breeder vs shops

[Snowy]

Omar's is the reason I'm interested in parrots. I went there (the Lake forest one) with a friend and I was hooked!!

Nazir's, Omar's insist that you disinfect your hands upon entering the bird area otherwise they won't let you touch the birds. Do you think that's enough precaution? and I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't have an opportunity to torment/tease the birds because the employees are pretty much on top of you when you're interacting with them. and I know that they have turned down some customers who wanted to buy what the store felt was an unsuitable bird.


When I'm ready to get my own, I will either be getting it from Omar's or directly from a breeder.

[Macaaaw]

Sure everyone has his favorite way of acquiring feathered friends.

Pet shops or private breeders. I have done it both ways as well as sit through long unexciting auctions.

I see no one way better than the other if you do your homework.

If you go the pet shop route, the bird can somewhat choose his/her new companion as they will usually get excited by some people over others and many more people go through a pet shop than through a breeders kitchen. So I like that aspect of it.

I see pets shops going the way of the corner diner (most here are saying, what is a corner diner) Exactly!

Everything is going direct marketing through the net.

If pets shops were still located in the great USA like the corner diner, that would be my first choice. When I was a kid major dept stores like Brandies in downtown Omaha had a huge bird selection with a walk in Aviary. Quite impressive.

I miss the good old days.

[Nazir's]

Originally Posted by Snowy

Nazir's, Omar's insist that you disinfect your hands upon entering the bird area otherwise they won't let you touch the birds. Do you think that's enough precaution?
When I'm ready to get my own, I will either be getting it from Omar's or directly from a breeder.

It's not about what's enough precaution for me. To each it's own and I can respect that. One has to do what's best for them. I'd not ever dispute that fact. I was simply stating my opinion in regards to the route that I'd prefer to take.
Petco, Petsmart, and bird fairs supply hand sanitizer too but with a higher volume of customers no one can ever be too sure that every one has utilize what's being provided properly. All it take is just one time.

As previously stated, Omar's seemed to be reputable from what I've observed. Plus, I appreciated the fact that they offer pet education programs (which means to me that they too must know their work).

I once visited a bird shop in NY that I would have certainly purchased a bird from. However, they were a privately owned and operated, personal and dedicated. They were very educated, honest, clean, and knew their birds and customers personally. I forgot the name of that place but I believe they were located in the Village. I remember walking into the shop and being in a cage while some (not all) birds flew above head.

[Macaaaw]

What a cool idea, the customers being in the cage!

Does anyone know the name of this pet shop?

[ROYJOY]

i think was mentioned some where in the macaw forum, that there are good and bad of both, petstores and breeders.

[swanwillow]

I've now done both; stores and breeders.

Honestly, I prefer rescues! older birds, matured, through sexual frustration... and there are SO many in rescues, if you can pass clearance... I can't (most people say no when you have dogs and a cat.. and I'm out in the boondocks with few rescues around)

There can be problems with both.. breeders that don't take time with the babies, and stores that do the same. But on the flip side, theres breeders that do great and stores that are excellent with the ones they receive.

IMO; find the bird that you want, do research on it. If you can't find a breeder, look second at rescues, third at stores. Find the bird of your dreams, and be happy either way!

[Monica]

I've met Omar and his wife. Great couple, and they seem to be REALLY into their birds! Even if their birds were more expensive than a breeders, no doubt about it, they'd still be a great place to buy from! They are kind of a funny couple actually, but it really seems to me that they love what they are doing, and they have fun at it! And heck, they are even willing to share their own ideas with others! I'd say it'd be hard to beat them in anything!

I will definitely say that they are reputable (although I've never been to their stores), and a great place to buy!

However, I'm sure that there are reputable breeders in the area, although they may be harder to find... It may help to find a bird club in the area... ask around at avian vets, too.

[kiwilito]

I have bought my birds from a bird store here in the Dallas area, Treetop Bird Center in Richardson, TX. They are very knowledgeable and helpful. We just like to go and hang out and play with all the birds (with handsanitizer, of course)
I have tried buying a GCC from a breeder at one time. There I was told they don't do DNA but........they could use a crystal and hold it over the birds' head........and they are usually right about the sex.......
Well, I decided to go back to the bird store!
I usually don't set foot in any Petsmarts etc. It depresses me to see those lonely birds all alone in their cages

[sweetpeaches]

okay! i have to answer this one!! i received a lovebird bought for me from a local petsmart. altho, my friends meant well, i feel it would've been much wiser for them to have purchased her from a reputable breeder. let me explain. first of all the salesperson told my friends she (my lovie has not been DNA tested so i don't know why they said she was a she) was hand fed. they also said she was 5 months old. well when i went to pick her up, i wanted to confirm she was handfed so i mentioned it to the salesperson. i was told she/he was not and they don't hand feed their lovies. well i fell in love with her and took her home anyway. i've had her 8 mos. so she should be a little over a year old.

the real kicker here is though, that through another board forum i learned of someone who purchased a lovebird at the same petsmart a month after i got peaches and his bird tested positive for pfbd!!! and another lovie owner purchased a lovie about the same time as our lovies were bought in north jersey at a petsmart and her bird tested positive for pfbd!!! naturally i will have to get my lovie tested now.

how does this happen? personally from this experience i would never buy another bird from one of these type of petstores!!

[swanwillow]

many birds can carry PBFD and not pass it on. There is a dedicated website and forum set up for people living with PBFD birds. I no longer have it bookmarked, but I think if yuo do a serch for PBFD and forum, you should beable to find it.