Testing New Bird
![Expert Question](/images/site/expert_q.png)
If I want to bring another parrot into my home (where I already have two parrots), is there really any risk of that bird having chlamydia/psittacosis if it has been bred in the UK?
![Expert Answer](/images/site/expert_a.png)
Thanks for this excellent question, Helen. The incidence of contagious disease, including psittacosis, has decreased since the importation of wild-caught birds has become illegal. However, this has not eliminated contagious disease, even in the captive-bred parrot population. I do recommend testing and quarantine of all new birds before their introduction into the flock. Your best source of information is your own qualified avian veterinarian. A local veterinarian would know best about the prevalence of disease and recommended testing procedures for your specific area.