Posted by bird-lover34 on Mon, 08/08/2005 - 08:14 :: General Discussion
We have only one pet shop in town. Their birds appear to be well kept although my heart was touched at a baby African Grey in a separate cage that appeared to be absolutely terrified. The proprietors seem to be pretty knowledgeable about birds.
Conversely, I responded to an AD in the Petfinders website. I was looking for a DYHD Amazon but I couldn't afford to pay $600-1000. as my only income is Social Security. The guy said he had a male he would sell for $350.00 and he had a yellow nape Am. he would sell for $175. because she had no toenails but was otherwise healthy.
We made the long trip (478 miles)to get one or the other of the birds. When we arrived, we noticed the guy had a big tin corrugated roofed shed with plywood walls in which he had all his birds. They were in cages made out of rabbit wire (like 1" squares). My bird had one huge tree branch across the cage about 12" in diameter for a perch. No toys, very little light. He had a female cage mate that he obviously didn't like because he had pecked her bald. All they could do was to climb the walls and sides of the cage continously. The yellow nape was in a taller, larger cage with another bird (don't remember what kind) but had a tree branch diagonally placed but at least had smaller branches so they could perch.
He had about 80 other birds in various cages, all squawking and screaming. I don't blame them I would want out of there too.
I decided to "rescue" the male DYHD if nothing else than to get him out of that terrible environment. The guy caught the bird with a butterfly net and put him in a travel cage we brought with us.
When I asked him what kind of food he was feeding them, so I could gradually introduce the pellet food, he said, "Ah, don't worry about it! If he gets hungry enough, he'll eat it!" He is totally wild. No human contact at all except for someone dumping bird seed in a bowl.
We stopped at our Vet on the way home. She said he was strong, healthy and no abnormalities. She clipped every other feather so we could handle him a little easier but didn't clip his nails because he was already too stressed.
But the experience with a so-called breeder has left me with the feeling that at least in the pet shops, their mistakes are visible and people can and do speak up when they see errors being made. The breeder's abuse and neglect is hidden on their own property and not open to scrutiny by the public.
I know the mere fact that he sold the bird for less than the market price might have been a indication of the man but when you want to adopt a bird and you don't have a lot of money up front, you have few opportunities. I watched the newspapers for months for someone just wanting to give a bird up but no go. Everyone wants the big bucks whether the bird can talk or is tamed or whatever.
Even though I had to put the charge on my credit card, I was fortunate to get Romeo for the lower price. He is in a wonderful cage with lots of toys and lots of good food and more important lots of love! I just feel so sorry for all those other birds in that guy's possession.
Conversely, I responded to an AD in the Petfinders website. I was looking for a DYHD Amazon but I couldn't afford to pay $600-1000. as my only income is Social Security. The guy said he had a male he would sell for $350.00 and he had a yellow nape Am. he would sell for $175. because she had no toenails but was otherwise healthy.
We made the long trip (478 miles)to get one or the other of the birds. When we arrived, we noticed the guy had a big tin corrugated roofed shed with plywood walls in which he had all his birds. They were in cages made out of rabbit wire (like 1" squares). My bird had one huge tree branch across the cage about 12" in diameter for a perch. No toys, very little light. He had a female cage mate that he obviously didn't like because he had pecked her bald. All they could do was to climb the walls and sides of the cage continously. The yellow nape was in a taller, larger cage with another bird (don't remember what kind) but had a tree branch diagonally placed but at least had smaller branches so they could perch.
He had about 80 other birds in various cages, all squawking and screaming. I don't blame them I would want out of there too.
I decided to "rescue" the male DYHD if nothing else than to get him out of that terrible environment. The guy caught the bird with a butterfly net and put him in a travel cage we brought with us.
When I asked him what kind of food he was feeding them, so I could gradually introduce the pellet food, he said, "Ah, don't worry about it! If he gets hungry enough, he'll eat it!" He is totally wild. No human contact at all except for someone dumping bird seed in a bowl.
We stopped at our Vet on the way home. She said he was strong, healthy and no abnormalities. She clipped every other feather so we could handle him a little easier but didn't clip his nails because he was already too stressed.
But the experience with a so-called breeder has left me with the feeling that at least in the pet shops, their mistakes are visible and people can and do speak up when they see errors being made. The breeder's abuse and neglect is hidden on their own property and not open to scrutiny by the public.
I know the mere fact that he sold the bird for less than the market price might have been a indication of the man but when you want to adopt a bird and you don't have a lot of money up front, you have few opportunities. I watched the newspapers for months for someone just wanting to give a bird up but no go. Everyone wants the big bucks whether the bird can talk or is tamed or whatever.
Even though I had to put the charge on my credit card, I was fortunate to get Romeo for the lower price. He is in a wonderful cage with lots of toys and lots of good food and more important lots of love! I just feel so sorry for all those other birds in that guy's possession.