Meeting Parrots or Owners?

So my dad and I went to this little pet store in Quakertown to look for a new piece of driftwood for our hermit crabs, and my gosh was I excited to be in that store. There were SO many parrots. The lady had your standard commercial petstore fare: budgies, cockatiels, the occasional conure. But she also had macaws, cockatoos, amazons, caiques (charming little guys, btw <3), and, to my excitement, a female eclectus.

They all seemed happy and well cared for (I heard the woman telling a customer that they parrots are socialized and played with very frequently). What stuck with me about that little outing was how mellow the eclectus was compared to all the other species. It sort of reinforced my desire to own an eclectus someday in the future.

But I wasn't really sure if it was appropriate for me to ask the woman if I could "meet" the eclectus. Like if I go to a pet store, am I allowed/is it ok to ask the owner if I can interact with them for a bit even if I have no intent to buy them? At the moment I'm just out of college looking for a job, so I have no money to afford to care for a parrot (much less buy the animal and all his necessities!). So I'm really not looking to actually buy a bird yet. But now that I can drive, I really want to go meet a bunch of parrots and see first hand which would be a good fit. I've been researching Eclectus pretty deeply for over a year now and I'm like 90% sure they'd be the best fit for me, but I want to be sure, you know? And I think the best way to do that is to meet one first hand (not just see one through the internet or a glass-front cage).

I know aviaries and rescue centers would be another good place to meet lots of kinds of birds, but I'm really not sure what's in my area, or what to do once I find somewhere. And what if they don't have eclectus? I want to meet other birds, sure, but meeting an eclectus is really important to me. Will breeders let me come and talk to them? or is that considered weird/rude?

Sorry this post is so long and rambley. I just feel really strongly about getting some exposure to birds but I have no idea where to start I'd really appreciate any advice!


((oh PS I live in the Reading area of Pennsylvania. Google hasn't turned up much and I get confused pretty quickly. I can drive so a day-trip length distance isn't out of the question))

It's completely okay to ask IMO. If they know how interested you are in the birds and are considering them (in the future) most of them will gladly let you interact with them. They might think that you'll come back and purchase her. If they're really dedicated, they'll know the importance of you meeting as many birds as possible. Of course, they'll probably ask you to disinfect and there's still a chance they'll turn you down, but there's nothing wrong with asking. (It might also reflect on them, if they're wanting money or what's best for their animals).

From what I see, a lot of breeders are open to allowing visitors to visit because again, it opens potential buyers and if you tell them you're thinking of a certain species, they should be understanding and might even work out a deal with you .

Again, not guaranteeing anything, but that's from observations. It doesn't hurt to ask in the end

There's quite a few rescues in the area! I recommend A Helping Wing over in Blairstown NJ, though it's a little bit of a drive from where you are, riddick is the one to help you there, and she could probably direct you to some rescues that might be closer to you.

There's quite a few of us here in the tristate area, so welcome. I'm over in Philly should you be over this way sometime!

I think it's great to ask to hold the birds. Most owners like the birds to be socialized.

Please get in touch with A Helping Wing. Eclectus are quieter than my macaws but my male ekkie talks non stop when he thinks no one is listening.

Go hold a bird!!!

Ok...I know this will not affect you...but i'm unable to start a post...so Parrot Adventures in Orlando Fl...meet in a real nice park,usually on the second Sunday of the month...three hours of chit chat..birds included..of course...and some of us retire to one of the bird friendly bistros across the street for lunch...great people..I drive 70 miles every other month...so find them on Facebook..pack up your bird(s) and join the fun

IMO, any store that wouldn't let you interact with a parrot before you make up your mind is not one that I would buy from....

A good parrot store owner should understand the importance of making sure you and the parrot "fit" with each other.

A good parrot store owner should encourage this.

Of course, permission should always be obtained before.

It’s great to hear that most people are willing to let you meet the birds, and that in some cases it’s even expected! I think I got a bit spooked about asking to handle the parrots after a negative experience with a rescue that came to a local pet store (I think I wrote a post about it a long time ago). I’m always afraid that breeders/owners are gonna look at my inexperience as something negative instead of trying to help me. It’s nice to hear that that isn’t always the case.

Next time we end up at that pet store, I’ll ask the woman if I can see some of the birds c: I feel a lot better about doing that hearing what you guys have experienced. I’ll check out the address and site for A Helping Wing! It sounds a bit far, but who knows. Maybe there’ll be a day I want to go for a long drive haha.

Thanks c:

I know I already sort of asked, but are there any breeders/owners/rescues in Eastern PA that might be willing to talk with me and let me meet their birds, that I could contact?

It's certainly OK to ask to interact with parrots in a bird store. I do that often, and have never been refused permission nor have I been asked if I planned to buy any particular parrot. At one pet store where I buy supplies for Ralph, the clerk actually told me they're happy to haver someone who understands parrots come in to visit with the ones they have for sale (which made me feel good).

lol I live right outside quakertown and drive through it for work all the time. Your talking about Fins, Feathers, Paws and Claws. I go there all the time for reptile stuff.

You won't be able to find an address for A Helping Wing we only have a PO Box that is public because we don't need people leaving birds at the end of the driveway. But that box will give you the general location of the shelter and a good estimate of distance. The drive isn't bad at all and if you want to interact with birds we have plenty. No eckies at the moment we adopted the last female that came in already.

I don't know you at all but A Helping Wing is doing a private shelter friends only event this Saturday. If you go to ahelpingwing.org has the adoption application we would ask you to fill that out before coming down just incase you come across someone you like...it would be not so great to get to know you and than deny your application for whatever reason. It will be crazy this Saturday but lots of crazy bird people to meet and birds to interact with if you would like to come but of course do the application first! My mother is the adoption coordinator and I'm the psycho who agrees to babysit the shelter when the owners go away. I'm inviting you to the event even though its not public....so take advantage

Ah and don't be worried about the inexperience...we will have plenty of bird experienced people to help you along. You will meet my amazon Kelly if you were to come...I promise not to make you play with him...unless you annoy me than I may pretend he suddenly likes other people...

That'd be an awesome opportunity!
Shame you don't live in New Zealand....got a few around here you could play with!

riddick07 said:

lol I live right outside quakertown and drive through it for work all the time. Your talking about Fins, Feathers, Paws and Claws. I go there all the time for reptile stuff.

You won't be able to find an address for A Helping Wing we only have a PO Box that is public because we don't need people leaving birds at the end of the driveway. But that box will give you the general location of the shelter and a good estimate of distance. The drive isn't bad at all and if you want to interact with birds we have plenty. No eckies at the moment we adopted the last female that came in already.

I don't know you at all but A Helping Wing is doing a private shelter friends only event this Saturday. If you go to ahelpingwing.org has the adoption application we would ask you to fill that out before coming down just incase you come across someone you like...it would be not so great to get to know you and than deny your application for whatever reason. It will be crazy this Saturday but lots of crazy bird people to meet and birds to interact with if you would like to come but of course do the application first! My mother is the adoption coordinator and I'm the psycho who agrees to babysit the shelter when the owners go away. I'm inviting you to the event even though its not public....so take advantage

Click to expand...

Didn't the event get canceled? I saw something on Facebook about it.

Aquila said:

riddick07 said:

lol I live right outside quakertown and drive through it for work all the time. Your talking about Fins, Feathers, Paws and Claws. I go there all the time for reptile stuff.

You won't be able to find an address for A Helping Wing we only have a PO Box that is public because we don't need people leaving birds at the end of the driveway. But that box will give you the general location of the shelter and a good estimate of distance. The drive isn't bad at all and if you want to interact with birds we have plenty. No eckies at the moment we adopted the last female that came in already.

I don't know you at all but A Helping Wing is doing a private shelter friends only event this Saturday. If you go to ahelpingwing.org has the adoption application we would ask you to fill that out before coming down just incase you come across someone you like...it would be not so great to get to know you and than deny your application for whatever reason. It will be crazy this Saturday but lots of crazy bird people to meet and birds to interact with if you would like to come but of course do the application first! My mother is the adoption coordinator and I'm the psycho who agrees to babysit the shelter when the owners go away. I'm inviting you to the event even though its not public....so take advantage

Click to expand...

Didn't the event get canceled? I saw something on Facebook about it.

Click to expand...

Yes the public event got canceled because mother and Jeanne just did not have the time to plan for the public and get everything ready (plus both of them haven't been feeling too well. Jeanne has her own health problems and mothers MS has been acting up). But we are doing a private get together of shelter friends to help Jeanne with birds and a day for her to generally relax and hang out, while we handle food, water and such. When we do an open shelter event Jeanne likes to have everything as perfect as possible but it was just stressing her and mother out right now along with everything else they are handling. So they decided to delay it till later and just have the core shelter group that don't care if the floor is perfect or the birds are spotless or theres piles of toys, food, paper laying around, or Lory splatter on the wall

I just wanted to let you guys know I saw your messages. I'm really busy at the moment and will be out for a bit but I did read everyone's messages and will reply when I get home. Thank you C:

I definitely just had one of those moments where I thought about what I wanted to reply with, and then never actually wrote it up and posted it because my stupid brain thought i had XD Soooo I'm gonna reply now.

I already talked to Riddick in a private message about it but I just recently got a new job and orientation was the same weekend as the A Helping Wing event so I got caught up with that and couldn't go. Sadface.

But yea, Fins Feathers Paws and Claws! I want to go back so bad. I'm going to ask the owner if she might let me see the Eclectus up close (if the Ekie is still there!). Hopefully my lack of experience with birds doesn't hurt my chances lol.

I'm realizing now I didn't miss as many posts as I thought I did thanks for the advice from everyone. I'm still trying to figure this all out since I'm still a few years away from being able to have a parrot. Might as well use that time to learn!

One last thing, any advice on how to ask, exactly? Even wording the original topic was a bit tough for me. If I wanted to see a kitten or puppy up close I'd ask the owner of the shelter if I could play with them. Is that the same thing with parrots? Do I ask the owner if I can meet the bird? or play with them? or does it not really matter? I'm so socially awkward and I want to be polite

Update: I called Fins Feathers Paws and Claws and asked if they allow people to come interact with the birds (just so I didn't drive an hour and half up there to be told I can't hold them). The woman was so nice and was happy to show them to me. I drove up, and she asked me what size birds I was interested in and then proceeded to show me all the kinds she had. She gave me such excellent advice on each kind and told me about her flock (15 birds?!). I asked so many questions and she was able to answer most of them, and even elaborate to topics I hadn't even thought of to ask. She never once made my inexperience seem like a bad thing and not even once did I feel bad for wanting to have a bigger parrot as my first bird.

Some of the birds weren't socialized enough for me to hold them but I did get to pet a Pionus and hold a female Eclectus. And my goodness, they were such sweethearts. The Eclectus was just so sweet and mellow (except for when she realized I had glasses on, at which point she started trying to climb up my chest to get them off my face!). The whole experience really solidified Eclectus as the species of parrot I want to go with.

Thanks for giving me the courage to go up and do that. It was such a great experience and I'm so glad I got that opportunity c: