When Parrots Are For Sale
| The state of the pet industry can be sad sometimes... especially when it comes to the unethical moving of too many parrots to unsuspecting buyers willing to buy the next cutest little parrot they see. Parrot buyers are giving less and less thought as to what it really means to bring home a baby parrot, and pet store owners aren't helping the problem. Just go into any pet store, play dumb and act like you're interested in purchasing a bird, and you'll find they're very happy to sell you one, but fall VERY short of actually preparing you for what it takes to raise a happy, healthy baby parrot. You can find it here, it's called "When Parrots Are For Sale", and gives you 3 quick tips to help spot a pet shop that you shouldn't let sell you their birds. |
posted by Chet Womach at
2:13 PM
7 Comments:
I know that some local pet stores in my area could do much better with their birds. The tendency for some to be neglectful around here is often due to the larger pet store companies. The small "home based" pet stores seem to take the time out to care for their birds a lot more thoroughly then the big chains. So far I have seen one pet store in desperate need of help for our avain counterparts, and that is a small pet shop started by people who are just out to make some money on animals. They have left their birds to deal with mites and most of them are agitated and try to bite. I know that a happy parrot would not be so aggressive, especailly one that they are claiming is hand tame because of being hand fed. This pet store is in Albert Lea, MN at a small mall like area. The owners just don't listen. Anyhow I figured I would let you know.
By
Anonymous, at 4:22 AM
Hi Chet,
I realize that there are many that mistreat not only our avian friends, but the four legged kind as well. I would like to make a favorable comment of PetSmart in Newnan, Ga. About five years ago, I had driven about 50 miles to look into adopting a baby, Blue and Gold Macaw. The little lady that helped me, did a very good job of interrogation, trying to find a good home for "Sam". Sam was still too young to go home with me at that time, so for over a week, I made a 100 mile round trip for about 4 days after work, to hand feed him myself. She said this would give him a chance to get to know me a little bit before I took him to his new environment.
Sam has moved on with someone who has a larger area for him to enjoy and I now have two African Greys. I don't like to keep them in cages, so I have two separate play gyms for each to have freedom to move about and enjoy.
Your friend, Stephen ;-)>
By
Anonymous, at 8:36 AM
Hi, I own a small mom and pop pet shop. have to say i agree with 99% of whats been said but not all pet shops are the same! while we have at least 6 shops in a 50 mile radius most like you said dont give a flying leap about the animal, only the cash. We here spend alot of time with our birds and all our animals, We make customers who are interested in birds especially the larger ones, conures and up come back for at least a week to get to the know the bird they are looking at and fully understand the commitment they are about to take on. We have more than once refused to sell or convinced them they were making a bad choice. So good work! wish more peeps out there gave a s*&t....Thanks
Shaun
Tennessee
By
Anonymous, at 11:19 AM
Hello Chet.
Good work! I have several birds in my home right now (I take in abused and unwanted birds), and there is a small pet shop near me that I have gotten a few of my birds from. There is one employee who takes the time to work with the birds that come into this pet shop, and he does a wonderful job with these birds.
He had worked with my male Grey Cockatiel, Sniffles, for over a month before I got the bird. He taight Sniffles to step up and taught him to say "Pretty Bird", and taught him a couple of tricks.
I have since bought 2 other birds from this pet shop, one of which has been bounced around to a few different homes and has some behavior problems, but we're working on that. (This bird was only in the pet shop for a day before I got him.)
When I was looking for a cockatiel, I did go to several other pet shops, and I was really disgusted with they way their birds were treated, and the dirtiness of the shops in general.
I really wish that there was something that I could do to get some of these other pet shops closed.
Keep up the good work.
Dianna
Antioch, IL
By
Anonymous, at 11:44 AM
Hello Agents..I have to say first off that what you are doing is great for all animal lovers. Not just birds, but all animals. I hope your secret mission is a big success. I think you should change your name to secret agent 007 ... I do want to tell that I have an African Maxamillion that was given to me about 8 years ago. Yes, I said given.. An old woman who owned this bird never let him out of his cage, never paid him any attention what so ever. He would screach loud all day long. You could not call her on the phone with out hearing this bird just screaching his head off. One day she asked me If I wanted to have him. I of course told her I did't have that kind of money to invest. She said no, I am giving him to you. She was tired of him, and with the noise he was making she couldnt stand him any longer. So I accepted. Now I know or knew nothing about birds except parakeets. So this large beautiful bird was a real challange to me. I learned real fast that the reason this bird screached so loud was he just wanted some attention, and some tender loving care. That's all. He was never ever let out of his cage. So that was my first mission. I bought him a bigger cage with some little goodies to put inside. The top of the cage opens with a perch on top. You know the kind. Well, this bird already named Max, would sit there all day long if I let him. You could not reach up to touch him or he would take off a finger. His cage was his property and he let you know it. So I just left it at that. Then I had a small wooden ladder and placed it on the side of the cage so it would touch the floor. To my suprise Max slide down the side of his cage and walked down every step of this ladder and onto the floor and follow me into what ever room I was in. That was a real treat for me. And Max too. This is all the bird wanted. Just some love and knowledge that he existed. The screaching stopped all together after the first week of being in my home. I can now tell him when he is on the top of the cage to put his head down and I will rub his head. He loves that too. But not but for just a minute or two. Then he will bring his head up real fast and try to bite you if you dont stop. He rules that cage, not you. He has never been hand held, or hand fed. I can now pick him up with my fingers if he is in another part of the house. Only then can I do this. You can walk around with him like this for a few minutes and then flys back to his cage. He is such a beautiful bird. Well after 8 years of calling this male bird Max, I had a suprise in the bottom of his cage one afternoon. Upon a closer look as to what this big white blob was, I found it to be an egg. So Max was not a male, He was a She. Now her name is Maxine. She responds better to Maxine too. It was like she knew her name did not fit her. I dont feel that after 8 years of my having her, and God only knows how long the old woman had her, just how old she really is, and I dont think she can be trained with talking or doing tricks or holding her on command. And to me that is a shame. I dont have the no how to change this. And after being bitten one time by this bird you would loose a finger real quick. She has what looks like a crack in her beak too. It was there when I got her. No clue as to why or how it got there. Now I also have a cockatiel that will be just a little over one year old in november. My son bought him for me for my Birtday last year. Supposedly he was 8 weeks old when I picked him out at the pet store. Oh let me back up one second, with Maxine laying eggs, I went to the pet store, the only one we have in the small one horse town, and talked to the owner of the store. I told her about the egg laying and she said I needed her to stop laying eggs or she could die because this would deplete all of her what ever in her body that she needed to survive. She suggested that I put a small plastic golf ball in the bottom of her cage. I did, and Maxine to my suprise started sitting on the golf ball. After about two weeks she gave up the sitting and the egg laying stopped. I hope this was good advice from the pet store owner and that I was right in following her directions. Maxine no longer legs eggs. But she is still just as happy. To me it was her way of letting me know that she no longer wanted to be known as Max. Any way on my cockatiel, I have been able to reach inside the cage and he will climb on my finger and sit on my shoulders. He will say words like " Hello " " I love you " and " good morning " Now I am hopeing that what you said at on time was the best way to teach a bird to talk was to have it around another bird that does talk. I am not sure yet, but I think Max is trying to say hello. It could be wishfull thinking on my part, but I will just have to wait and see. My cockatiel loves my husband more than me. Here I am changing the cage, feeding him, talking to him, holding him, and letting him have free rain to the house a little every day. He even has his own perch that sits between our two recliners. Well, this bird loves to sit on my bald headed husband. No matter what room of the house my husband is in, the cockatiel finds him and lands on that bald head. My husband just says get this thing off of me before he poops on me. I laugh and reach out for the bird but he fights me on getting him onto my fnger. No way is he coming with me. My husband can be asleep on the couch and if the cockatiel is out of his cage, he always finds a way to sit on that bald head. My husband opens one eye and says to me " Do something " So I sit back and watch as this bird nibbles on his mustach, or nibbles on what few hairs he has left on his head. It is just so darn cute and funny. My husband really does love the bird but acts like he doesnt. Early in the morning my husband is always the first one up and he uncovers both bird cages. As my husband is doing his paper work, ( he is a truck driver ) He sits at his desk and drinks his coffee and says good morning, and so does the bird, this goes on for about an hour. Hello, Hello, good morning, I love you. On, and On. The out of his cage he comes. Flys to that bald head and just sits there like he is king of the hill. Well, I just had to tell my bird storys to who ever was interested, and also to tell you Thank -you so much for being the only bird web site I have kept on my computer and have learned a few do's and dont's just from what you write to your readers. And I also want to say good luck on your mission mr. secret agent 007.. I think you will find that there will be lots of support on your mission, and as always this letter will not self distruct after you have read it.
Birds-in-flight
for the right to live.
p.s. Is there any way to tell the age of a bird like the African Maxamillion ? I would love to know just how old my Maxine really is. I have been told that she will out live me, and I want to know just how long I have left to live. I have a few other storys to tell about what Maxine has learned since she came to live with me, but I will save those for the next time.
Thank you
By
Vickie Belote, at 8:27 PM
Great job. I turn in pet shops to health dept. & humane society when I can see the abuse. Pet stores should be forced (by law) to recommend learning about the parrot they want, visit often at various times. I read/researched about 9 months before purchasing my darlin' from a breeder. I've a B&G and Military Macaw for 8yrs and 5 yrs. that are very happy, well adjusted, vet checked yearly and loved dearly. Good luck in your work.
By
Carla, at 3:04 PM
Very healthy and well socialized Congo African Grey,Amazons,Cockatoos and
macaws With Fertile Eggs ready to go. Well socialized and already mimicking
sounds and words will be a great talker.Very friendly and quick learner. We
have over 10 years experience with African Grey,Macaws and others.All our
parrots are very tame and also breeding pairs are available.Also are fertile
eggs which are fresh laid and candle tested.The babies will come with free
cage and toys.the babies have been together since their date of birth.easy to
hand feed,used to play with kids and loving.mail:jasonbilli2005@yahoo.com
By
Anonymous, at 11:40 AM
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