Advice and guidance if you're buying a bird as a pet
Advice you should receive
If you purchase a bird from a licensed pet shop, they should have their licence on display at the premises. And you should receive:
- advice specific to the species
- literature to take home
They should provide information on the appropriate care of the bird, including information about:
- feeding
- housing
- handling
- husbandry
- life expectancy
You should be informed of the:
- country of origin and the species
- age
- sex
- veterinary record
What you should consider
Consider the space requirements and particular enclosure sizes for the breed of bird. Also consider:
- if they look healthy
- if the enclosures are clean
- if they look like they have adequate space, food, clean water and heating (if applicable)
Birds are sometimes purchased from non-licensable sources. Due to the relatively low costs, and sometimes lack of advertising, these premises would not come under the business test.
You can find out further information on the DEFRA selling animals as pets guidance page.