Anyone else bothered by impulse buyers?

[RockysMom]

I know this might spark a debate, but I hope we can keep it friendly! I am really bothered my impulse buyers of birds! I was on my local craigslist the other day and this lady had two conures for sale, she didn't say what type other than one of them was a Quaker(is that even considered a conure?), but she said she couldn't deal with the nosie anymore, which leads me to believe that she either didn't do enough research or bought them on an impulse buy! I tried to talk my bf into buying one of them, but we just got a new puppy, on top of already having our Sun Conure Rocky and our bunny Lola, so he said no:( I just feel horrible for the birds, because if they are screaming all the time, I know thats not normal. Rocky is loud in the moring and at night, but he doesn't scream all day long and they shouldn't! It could be a sign of neglect, like leaving them in the cage or not playing with them! I wish people would do there research, having a parrot is a huge responsibility, they totally change your life!! I wouldn't trade Rocky for the world and can't wait until I can get more birds! I know there are people out there who maybe bought a bird on impulse and end up being wonderful bird owners, but I don't see that happen every often!! It's sad to me when a bird has been rehomed 3, 4, 5, 6 times! What do you guys think?

[brdfvr]

Yes, I too think it is sad. I see a lot of ads that say 'I have had this bird 2 weeks and it doesn't fit in with my family' or 'bought this African Grey for my grandson and found out they are not birds for a 5 year old!' Somewhat sad, but unless pet stores and breeders do their research on the homes that they sell to I don't see it changing anytime soon.

[asulli]

I am just a impulse buyer of bird toys and all bird stuff! People just do not do the research. Birds are hard work. You have too love it and devote a lot of time.

[Astrid660]

I am glad that I got into it young enough (Age 14) that my parents had the ability to tell me "no" for a few months while I had time to do more research. It's easy to get excited and just want to bring home a bird right away!

I have never really had the luxury of being financially able to make an impulse buy - especially a large parrot, and I have heard my share of horror stories - people purchasing them for so much money, spending thousands for the initial setup and then killing the bird somehow a week later because they didn't know what they should have researched beforehand. Most recently I heard of a grey that died after the owners spent nearly $3000 on the initial 'setup' because they did not know to keep the perches low, somehow the bird took a big fall within the first week and had to be put to sleep because it was so severely injured.

I just think the bird suffers in the end, which is unfair.
I think Cockatoos are probably the ones bought most often on impulse because they seem so cuddly and cute at first. It makes me angry but these days all I try to do when faced with someone trying to make an impulse buy is provide them with information in the hopes that it may deter them from buying in a haste.

[RockysMom]

One thing to what you said brdfvr about pet stores and breeders needing to do the research on the home they are sending birds to, I totally agree! When we bought Rocky from our breeder he was a nice guy, but didn't ask us anything about whether we knew what we were getting into, did we have anyother birds, or the noise level of suns! He just shipped him of to us and that was it!

[hsmoscout]

Another thing is that people think cockatiels and "parakeets" (BUDGIES!!) are "throwaway" pets; easily disposed of, easily replaced. I've seen over 20 tiels on Craigslist in a single day!!!! GRRRRR. Now if you are an experienced bird owner, and a bird picks you, and you are at a place where you can get yours supplies and some books, care sheets, ect. right there, that's different. You can take it home, set up it's cae, and then let it get used to everything while you're researching. Multitasking!!! I say if you're an experienced bird owner, and the bird picks you, it's meant to be.

[Andie]

I guess I am kind of an impulse buyer in a way.

I know what birds I want. I have a list of what parrots (and other pets) I would like to have and if I come across one of them and it suits my situation at that time I will get the little one.

But I have researched them all and I would only buy from my list. Usually it is something I have thought about for a long time and when the opportunity is there I take it.

I know this is not quite what you meant though...

[brdfvr]

I have one bird from a pet store, one from a breeder and a rehome. And NONE of them asked me any questions. At the pet store, they just said, you want 'him'? OK, $100 off and take him out of here! Then conveniently put an 'ALL SALES FINAL' statement on my receipt even though all of their other birds they gave a 7 day warranty/return policy. And my breeder and rehome birds, I met in a parking lot, chatted for a min, exchanged fees and went on our separate way. They just took what I said as truth. Although, I did offer to send pictures of their setup and updates once I got them home. But if I didn't, they had no way of finding where the bird was located. I realize it's not feasible for breeders and especially pet stores to do a home check on EVERYONE, but they could at least tell the customers about the bird and make sure they are ready for everything that bird has to dish out. The pet store I got Skyy from said that Green cheek conures were not good apartment birds and they were loud, then they pointed me to their baby Sun Conures! And this was one of the store managers!

[RockysMom]

OMG, that is somthing else!! I have my Sun in an apartment, and thank the lord that he is pretty quite, and the way the apartment is set up my neighbors can't hear him!! I wouldn't recommened a sun in an apartment though!

[MissV]

I think it's only sort of natural for people to think anything that is generally caged is a "throwaway" pet. Or a pet that can be kept in said cage constantly.

My parents didn't know anything when they got me a lovebird when I was about 8 years old. I fed her and took care of her and what I may have forgotten to do my mother did...and everything went well for awhile, but I was such a little kid and had so many interests that I didn't realize that paying attention to the little bird daily was a HUGe priority.

Lovebirds can be termpermental little bosses as it is...but a neglected one? ugh.


Years and years later, when I realized that what I needed in my life was a bird (I have always loved birds more than anything, but it was such a bad situation when I was a kid I was terrified to own another) I did lots of research, chose the type I wanted and immediately found a breeder that I could get her from.

I still didn't know everything, but I continued to educate mysef. Honestly though, Karis was an impulse buy...but that was because I wanted to save her from a bad situation. Knowledgable people buying an animal they know they can care for on an impulse though is not exactly the same thing, I guess. ^^


But...yeah. People need to do their research before getting ANY pet...or at least understand that when you get (any) pet, it is a big commitment and you are going to go home right away and find out EVERYTHING you can about keeping that animal healthy and happy.