Is it really necessary to quarantine a new bird for 4 weeks? The white faced 3 month old baby was purchased recently at a reputable pet shop and is apparently very healthy - eating pellets and veggies. The older cockatiel is a year old and is very anxious to meet her soon to be good friend. Please advise - thanks!
Linda A.
Linda,
Quarantining is necessary. A "new" bird can become stressed by simply being
placed in a new home and sometimes a carrier will shed germs it normally
doesn't because it is stressed.
It is hard for us to quarantine because we are too anxious to watch our birds together or to pair them up for breeding. To delay our desires for a few weeks is a small price to pay to insure the health of the birds.