Recently there has been uproar among many concerned parrot owners and breeders on the Internet regarding Kaytee Preferred Birds, a division of Kaytee. Evidently, this particular business concept has been in effect on the East Coast for some time, but recently the program has been extended to the West Coast. Since the program has been in effect on the East coast, I had heard about Kaytee Preferred Birds for some time but had not received any actual information until they made an offer to buy birds at the bird club in Sacramento.

Laurie Baker of Feathered Follies contacted Kaytee after hearing about their plans and received an email providing her with more information. I received a copy of this e-mail. At that time, I called several people to let them know about Kaytee's program.

Representatives of the Gabriel Foundation called Kaytee and went over the information I had given them step-by-step to determine if the information was accurate. There were no denials of any part that was discussed. The Gabriel Foundation was told that the Kaytee Preferred Birds plan would stabilize the market. After several conversations with people who contacted Kaytee, it is absolutely clear to me that Kaytee Preferred Birds is involved in the mass marketing of parrot chicks.

The following is one of several responses from Kaytee and PETsMART to respond to hundreds of Internet e-mails: Message to concerned bird owners regarding bird care at PETsMART and Kaytee Preferred Birds

Thank you for your concerns about bird care at PETsMART Recently, messages have been circulating on the Internet regarding bird care at PETsMART and its supplier, Kaytee Preferred Birds. Because we understand and share consumers' concern about the welfare of pet birds, we wanted to provide you with accurate details about bird care in PETsMART and Kaytee facilities.

Kaytee currently supplies birds to PETsMART stores from two facilities located in Florida - one that handles flightraised birds purchased from responsible breeders, and one that breeds and handfeeds parrot species of birds. PETsMART veterinarians visit and conduct full audits of both facilities at least twice each year to ensure safe and humane practices and conditions. In addition Kaytee has their own experienced staff veterinarian.

PETsMART requires that Suppliers must:

Keep each group of birds in separate habitats, clean all habitats regularly and thoroughly disinfect them between groups. Feed all birds a medicated diet for AT LEAST two weeks. That diet includes vitamins and minerals, as well as antibiotics including Doxycycline - a tetracycline medication that, when given for a two week course, is proven by veterinarians to help prevent bacterial infections (if a bird is sick, the longer 45-day course is needed). Once birds reach PETsMART stores, they are quarantined for an additional three days. Ensure all handfed Parrots receive two Polyoma vaccines before they leave the center. The first vaccination is given when chicks are one month old, the second two weeks later. Have a veterinarian on staff to monitor the birds' health and immediately quarantine and treat any birds with potential health issues. Feed all handfed birds around the clock on schedules appropriate for their breed, age and weight. Keep birds at the facility until they are consistently eating pellet food on their own, supplemented still by two hand-feedings per day, and have healthy and stable body weights.

Once chicks arrive at PETsMART stores, associates are trained to continue twice daily hand feedings; until the chicks are weaned or purchased by a customer. Stores train inexperienced customers on care, including how to hand-feed chicks. In addition, customers receive detailed information on bird health and precautions, and must sign documents that commit them to provide proper care. PETsMART believes this helps ensure that it sells birds only to committed, responsible owners, and helps create a stronger bond between owner and pet. Hand-deliver birds to PETsMART stores, in climate-controlled vehicles driven by employees trained in bird care. As an alternative to air delivery, develop a hand delivery route for unweaned chicks that can be handfed as many times as needed during the trip by trained drivers.

These programs have been in place and operating well at Kaytee facilities since 1997, as confirmed by PETsMART audits.

Kaytee currently is planning to develop a third center in Las Vegas, Nevada to shorten travel time for birds being delivered to stores in the West. The facility will handle both flight-raised and handfed birds purchased from responsible suppliers. It will use the same standards for safe care and travel already in place at other Kaytee facilities.

The Kaytee/PETsMART program has virtually eliminated psittacosis, improved overall bird health, minimized stress on the pets and helped ensure successful relationships between birds and their owners. At PETsMART stores, associates must complete detailed training in how to continue that strong standard of care and help customers become responsible bird owners.

If you have questions or concerns about the program, please contact Dr. Randall Brue for Kaytee (www. Kaytee. com), or Dr. Nick Saint-Erne, DVM, PETsMART's Director of Quality Assurance for Pet Care, at DrNick@ssg.petsmart.com. If you have concerns regarding your local PETsMART store, please contact PETsMART Customer Service at 1-623-587-2518. (Another e-mail address is that of Kathy Schneider - kathy@kaytee.com. who assured us that all employees at Petsmart and Petco were well trained and the babies are getting the best of care)*

My Opinion

My opinion of Kaytee's Preferred Birds in no way deviates from the basic policies of bird care and management I have stated for the last quarter of a century. If both Kaytee Preferred Birds and all PETsMART stores follow the above protocol, then I have only a few criticisms of the physical care the birds in this program are receiving. However, in my editorial in the last issue about The Poultrification of Parrots, I outlined the problems I have with many of the concepts of the mass production of parrot chicks. This editorial was in no way a response to the Kaytee Preferred Birds plan as I was not aware of it until after the last issue went to print. However, many of my concerns in that editorial apply to this situation.

Since this maelstrom started on the Internet, I have read and/or received hundreds of e-mails, phone calls, and letters from people who have strong opinions based on negative experiences with the large pet chains selling live birds. Their major concerns seem to be the health of the birds, their compromised pet potential from poor socialization, and the lack of knowledge employees of large pet chains have about parrots. Of course, the truth is that I have also received many complaints about privately owned pet shops selling live birds. I have also received high praises from my readers about several quality bird shops throughout the country and, therefore, do everything I can to support these shops.

What Disturbs Me the Most;

So what is it that disturbs about the Kaytee Preferred Bird's Plan? There is absolutely no mention whatsoever of socialization or the emotional needs or development of the parrot chicks. This has not been addressed in any manner by any of the communications from Kaytee. It seems, at this point, that socialization or the intelligence of parrots is simply not an issue worth exploring or discussing.

Are those of us who devoutly believe that early socialization is critical to proper parrot development just a bunch of bleeding hearts who are so emotionally involved we don't understand the reality of parrot production? And as stated by a local Kaytee sales representative, are the people who object to Kaytee Preferred Bird's plans just a bunch of "whiney breeders who are afraid it will put them out of business?"

As I stated in my editorial in the last issue, there is absolute scientific, biological evidence for the necessity of early socialization in wild parrot chicks. The proof is in the longevity and intensity of parental care. A wild parrot that is not well socialized does not learn his social and survival skills. These skills are essential to a young parrot's success. Without proper parental or flock instruction, he does not survive.

I have been crusading for years to make bird breeders and buyers understand the significance of proper early socialization in the healthy emotional development of parrot chicks. This process is an essential ingredient in the development of pet potential. As a person directly involved with the lives of many parrots and their human flocks, I absolutely know that early socialization of companion parrot chicks is essential to their sense of security, trust, and curiosity. These are the qualities necessary for pet potential and those of a happy companion parrot.

The second and equally important step is extensive education of the bird buyer. Without this, most parrots are doomed. One factor is obvious to those of us who take the time to care and think about it - parrots are very complex animals with complicated physical and emotional needs. Almost everyone has had a cat or a dog at one time and while some education and common sense is necessary, most are fairly easy pets to maintain properly without extensive knowledge. Because of the overpopulation of dogs and cats, legislation, and an educated public, the majority of pet shops do not carry these animals unless it is part of a rescue/adoption program. Why are the large pet chains now selling parrots?

Mass produced small parrot family birds have been sold in "dime stores" for years, but now the pet store chains are getting into the sale of medium to larger parrots on a large scale. Will this stabilize the parrot market? What about the thousands of unsuccessful companion parrots already on the "secondary" market in need of both rescue and the commitment of a knowledgeable caregiver. Over the last twenty-five years, I have clearly seen that lack of buyer education (before, during, and after purchase) is one of the major reasons so many parrots do not stay in their homes. The truth is that far too many people who buy parrots, especially poorly socialized birds, do not have what it takes to be a committed, long-term parrot owner. Many healthy parrots can live as long as people. What happens to all of these unsuccessful companion parrots?

At the Gabriel Foundation Symposium in February of this year, the avi-business naysayers said, "We don't believe this is a problem. Show us statistics!" Statistics are being gathered from behavioral consultants, quality bird shops, rescue and rehab organizations, and avian veterinarians. Checking the classified pets for sale section of any good size city newspaper will provide ample evidence of the great numbers of unsuccessful parrot homes. When I speak to a group, the most common questions used to involve raising baby parrots. Now the most common questions involve the rehabilitation of secondhand parrots. A serious problem does exist and it is bound to get worse as more poorly socialized, production-raised parrot chicks enter the market.