Kaytee Preferred Birds, Petco and PETsMart
Partners in the Avi-industry—Is this plan for the birds?

An Editorial By Sally Blanchard

Reprinted and updated from Issue #47 of the Pet Bird Report. Copyright May 2000. This editorial may be reprinted as written without any changes if proper credit is given, along with our web address: http://www.companionparrot.com.

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 e-mail 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. I have been trying to education bird buyers and owners for years to avoid the purchase of production raised chicks. This corporate plan clearly involves the mass production of chicks for the pet market with, as far as I can tell, no consideration for early socialization. It is my opinion that there is absolutely no way that the vast majority of chicks raised in this manner will have positive, long-term pet potential. To me from all I have heard and read, Kaytee Preferred Birds is a drastic step backwards in the process of providing emotionally healthy parrots for the pet market.

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 flight-raised birds purchased from responsible breeders, and one that breeds and hand-feeds 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. Or contact Kathy Schneider at Kaytee 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—if, indeed, they can successfully implement these plans. One of my major physical concerns is the prophylactic use of antibiotics that may weaken the immune system and make the future successful use of antibiotics questionable. However, in my editorial in the last issue (#46) 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 any of the people doing the planning for these companies reading current literature about companion parrots and their needs?

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. It is time for the production ethic breeder and avi-industry corporations to pay attention to the science behind the socialization necessary for the proper development of parrot chicks.

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 crusade is not that of "soft heart/soft head animal right's fanatics" but a clear message from thousands of knowledgeable people concerned about the welfare of parrots. The process of early socialization 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 and proper 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. Bird buyers need to be bombarded with practical care and trust-building behavior information. 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. Parrots are not easy care pets. 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? I sincerely doubt it. 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. Many parrots have already had a half a dozen or more homes by the time they reach maturity because few people have the patience to deal with parrots with serious behavioral dysfunction. 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. (The Pet Bird Report will be doing an extensive reader survey in issue #48 and on the PBR web site.) 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 thousands of poorly socialized, production-raised parrot chicks enter the market.

Personally, I will always purchase my pet supplies from sources that do not carry live animals or shops that provide as close to optimal care for them as possible. In issue after issue, I have recommended that my readers do the same. If the staff of a large pet chain store is knowledgeable and takes excellent care of their birds, I would have no problem recommending that store. However, at this time, my experience and the feedback I have received from concerned readers over the years do not indicate this to be the case.

There have been dozens of messages on the computer lists suggesting the boycott of Kaytee and PETsMART. I don't think this is the obvious solution to our concerns. I believe that the higher echelon corporate people involved in the Kaytee Preferred Birds plan and the large pet store chains need to be educated about the critical importance of early socialization in the care of chicks they are producing and marketing.

As someone deeply involved in the welfare of parrots, I cannot approve of the Kaytee Preferred Bird's plan. I also can't approve of the large pet chains carrying live birds for sale unless they can absolutely guarantee their proper physical and emotional care and provide quality education for their customers. Of course, this is the same policy I have for all bird and pet shops. Plans and intent may look wonderful on paper but can they actually be implemented on a large scale—particularly considering the apparent lack of caring or competence of many people in low wage jobs?

Nick Saint-Erne, DVM, PETsMART director of quality assurance for pet care, has expressed willingness to listen to people's concerns and act on them. Kaytee has provided guidelines for their plan. We need to let them know when there are problems. Send photographs and full descriptions of problems to the Kaytee and PetsMart emails listed above. We must let the people in charge of any pet/bird shop know if the animals in their possession are being handled and cared for in an unacceptable manner.

I devoutly believe that the ethical future of both aviculture and the avi-industry will be deeply impacted by concerned and educated parrot breeders and owners. Can corporate planners recognize that the vast number of people who are having serious problems with this plan for mass marketing of parrots are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the birds? Profit should not be the bottom line with living animals—especially ones as long-lived and emotionally complex as parrots. I can only hope our concerns can help create a better plan that takes into consideration the emotional needs of the parrots these large companies are buying, producing and/or marketing.