Deep breath....I'm sure I may be scolded by some members for this post, but here goes:
Spring is here and it seems a good time to post this. Lately, we have received complaints about people being sold sick birds as well as not paying for goods that were received. We field these all the time. Our rules for the BST forum are posted in stickies at the top of the section, which bear repeating, say:
My suggestion to you is that when you contemplate buying any started birds, you at least ask the seller if he/she has had any illness in their flock and what kind. Certainly, the seller could be untruthful. It is up to you to, if you are local, observe their flock conditions, if you are allowed to and to check over the birds as closely as you can. If you have any sense that you are being played, back off the transaction. Educate yourself about the signs of illness and at least look for those. Naturally, if the bird isnt showing symptoms at the time, you have no idea if it is a carrier of something nasty that wil decimate your flock. If you do take birds home, quarantine them for at least a month to six weeks. Sometimes, ill birds are sold simply through ignorance of the facts of disease by the seller and/or buyer.
Sellers, I think the BST rules put forth are pretty plain. Do not sell sick birds or birds from flocks that have had respiratory illnesses. Be honest about it and let the buyer make the decision about how much of a gamble he/she is willing to take. Think how you would feel if your own flock was wiped out by one sick bird you brought into it. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is a good BST rule. If all would operate that way, the staff's work load would be slightly dimished. We are not lie detectors nor do we do background checks on BYC members. Thanks for your cooperation!
Spring is here and it seems a good time to post this. Lately, we have received complaints about people being sold sick birds as well as not paying for goods that were received. We field these all the time. Our rules for the BST forum are posted in stickies at the top of the section, which bear repeating, say:
We emphasize honesty and integrity here at BYC. We feel it is important that you practice this especially in the Buy Sell Trade area. We remove spammers quickly and request that you not offer for sale any sick or diseased birds, defective merchandise or fail to follow through on a transaction. When we get complaints on a seller or buyer, we may investigate and may ask you not to trade until such matters are resolved
My suggestion to you is that when you contemplate buying any started birds, you at least ask the seller if he/she has had any illness in their flock and what kind. Certainly, the seller could be untruthful. It is up to you to, if you are local, observe their flock conditions, if you are allowed to and to check over the birds as closely as you can. If you have any sense that you are being played, back off the transaction. Educate yourself about the signs of illness and at least look for those. Naturally, if the bird isnt showing symptoms at the time, you have no idea if it is a carrier of something nasty that wil decimate your flock. If you do take birds home, quarantine them for at least a month to six weeks. Sometimes, ill birds are sold simply through ignorance of the facts of disease by the seller and/or buyer.
Sellers, I think the BST rules put forth are pretty plain. Do not sell sick birds or birds from flocks that have had respiratory illnesses. Be honest about it and let the buyer make the decision about how much of a gamble he/she is willing to take. Think how you would feel if your own flock was wiped out by one sick bird you brought into it. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is a good BST rule. If all would operate that way, the staff's work load would be slightly dimished. We are not lie detectors nor do we do background checks on BYC members. Thanks for your cooperation!
