• Welcome to Avian Avenue! To view our forum with less advertisments please register with us.
    Memberships are free and it will just take a moment. Click here

Local bird store

Wally&Eva

Jogging around the block
Joined
6/29/22
Messages
943
Location
New York
Real Name
Carol
In my town, there is a specialized bird store that has been there forever. They know their stuff but so many things have changed as far as information in the last 20 years so their advice might be a bit old school. Like they don’t insist on pellets, they carry them and talk about them but push the seed diet mostly. This kind of sucks cus if you have new bird owners, you have a real chance to educate them without any bad habits to tweak. We are all still learning and new info is coming out all the time. Anyways, I digress. I was there yesterday, they have the staple big birds out on a stand, it a little sad, people come and they just stare at them, it’s like a little zoo. They sell birds here too. Here is their policy and I wanted to know your thoughts. They sell all birds unweaned, and at this point guarantee their health. They offer you to come in and syringe feed many babies and come often to bond with the bird and per policy, you have to come back once a week until they determine the bird is properly and fully weaned and take weight etc. If you don’t return, the health guarantee is void. I know they are kind of an in betweener between a glorified pet store and a breeder. What are your thoughts?
Please keep in mind that I have never purchased a bird from here, nor do I plan on it. Not that I’ve heard anything bad, I just prefer a breeder that has the parents as pets, so not tons of different pairs. Just wondering.
 

Zara

♥❀Livin´ in Lovebird Land❀☼
Super Moderator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Joined
1/8/18
Messages
31,364
Location
Reino de España
but push the seed diet mostly. This kind of sucks
Depends for what birds. Some species are (primarily) seed eaters.

What are your thoughts?
Definitely some red flags...

They sell all birds unweaned, and at this point guarantee their health.
I don´t trust that. Unweaned, are they old enough to be tested for PSBD, Polyoma and psittacosis? I don´t know. Plus during the weaning process, while being hand fed, so much can change. They can develop infections, yeast, be injured. The guarantee seems too premature for me.

They offer you to come in and syringe feed many babies
I´ve never heard of a breeder allowing strangers to come in and handfeed the babies via syringe. That is very risky. And ¨many¨? So you can feed multiple chicks? Does that include chicks sold to other people? They could aspirate someone elses bird.

Is there a reason you ask about the shop? Personally I would avoid, but they are just trying to make a living. They are not a huge chain pet shop so that is a little better, but some of the things you say are a little worrying.
Though I suppose some would say the same for most Spanish breeders here who will sell an unweaned chick to any Tom, Dick or Harry.

We are all still learning and new info is coming out all the time.
For sure. Imagine in 20 years time what the top tips in bird husbandry will be? It will be interesting to see!
 

Wally&Eva

Jogging around the block
Joined
6/29/22
Messages
943
Location
New York
Real Name
Carol
I´ve never heard of a breeder allowing strangers to come in and handfeed the babies via syringe. That is very risky. And ¨many¨? So you can feed multiple chicks? Does that include chicks sold to other people? They could aspirate someone elses bird.
This is their policy :
“——- sells most of its baby birds unweaned(requiring baby cereal fed by syringe). We fully guarantee their health during this critical period. We will not wean a bird for you unless it is already very close to weaning. We’ve found that early placement into a home produces the most well-adjusted and socialized babies.
To start, we’ll give you a feeding lesson and let you practice on multiple birds. If necessary, you can return for subsequent feedings and practice until you and ——- are satisfied that you can feed properly.
Next, you’ll take the bird home to feed. ——- is only a phone call away if you have any problems or questions.
As a condition of our health guarantee, we require new owners to bring the bird back to ——- once a week until we determine that it's weaned. We monitor its weight, ask how much it's eating and how it's doing. If you don't return weekly with your un-weaned bird and something happens to it, ——- health guarantee becomes null and void.
We feel a system that promotes the hand feeding of parrots in their home setting is a win-win for everyone. The bird gets more attention and socialization at home with a family than it would get at ——-. In addition, —— assumes responsibility for the bird's health since we can monitor it weekly. This policy has worked well for us since we opened in January 1982”
Is there a reason you ask about the shop?
Just thought it was an interesting policy and they’ve been doing it for 40 years.
 

Shezbug

ASK ME FOR PICTURES OF MY MACAW!
Super Moderator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/28/18
Messages
25,823
Location
Vic, Australia
Real Name
Shez
I’d personally stay clear of them after reading their policy.
 

rocky'smom

Joyriding the Neighborhood
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/14/14
Messages
17,442
Location
minnesota
Real Name
laurie
Same here @Shezbug. Steer clear of the place
 

flyzipper

Rollerblading along the road
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/28/20
Messages
2,591
Location
Canada
Real Name
Steve
Their resources page links mainly to Barbara Heidenreich content, so that part is good...
... but I agree their breeding/weaning policy is old-school.

You're hand-feeding a weeks-old pair -- they're not a product of this store and policy?
 

Wally&Eva

Jogging around the block
Joined
6/29/22
Messages
943
Location
New York
Real Name
Carol
Their resources page links mainly to Barbara Heidenreich content, so that part is good...
... but I agree their breeding/weaning policy is old-school.

You're hand-feeding a weeks-old pair -- they're not a product of this store and policy?
Oh no, although I am sure they do certainly take care of their birds, as they all do a good job maintaining the place and they definitely care about the well being of their birds. I used to come to this store when I was a teen, for toys and food, and I was always overwhelmed by it. They have huge loud parrots that are out, and a revolving door of baby birds that come through and they board birds so it is a very intense place. It is a specialty shop and their variety was much better. Online shopping has kind of made that obsolete. They are a really knowledgeable, kind group who try their best to interact with all the birds and do provide our town something more than just Petco, who sometimes may not have staff that are knowledgeable about birds.

I would just prefer to get my birds directly from a person. They also wing clip, although I don’t know if that is their policy or just a request from the family purchasing. But you know what I mean by old school practices. I got my babies from a guy who has 2 pairs. He’s not a breeder but he has two separate clutches. He was showing me photos of the birds set up where it seems they have the room to themselves with lots of enrichment stuff outside and hanging from the ceiling. I also asked to see a photo of the boys parents, and it was a photo of him cuddling the boys mom in his sweater haha. It was important to me that the parents were happy and taken care of. And not agitated and bored and taking it out on chicks, causing stress that could play out later on. Especially because they are babies and there a lot of unscrupulous people that treat their poor parent birds as just a way to make money. I also wanted to make sure that the parents weren’t related in the case that they are opposite sex and do have babies. Which is something that I welcome in the future. I’m not going to get them sexed because I don’t care that much, I’m sure they will let me know if they have any interest in breeding. I can do my part and watch their behavior and not introduce any dark spaces, especially for the first year and a half. And should that day come, I do plan on parent raising the chicks, as I did about 20 years ago and they will most likely stay with me or I will personally wean them, and bribe someone close to me to take one so I can keep them close to me forever haha. But they will have to pry them out of my hands, as they are so precious <3 And I only plan on having one clutch and trying to stop them as I know how easily they become chronic egg layers. I had to take everything away from my previous birds after her last babies. We all wanted her to STOP but she refused and was running the dad ragged. I thinkkk I ended up separating them and putting her with her son who she just bonded with and didn’t show interest in mating with. Stubborn little guys!!
 

flyzipper

Rollerblading along the road
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/28/20
Messages
2,591
Location
Canada
Real Name
Steve
... they all do a good job maintaining the place and they definitely care about the well being of their birds. I used to come to this store when I was a teen, for toys and food, and I was always overwhelmed by it. They have huge loud parrots that are out, and a revolving door of baby birds that come through and they board birds so it is a very intense place. It is a specialty shop and their variety was much better. Online shopping has kind of made that obsolete. They are a really knowledgeable, kind group who try their best to interact with all the birds and do provide our town something more than just Petco, who sometimes may not have staff that are knowledgeable about birds.
That sounds like a great place to me, and very much like my independent local bird stores who I like to support whenever possible rather than buying online.

My Marvin came from an old-school shop that clipped, and offered advice such as, "if they won't step up, just press into their chest so they have to". That said, I can't be overly critical of shops like this. Partially because without them I wouldn't be writing this today, but also because my observation is they are conveying what works in their experience, which is driven by their environment. I have no doubt it's easier for them to manage a room full of clipped birds, just like it's easier for my vet to towel birds during an examination. That doesn't mean those practices should be embraced in our home environments.

Maybe that's the point I'm struggling to make -- their ongoing home life is the one that matters, and it's never too late to do the right thing for our birds, even if they had a questionable start (or mysterious start, as is the case with 2 of my guys).
 

Wally&Eva

Jogging around the block
Joined
6/29/22
Messages
943
Location
New York
Real Name
Carol
That sounds like a great place to me, and very much like my independent local bird stores who I like to support whenever possible rather than buying online.

My Marvin came from an old-school shop that clipped, and offered advice such as, "if they won't step up, just press into their chest so they have to". That said, I can't be overly critical of shops like this. Partially because without them I wouldn't be writing this today, but also because my observation is they are conveying what works in their experience, which is driven by their environment. I have no doubt it's easier for them to manage a room full of clipped birds, just like it's easier for my vet to towel birds during an examination. That doesn't mean those practices should be embraced in our home environments.

Maybe that's the point I'm struggling to make -- their ongoing home life is the one that matters, and it's never too late to do the right thing for our birds, even if they had a questionable start (or mysterious start, as is the case with 2 of my guys).
Thank you, that’s why I put this out there cus I was curious what others thought. Very well said. I have always been thankful to be able to buy items from there before you can get everything at the touch of a button. I do see them as people that are well versed and may really have more experience with certain bird issues than even some vets, who aren’t avian specialists. I would have no issues calling them for advice, as long as it isn’t urgent medical need. It is a place solely dedicated to the care of birds and they serve an entire county and their birds look healthy. They aren't in a small cage, they have enough space to run around. It was an interesting policy, and if I did choose to purchase here, I do like that you can get the support that you need, should you need it. And that you can come feed multiple times until everyone is confident. That said, I chose to go a different way. I like the fact that they are introducing parrots as true pets, a lot responsibility, and that they without them, my county wouldn’t have as much access to these intelligent beautiful creatures. I’m sure to guarantee, they sell their birds after when they are sure they will be ok. My Wally is 6 weeks and only just starting to wean. So getting them at 4-5 weeks from here isn’t as bad as them selling babies really prematurely and risking death and also breaking the guarantee. I guess it works for them, they’ve been open for 40 years
 

BrianB

Rollerblading along the road
Avenue Veteran
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
2/22/17
Messages
1,780
That's completely different from how we do things. Our babies are weaned to pellets and chopped veggies. The only ones that get seed are ones that require it as a regular part of their diet. Baby birds don't even come into the store until they have had a polyoma vaccine and we only buy from breeders that we have an established relationship with. New breeders are usually recommended to us by a local avian-certified vet after they have seen one of their birds. We rarely sell unweaned birds and will only do so to someone we have an established relationship with. This usually happens once or twice a year for just one or two birds. Even breeders sign a waiver stating that the bird is guaranteed to be healthy but we are not responsible for human negligence or incompetence.
 

Wally&Eva

Jogging around the block
Joined
6/29/22
Messages
943
Location
New York
Real Name
Carol
That's completely different from how we do things. Our babies are weaned to pellets and chopped veggies. The only ones that get seed are ones that require it as a regular part of their diet. Baby birds don't even come into the store until they have had a polyoma vaccine and we only buy from breeders that we have an established relationship with. New breeders are usually recommended to us by a local avian-certified vet after they have seen one of their birds. We rarely sell unweaned birds and will only do so to someone we have an established relationship with. This usually happens once or twice a year for just one or two birds. Even breeders sign a waiver stating that the bird is guaranteed to be healthy but we are not responsible for human negligence or incompetence.
Yes, I didn’t realize that this was the policy until I read it on the site recently and I have been going here for materials for many years (almost 20 in between). Was surprised. And all of their birds were fully feathered, I didn’t see tiny babies, but they probably have them in the back. They definitely care for their birds and their customers, and I’m glad to have them in the neighborhood. Just a bit of old school ideals including their selling practices.

It’s awesome how thorough you guys are with your birds. I’m sure that everyone that crosses your paths have the upmost confidence in your patience and love for the birds you sell. Wish you guys were located here!!!
 
Top