The Nursery

Chicks Available as of July 13, 2010

See pictures of the current babies on our gallery

African Red-Bellied Parrots are $ 500.00 each.
African Brown Headed Parrots are $ 400.00 each.

Note March 3 2010: Due to the economy, and how long it has taken to sell recent babies, I don't expect to be setting up my pairs to breed any time soon. The normal season is Sept - March. So we are at the end of this current season. Over the summer I will see how the economy looks and will decide if I will set up any pairs in Sept. If not, then maybe in Nov. I definitely won't be setting up my pairs for babies until the female listed above sells. Since I do this out of my home, I can't produce more babies until past babies are all gone because I have only a limited number of cages and a limited amount of space in my home.

We set up boxes for the fall season on September 1st. Generally, if eggs are laid within 2 weeks, we will have chicks available in early December. The breeding season is September to March. I usually only allow my pairs to breed twice each year. That means that usually I will only have chicks in December and April.

Waiting List

If you want to be put on a waiting list, please contact us. When eggs are laid, I send out one email to each person that is currently on the waiting list. Then when the babies hatch, I send out an email about how many babies there are. There will be a third and final email when the babies are 2 weeks old. If I do not receive any response by the time the babies are 3 weeks old, they will be offered to the general public, and your name will be removed from the waiting list.

I will pull the chicks from the nest box at four weeks of age and begin hand feeding and socializing. Deposits are not refundable after the fifth week unless the chick does not survive to weaning. They should wean at about 12 weeks of age. I will not allow any chick to go home till I am sure that it is properly eating on its own.

Payments

The deposit to hold your chick is $ 200. We do not accept deposits untill the chicks are 3 days old.

The balance will then be due at time of delivery of the weaned chick. Payment must be in full prior to delivery/pick up.

Choice of a chick is on a first deposit first choice basis. However, understand that having first pick is not guaranteed if another customer has paid for DNA sexing. In that case, the person that paid for the sexing will get first pick of the babies that are the sex they prefered. Deposits are non-refundable after the chicks are 4 weeks old. If your chosen chick does not survive to weaning, you may choose another chick provided they were not already claimed, you may transfer your deposit to a future clutch, or you may request a refund.

Deposits may be made by money order, check (made out to Christy Catterton), or Paypal.com.

After a baby takes the last hand feeding, I keep them 1 week to be sure they are eating completly on their own. I will then notify you that the chick is ready to go home. The balance of the purchase price will be required within 1 week of such notification. If the balance is not received within 1 week, you forfeit your deposit, and the chick will be put up for sale.

If you wish to use check or money order for the final payment, shipping/pick-up will not be set until after payment has been received and cleared the bank. For Paypal payments (instant only) shipping/delivery can be scheduled as soon as notification is received of the payment. Otherwise, at the time of pick up cash only will be accepted as final payment.

Pick-up of the chick must then be within 2 weeks of the ready notification. If the chick is not picked up in 2 weeks, there will be a boarding charge of $5/day or $27/week.

Purchase and Health Gurarantee

Once you receive your chick, you accept full responsibility for that chick. You are accepting that the chick was raised in a way that you feel is acceptable. Once the purchase is final, there will be no refunds or returns for any reason, except as explicitly stated in the Health Guarantee.

Read the terms of our Purchase contract and Health Guarantee. As part of the health guarantee, your chick must be kept on Hagen Tropican pellets till after a vet check and normal results of all tests. I sell a 2 lb bag out of my stock to get you started for $ 5.00. This should last your chick about 3 weeks. It is plenty to allow time to wean the chick over to a new food if you so desire.

Sexing

If you want to know the sex of your chick, you must pay the deposit fee and the sexing fee of $ 27.00(per chick). Sexing takes about a week to get the results.

If you need a specific sex then you will be responsible for the sexing of the whole clutch, paid by the time the chicks are two weeks of age and is non-refundable. You understand that it might be possible that none of the chicks in a clutch are the sex you desire, and you will have to wait till the next clutch and pay for the sexing of the next clutch.

Shipping

Yes - I can ship your chick. I will search for the best airline with the shortest flight and thus less stress for your chick. Delta is about $ 90.00 and they allow you to pay COD. American is about $ 170.00 and they require me to pay when the flight is scheduled. Continental is about $130. So far I have not used any other airline so I don't know what their costs or regulations are. Be aware that when shipping live birds, there are restrictions due to temperature at any point along the flight. So even if your chick is weaned, if the weather conditions are not warm or cool enough you will have to wait for your chick to be shipped (subject to boarding costs if more than 2 weeks), or make other arrangements for pick-up. You will be responsible for all costs associated to the shipping, including but not limited to a carrier,water bottle, perch, vet vist, health certificate, permits and parking at the airport.

I am willing to drive to meet partway if shipping is not possible. I do have a full time job, so if you need me to meet you, we can only schedule these on weekends, and between my marts. Due to health issues, I can not travel more than 2 hours from my home in Northern Va.

Our goal is to ensure that our chicks are adopted into a safe and healthy environment; therefore, we reserve the right to refuse sale for any reason.