.

I paid 2500Bt to a breeder at Sanam Luang 2 Market for a supposedly weaned & hand-raised bird.

It turned out to be unweaned, now, I've never looked after a baby bird, the breeder insisted, "no problem" , yeah right!

I was given a hypo needle fitted with a 2mm rubber tube and a jar of formula.

The bird was dead within 48 hours. My fault!

Please, please, refuse baby birds that are unweaned, pay 20% deposit the balance on pick-up.

If the bird does not step-up onto your hand when you see it, it wasn't hand raised.

Refuse the bird!

Breeders are lazy here, they want the bird out as soon as possible and the cash in their pocket.

Breeders in the West wouldn't sell you an unweaned bird.

Price guide: African Greys 10,000Bt

Sun Conures, Crimson Bellied Conures, etc. 2500Bt

Anyone want to buy a dead parrot? Cheap!

This is a Crimson Bellied Conure, the type I bought.

Only 10 months old and not in full frather yet.

Quiet and only slightly taller than a can of coke, ideal for an apartment or a house with close neighbours.