Oh Petco....

[kq_fan]

I was at Petco and I personally love Petco even though I know that they do have some not so healthy birds but hey they need a home too! They do have feelings and would love a mommy or a daddy to love them just as much as a bird from a top breeder. But I totally understand if someone doesn't want to because you wouldn't want a sickly bird with bad genes. That is very understandable!

But I was there yesterday and every time I go I always connect with a bird! Like they love me and I am so in love with them! Like before I was twirling my finger and the Pineapple GCC rolled over for me! Then yesterday I went and there was a GCC and a Monk aka Quaker parakeet was there and they both were so sweet! The Monk parakeet would shake its paw the same way I was shaking my hand! I have never got that with any parrot from a parrot store! So what do you guys think about Petco birds? I know they don't live healthy lives but some do. They want a mom or dad. Just Like any parrot at parrot shop!

 

[Terry57]

I think that all birds need a good home, no matter where they come from
There is a little Sun conure at my local Petland who has been returned several times, and I so wish I could bring him home. They have never budged on the price, which is way too much and I just can't swing it
It is hard to NOT fall in love with them, I think

 

[kq_fan]

Yes and I really hope that Sunny gets a forever home soon! Weather its with you or some one who will take good care of him!

My mom said maybe they are lonely there and at good parrot places they have friends? Hmmm I wondered about that too. There's only like one toy per cage

 

[Terry57]

I really like this Petland because the birds all have several toys, and are almost always out on their playtops..this little guy has a GCC he cuddles with. There is also always fresh food for them, which is awesome.

 

[jasper19]

I guess my view on pets from pet stores is more about the supply they get them from.

its not about getting a sick bird or not high quality...its not the animals fault i feel bad for all of them. But the problem becomes when you buy from them, if they restock from puppy mills, or bird mills or whatever it may be.

I do agree with you they all deserve a nice home. But i am not trusting of where they get their animals. If everyone stopped buying from place that bought from low quality of life 'mills' or whatever you want to call them, then they would no longer have a market, right?

 

[Phlox]

I just adopted a bird someone bought at a Petco...and according to the band, he IS from a good breeder. The biggest problem isn't really the store or the birds, but that so many people impulse buy pets they aren't ready for at big chain stores and that the employees aren't always very knowledgeable. They also cost more, but sometimes that doesn't matter. My oldest bird, Spirit was bought at a local pet store and my budgie is from Petsmart.

 

[kq_fan]

jasper19: that's a good point. Its kind of the same with furs at country stores. Obviously the mink and fox fur was not from hunting, they have them in cages and the only purpose of their life is their fur! That is easier to not buy and spread the word but sadly Petco, I don't think there is any hope. So many people go there and lots of people buy pets because its easy. The birds they have for sale there don't last longer than a week there most of the time.


Phlox: I am glad that they do have good birds there. I did buy a Budgie from Petco. He died at age of 11 months! From most likely a gene sickness. But Im sure there are healthy ones there! Like your birds!


The reason of my asking this is because I would really like to get a bird and go to bird clubs with it! I don't want to with Lilo because I don't want to risk her getting any sickness from the other birds and I have always found a birdy friend at petco.! Almost every time I go! It may be a while because I will ne to raise over 400 dollars maybe even 500! so I can afford a good cage, toys, the bird, and a vet visit when I get it.



Butttt my dad may or may not let me get a bird! But this would be a show bird and not just a pet so I will ask and hopefully it will be all smiles and rainbows but I doubt it... And besides, I got Lilo so at least I have a bird!

 

[4dugnlee]

I know absolutely zero about bird clubs so I may be way off base here. But if you got a show bird to take to clubs/shows, what if that bird got sick and then brought it back to Lilo? Like I said, I don't know how that all works as mine fids are just pets...

 

[Colorguarder08]

I got Halloween from petco and had no problems with her she died early because of an accident not even the vet could guess how it happened. Other than Riley she was my friendliest tiel. She was on sale for $20 because the Petco up here was getting rid of all birds except parakeets. I also got Speckles from petsmart but I believe he was sick as he died 9 days later and he was the same price as Riley was. So really it all depends on the store and the bird.

 

[kq_fan]

4dugnlee: Yes I have thought of this and they wont be in the same room together, precautions will be made! For sure!

Colorguarder08: Yes it all depends on where you get em! My friend got her budgie from a different Petco then me and her bird is still doing great but mine well ya...

 

[Colorguarder08]

When it comes to genetics you can get 2 birds from the same clutch but only one gets the genetic defects. Ot really is a game of chance with that.

 

[Timothy]

If i ever visit a petco/petsmart what have you i always take my cloths off outside and run into a hot shower. sometimes ill even go as far as using bleach on myself depending on how disgusting the store was. (I've been in some NASTY stores, where the birds feet were CAKED with droppings) i've even reported one or 2 of the local pet stores to the authorities here. i know one got like a 5 thousand dollar fine and they really cleaned up their act. i played it all cool and was like oh, so you guys got fined? psh that sucks.

But anyway, yeah ill bleach myself before i even go in the same room as my babies. disease aint nothing to play around with

 

[cnyguy]

With any pet store, whether privately owned or part of a chain, everything depends on the management and personnel in the store. There are good Petco stores, like the one where I found Ralph. They do a good job of caring for and socializing the birds they sell. Based on my own experience of visiting the store several times to get to know Ralph and eventually buying him, I can't say anything bad about that particular Petco store.

 

[Colorguarder08]

The parakeets I see here at my Petco are the best looked after parakeets I have seen in any pet store. But as previously states it all depends on management and store standards.

 

[EAI]

Same here, the parrots at one Petco location has some of the healthiest and most playful birds and animals in general. So that's how I base my opinion on the stores, I also try to see how knowledgable the staff are. However, the prices for some things are just way too high for me (ie the GCC's).
I know how you feel about falling in love with the parrots, I got really attached to a Jenday Conure and later on, Green Cheeks.

 

[witchbaby]

I saw a cinnamon turquoise GCC at Petco the other day. He looked just like Luna, but a little bigger. He was obviously fascinated with me and followed me every time I moved. Definitely a little ham, rolling on his back and showing off. Not gonna lie, if I had the money, he would have gone home with me. Sigh...

 

[kq_fan]

So I guess it just matters how the pet keepers deal with the birds. I saw on yelp that at my Petco, they said that they were abusing the dogs in the worst possible way... Ok, they aren't burying them alive or starving them but they don't do much to calm them down when they freak out... :/ But it seems all the pets are very well cared for but I have seen other Petco's that I will never ever go back to! It was very bad!

 

[kq_fan]

Oh and there will be no new birdys as long as I live in this house.... :/ But my dad and mom totally surprised me with a brand new cage that is wayyyyy bigger than Lilo's old one and it is powder coated!!!! I love it! It is supposed to be for lots of Budgies to be housed in but hey it works great!!! It was such a surprise! I thought we were going shoe shopping with my dad...

 

[Timothy]

Oh and there will be no new birdys as long as I live in this house.... :/ But my dad and mom totally surprised me with a brand new cage that is wayyyyy bigger than Lilo's old one and it is powder coated!!!! I love it! It is supposed to be for lots of Budgies to be housed in but hey it works great!!! It was such a surprise! I thought we were going shoe shopping with my dad...

Aren't those the best type of surprises

 

[kq_fan]

Yes! I have been trying to save up money for a cage but I had to save up almost 300 dollars but I didn't have to pay a dime for this one!!!