My wife & I were walking through a mall in a nearby city earlier this evening. We strolled past this little pet store & decided to check out what they had. I wanted to see if maybe they had a place to post the lists with the aquarium stuff we're trying to sell. They didn't have a customer pin-up board like many small pet places do around our place.
We're about to leave when Wifey kinda pushes/guides me over towards the 5 small/medium cages of birds along the one wall.
One cage had maybe 10 various finches.
Beside it was a pair of hand fed cockateils.
Beyond that was a single lutino Budgie.
Above them was a lone grey teil.
The last bird was a small parrot with a sign that read, "Green Cheek Conure $350".
I looked into the cage and the bird moved along the one perch toward us. It's plumage was in pretty good shape, but a couple of tail feathers were a little ragged.
It came right up to the bars, grabbed one on both sides so it was across the corner and a bright, clear, curious eye stared at us.
"Aren't you pretty. Would you like some attention?"
Instantly, the bird literally turns a partial somersault, presenting it's back against the bars.
In sucession, both my wife & I finger rub the tiny parrot on the top of it's head. Both times, the comical conure emitts this slow, soft little groan of contented pleasure as it slowly allows itself to slide down the cage bars till the finger is scritching the middle of it's back. We had a good laugh as it continued to do a good impression of a grizzly bear scratchin itself on a rubbin tree
This one young store employee comes over, takes one of the young teils out to cuddle with it, then asks us,
"Are you interested in the conure?"
As soon as the GCC sees her, it starts nodding it's head, pressing with it's one foot on the door of the cage and shaking it slightly, then nodding again.
I say, "It obviously wants out for some human contact."
She says, "It was one of 3 we got in. It's been here for 9-10 months. It was sold once before, but it kept bitin the guy's kid, so he returned it."
She leans forward so the two employees at the register can't see & says, "I thought that kid was gonna get bit. Serves the little bugger right! He was pokin at the bird the whole time they were in the store."
"Can you take it out ot the cage, so we can see it?" I ask.
"Sorry, but no. It's gotta stay in there because it's flight feathers have grown back in."
"So you don't let it out
at all?????" I say as I look into the cage, noting there's one lone toy of plastic links hanging from the top of the cage.
"Well, no" she replies, "The last time it got loose was at Christmas. It flew up into the rafters of the store and we had a hell of time getting it back down."
My mind automatically calls up images of what it must be like for the poor bird, stuck in that cage 24/7 for more than 6 months. I must have visibly shuddered when I closed my eyes, because she added rather hastily,
"But you two seem like a nice couple, you should buy it."
I gave her the same look I give anyone who suggests I do something really,
really stupid and replied,
"I would
never suggest anyone even consider buying any bird that every member of their immediate family hadn't had at least one opportunity to handle first. I believe it's extremely irresponsible of anyone to purchase an animal without investigating whether or not it's going to fit into they're lives.
Both my wife & I would have to handle this bird a few times. Then it would have to be introduced to our daughter. If it's already been returned once for biting a kid, you can understand my desire to see if that behaviour was going to continue with my child.
Then last, but not least, it would have to
see our dog. I need to judge how the 2 of them might get along. There wouldn't be any point in even trying with that bird, if it's going to get super stressed out every time it sees our Bouvier."
She returns my look with one of her own.... the "deer-in-headlights stare".
I could almost hear the gears turning "what do I do now????"
She suddenly spys a couple with 2 toddlers trying to decide on which toy to get their cat.
"You're just lookin around anyway, so excuse me, but they look like they could use my help." she mumbles and hurries off.
The whole time we spoke to her, either Judy or I were scritchin along the bird's head or back. It would turn & lick at our fingers, giving light little nibbles. Then it would go right back to performing intricate acrobatic moves trying to position itself so the finger was over that perfect spot.
It looked like it would love doing swings & tumbles in your hands.
When I think of the birds I've seen in the last few days, a couple really stand out; That young Senegal
and this little Conure.
The situation the conure is in is rather sad. If they don't clip it's feathers again soon & let that bird get some human contact, it will never get a good home and it'll wind up in a rescue somewhere.
At least the Senegal was lucky enough to be in a store with caring staff.
