Wanted to DECK them in the FACE!

[jenniferag]

I made the mistake of going to a flea market over the weekend...

some of the stuff was great until I hear chirping......... lots of chirping!

I walk around and see 20 birds in a cage that is the size of a shoebox!

They have Suns and green cheeks,cocktiels,amazons and budgies.

I look in their food dishes and all there is if of course SUNFLOWER SEEDS!!

I'm looking at the sad conures that only have 1 bell hanging in thier cage and ask the STUPID family if I can see one of them....

You know what her answer was back to me?!?!? "No... they are only a few months old and because they are babies we don't hold them yet so they are not tame."

WHAT?!?

I walked away with tears in my eyes thinking about the HORRIBLE lives of these poor birds! They were selling the pair of conures for like $200!

I felt sick and sad and lost for these poor birds!

I just had to vent!!

[expressmailtome]

It is so sad that people do this to animals.

Matt

[asulli]

How very sad. I am in touch with a breeder that makes you jump through hoops to adopt one of his birds. I am told that even after you take them home he calls. My friend has had her Macaw for 5 years and he still calls at least 2 times a year. You have to sign a paper saying that if you decide to give up your bird you must first contact him.

Breeders that do not show any concern for their feather freinds should not be allow to sell them and should be heavily fined!

[SDavid]

A while back I ran into a couple in a bird store who came in for information. They had bought an unweaned greenwing macaw at a flea market and didn't know what to do. I forget the price they paid at the moment but it was really low. I remember how surprised I was when they told me and was thinking "who would sell such a valuable bird for such a low price?" Meaning how could someone not know they are expensive birds.

I had a better idea of what the story probably was after reading "Of Parrots and People." There's a section on the authors research about smuggled birds and how they come to be sold at flea markets and on street corners. Usually in the back somewhere discreet and tucked away. Don't know if this was the case with what you saw but the mention of flea market birds reminds me of what I read.

Birds are just merchandise to people who do things like this. I don't know how a person can have no empathy but it's sad and ruins your day when you come accross it.

[Abby]

Originally Posted by asulli

I am in touch with a breeder that makes you jump through hoops to adopt one of his birds. I am told that even after you take them home he calls. My friend has had her Macaw for 5 years and he still calls at least 2 times a year. You have to sign a paper saying that if you decide to give up your bird you must first contact him.

I like this breeder. Whilst I don't ring the parents of all my ex babies many do ring me to let me know what's going on. I've also said to bring them back to me if they can't manage or to call if there's any problems.

I keep in touch with a couple of the breeders who I've bought birds from and they've become friends and mentors to me.

[expressmailtome]

Originally Posted by Abby

I like this breeder. Whilst I don't ring the parents of all my ex babies many do ring me to let me know what's going on. I've also said to bring them back to me if they can't manage or to call if there's any problems.

I keep in touch with a couple of the breeders who I've bought birds from and they've become friends and mentors to me.

This is what I like about people who care for animals. We really care for them even if they are not ours. Also, people who care so much for animals tend to be good people (I am certainly not saying that other people are not).

Matt

[jenniferag]

Yeah, it literally made me sick to my stomach...

Then I was told that those kinds of birds will sometimes get smuggled places and they drug them to they stay quiet and....... gosh! Everytime I think about it I just want to cry!

Some of the smaller birds were sitting up against the wall of the cage with their eyes closed and just looking sick...

I wanted to buy them all but I knew it would just encourage these idiots to keep selling.

I wish there was something I could have done for them.

[girly]

There is nothing that makes me sadder than to see any animal in distress of any kind. It kills me. it's a good thing I didn't see that because I would have had to give them a piece of my mind.

[LoryLady]

A few markets in Sydney are like this - Paddys, Flemington, etc. It's usually the markets with the fruit & veg and there's often a truck/caravan type stall filled with animals and many exotic birds. You wouldn't see a Macaw, but many other breeds, large and small.

It's heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time. You really do want to shake these people (or worse) for allowing animals to live like that.

[hollyhawkz]

How many of "us" are near that flea market?!?!? Perhaps a few flyers about how to treat parrots right and a small protest against animal curelty will shake things up a little. I wish I were there with you Jen!