We went to the flea market this morning

and as usual they had a pet section there. So we stepped in to take a look. Sure enough, they had a Umbrella Cockatoo, 8 years old crammed in this small cage. My wife was talking to the Cockatoo and whistling to it while the too was cooing and hopping up and down on it's perch. Here I thought I would have been the one to have to be dragged out of there.

But Noooooooo, I had to keep telling my wife to come on, walk away. I went over to the seller, and asked how old the Too was and he said 8 years old and it used to be a breeder or at least that's what the previous owner told him. But she was very friendly and would step up to anyone. I didn't ask the price, I was too busy trying pry my wife away from the Too. All the while we were walking away she kept saying how sorry she felt for the Cockatoo having to be crammed into such a small cage when the seller had numerous Cockatoo/Macaw cages setting there for sale.

Like I told her, it is a trick they use to get the passer by to feel sorry for the animal and want to take them away from all that stress and heartache. Pet stores do it all the time. There's nothing better than a visual aid to tug at your heart strings.:20:

Mike

Oh my goodness I would have been in tears looking at that bird. Are you going to go back and get her?

No, I think she lost the feeling hahahahahaha. When I offered to go back and see if I could work a deal out with the guy, she said no, we don't need another bird. I have to agree, I'm just now really starting to bond well with my Senegal Tiki.

But I'm really fighting the feeling though. The cage was small for maybe love birds or Cockatiels, not for a grown Umbrella. There is no way she could stretch her wings in that cage. But then again, this could have just been a transport cage to and from the Flea Market. I'm sure he doesn't leave the birds there.

He also had a pretty red Eclectus parrot, which was on a stand. He told me to be careful around her because she does bite so I kept my distance. He also had a couple of baby Cinimon Conures as well as a 7-8 month old Senegal male parrot that was just as sweet as he could be. I had to restrain myself from taking that one home as well. But at least the Sennie was on a wooden play stand.

You're right, this is probably a hook. If the 'too looked healthy and well-feathered, this cage was probably just a flea market day thing. Not that it excuses it, because it's still abusive. They know it and it's difficult to pass up that sort of thing.

Yes, she was a real beauty for sure. Fully feathered great personality. She was really interactive with me wife cooing at her, bouncing up and down when she talked and whistled at her. She wasn't a feather plucker at least yet anyway.

Display cage and transport cage?

Wonder if they also purposely use a small cage to inspire the customer to buy the bird to get it out of that cramped cage?

I believe that was exactly the intent.

I bet all those birds are well cared for at home after the flea market closes. They probably get organic fruits and veggies and caviar and a butler and maid as they brag to each other about who got more customers to cry that day under their palm trees.
And when someone buys them, they probably are start plucking and get sent back (sorry no refunds, but we will take the bird back for free) so that they can be re-sold by the guy again. He probably gives the bird a good part of the commission too for it's new Ferrari.

It's all a very evil marketing ploy.

Given how many hands these birds pass through, you better hope you don't contract some weird Canary-al disease for which there is no Tweetment, like Chirpies.

aMy best friend for the last 10 years has been my umbrella female. Sophie is my cuddle too and likes to be hugged and cuddled like a teddy bear. Every morning when I get ready for work she sits on my shoulder and watches me get ready. She never bites me...only bites my husband every now and then. She is bonded to me but still likes to be petted by my husband. She gives me lots and lots of love and joy and is the light of my life. She is a second hand bird that I fell in love with when she was at a bird stand at the side of the highway. We just stopped to "look" because we already had a moluccan and three amazons and did not want another bird. Lesley