there no guarantee that just because a bird has been handfeed thAat it will not bite. all birds bite occassionally also a handfeed bird does not necessarily mean it tame.when you visit the breeder inquire as to whether she handles the babies outside of handfeeding.

I used to raise handfed parakeets. It's started when one of my hens died and I had to take the babies. It was such fun and they turned out so sweet I just kept it up. They would crawl all over me like tiny kitties. You are lucky to find someone who handfeeds them.  Peggy

I think hand fed parakeets are awesome. I know because I handfeed them. That doesnt mean they wont bite though. They have no idea how little they are. Regular handling and training makes a HF a joy. I raised one my friend has had now for two years. He has a fifty word vocabulary, and so playful.

Patti, maybe if you go slowly you can find a family who has a pair who breed. Sometimes those babies are handled a lot by the whole family. Handfeeding is not what makes them sweet, handling a lot while they are growing does. Some breeders take in babies bred at different facilities and you could get double trouble. If a disease is in one aviary, then the babies can bring it with them or catch it from the seller.

I have a friend who used to breed large parrots. She also took in babies from other breeders to hand feed and sell for them. A group of baby cockatoos brought in a disease and she lost every bird in her facility. Horrible loss for her. She loved those birds.

Check folks out before buying.

The dirty cages could be because birds in breeding mode should not be disturbed any more than absolutely necessary or many will desert their nests and/or babies.

Hope you find your little one.

Annie