should i get a petco parakeet?

[DariaAK]

i live in alaska so do not have many options on where to find caged birds. are parakeets worth it? are these parakeets treated well?

 

[tizabel_]

I don’t know much but from what I’ve heard, Petco is a horrible place to get any living animal. They treat their animals horribly and it’s likely that you’ll bring home a pet with extreme health issues and behavioral problems because of the abuse and neglect. I strongly advice you to not buy animals from petco even if it’s the only option.

 

[DariaAK]

T

I don’t know much but from what I’ve heard, Petco is a horrible place to get any living animal. They treat their animals horribly and it’s likely that you’ll bring home a pet with extreme health issues and behavioral problems because of the abuse and neglect. I strongly advice you to not buy animals from petco even if it’s the only option.

that's what i thought. Any suggestions for possible places that treat their animals humanely?

 

[tizabel_]

T

that's what i thought. Any suggestions for possible places that treat their animals humanely?

I don’t know of any specific ones that are good, but if they’re not a big chain pet store then they’re probably alright.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I find it really depends on the store. Not all of them abuse and neglect them. I went to one recently where they even had toys and millet and stuff out for them. They even had vegetables in their bowl. They also had one of the bigger birds on the lady at the registers shoulder. Not sure if it was hers that she brings to work or for sale but either way, she clearly cared.

Our local one isn’t quite as good but only because it’s a huge store and they never have enough people working. They do care though and they’re always clean and healthy. Another local one has awesome cages for all the animals and is very very clean.

So it highly depends. I am sure there are some where they’re living in filth or neglected but they are not ALL like that. There are some that care about the wellbeing of the animals.

Ours even takes them to the vet when they are sick.

I got two from our local Petco in March and they are amazing. They’re healthy, clean, beautiful and my male is a little chatter box once he settled in LOL he’s constantly chattering and chirping and just a happy guy. The girl is more shy and it took her a long time to get comfortable. She’s still a little scared of me but she doesn’t fly away when I get near now hah and she’s starting to chirp and play more.

They’re not super tame but that’s only because I haven’t really had the time to hand tame them or anything. So they do still get a little nervous when I stick my hand in but I’m sure with a little work they could easily be tame. Or at least the male would be tame very fast I’m sure. But I just like watching them and hearing them sing and talk so it doesn’t bother me. They really like music too.

Anyway, long story short, not all pet store birds are abused and they can be great. I think if I had gotten just the boy, he would be very tame but I wanted him to have a buddy.

That said though, they are bred in a sort of “bird mill” so to speak so not always the healthiest and definitely not tame when you get them but I spent time at the store before getting them and chose the one that came up to me and seemed friendly. It was a good choice.

I’ve had birds in the past get sick and die but that was many many years ago and I was also very young and inexperienced when I had them so I am sure it was more my lack of knowledge that did it. This time I got a huge flight cage and tons of toys, perches, etc. and good diet and a mineral block.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I don’t know much but from what I’ve heard, Petco is a horrible place to get any living animal. They treat their animals horribly and it’s likely that you’ll bring home a pet with extreme health issues and behavioral problems because of the abuse and neglect. I strongly advice you to not buy animals from petco even if it’s the only option.

Mine haven’t had any health or behavioral problems. My female was a lot more shy and scared at first but that’s really it. Now that they’ve settled in they are extremely happy and healthy. Especially the male. Always chattering, chirping, and singing away and bright and active. Not all of them are abused or neglected. I mean, I don’t like the way they raise them or treat them before they get to the stores but once at the store, the employees usually do care. Ours also takes them to the vet when they’re sick. Not all of them are bad so blanket statements don’t really do any good. The thing to do would be to look at the individual store and see how they care for them cause not all are the same. But my store cares a lot and I am extremely happy with my birds. They’ve been the best addition. I’ve had parakeets before but none like these two.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sorry for all the novels.

 

[DariaAK]

Mine haven’t had any health or behavioral problems. My female was a lot more shy and scared at first but that’s really it. Now that they’ve settled in they are extremely happy and healthy. Especially the male. Always chattering, chirping, and singing away and bright and active. Not all of them are abused or neglected. I mean, I don’t like the way they raise them or treat them before they get to the stores but once at the store, the employees usually do care. Ours also takes them to the vet when they’re sick. Not all of them are bad so blanket statements don’t really do any good. The thing to do would be to look at the individual store and see how they care for them cause not all are the same. But my store cares a lot and I am extremely happy with my birds. They’ve been the best addition. I’ve had parakeets before but none like these two.

ThankYou!

 

[DariaAK]

I find it really depends on the store. Not all of them abuse and neglect them. I went to one recently where they even had toys and millet and stuff out for them. They even had vegetables in their bowl. They also had one of the bigger birds on the lady at the registers shoulder. Not sure if it was hers that she brings to work or for sale but either way, she clearly cared.

Our local one isn’t quite as good but only because it’s a huge store and they never have enough people working. They do care though and they’re always clean and healthy. Another local one has awesome cages for all the animals and is very very clean.

So it highly depends. I am sure there are some where they’re living in filth or neglected but they are not ALL like that. There are some that care about the wellbeing of the animals.

Ours even takes them to the vet when they are sick.

I got two from our local Petco in March and they are amazing. They’re healthy, clean, beautiful and my male is a little chatter box once he settled in LOL he’s constantly chattering and chirping and just a happy guy. The girl is more shy and it took her a long time to get comfortable. She’s still a little scared of me but she doesn’t fly away when I get near now hah and she’s starting to chirp and play more.

They’re not super tame but that’s only because I haven’t really had the time to hand tame them or anything. So they do still get a little nervous when I stick my hand in but I’m sure with a little work they could easily be tame. Or at least the male would be tame very fast I’m sure. But I just like watching them and hearing them sing and talk so it doesn’t bother me. They really like music too.

Anyway, long story short, not all pet store birds are abused and they can be great. I think if I had gotten just the boy, he would be very tame but I wanted him to have a buddy.

That said though, they are bred in a sort of “bird mill” so to speak so not always the healthiest and definitely not tame when you get them but I spent time at the store before getting them and chose the one that came up to me and seemed friendly. It was a good choice.

I’ve had birds in the past get sick and die but that was many many years ago and I was also very young and inexperienced when I had them so I am sure it was more my lack of knowledge that did it. This time I got a huge flight cage and tons of toys, perches, etc. and good diet and a mineral block.

Thanks

 

[ShrekDawg]

ThankYou!

No problem!! And I’m sorry for talking so much and repeating myself haha but honestly, if you really don’t have other options, pet store birds can still make great pets!

But if you would like to find someplace else, there are people that breed birds so you could try to find a private breeder (could Google budgie breeder or parakeet breeder, etc.) and they would likely be calmer and friendlier too especially if hand raised. English Budgies are probably the calmest our of them all. BUT if you can’t find a breeder near you and you really want parakeets, don’t feel like you can’t go the store route as long as your store takes good care of them. My store birds have been the best decision I’ve ever made. They bring so much happiness and joy. They are always singing and even greet me when I come home by calling out to me