Visiting a Bird Pet Store can be an enchanting experience. Many people fondly remember childhood trips to these stores, captivated by the vibrant plumage of a macaw or the cheerful chirping of lovebirds. Even today, for many seeking a companion bird, the journey often begins with a visit to a local pet store, a place that offers everything from canine comforts to feline feasts, and of course, a diverse array of birds. While specialist breeders and expert consultations are valuable avenues, the accessibility and visual appeal of a bird pet store remain strong draws for prospective bird owners.
In the past, the bird pet store landscape was quite different. It was once commonplace, and legally permissible, for wild-caught birds to be sold as pets. My own first parrot, Captain, an African grey who shared my college dorm room in San Diego, likely entered my life through this very system. Similarly, Sydney, an older parrot with significant behavioral challenges who motivated me to become a parrot behavior consultant, also likely originated from the wild-caught trade.
Thankfully, regulations have evolved, and domestic breeding is now the primary source for companion parrots. However, the path a bird takes after leaving the breeder – whether directly to a new home or via a bird pet store – and the quality of care they receive during this transition, remains a matter of chance. My mission is to improve these odds, at least within my community.
The Evolution of Bird Pet Store Practices
My personal journey into advocating for better bird pet store conditions began after the sudden loss of Captain. Adopting subsequent birds, each with their own behavioral quirks, highlighted a stark reality: despite Captain’s remarkably well-adjusted nature, I had much to learn to effectively support these new flock members. Through continued education, particularly within online communities like Dr. Susan Friedman’s LLP group, it became clear that a significant knowledge gap existed. Few bird owners, and even fewer bird pet store staff, possessed adequate understanding of avian behavioral health and welfare. Cages were often cramped and unsuitable, food choices were limited, and enrichment items like toys were scarce. For newcomers to bird ownership accustomed to today’s bird pet store aisles overflowing with toys and a vast selection of cages, this past reality might be hard to imagine.
Information for new bird owners was woefully inadequate. Bird pet stores offered little to no guidance on training or behavior. Instead, outdated and harmful advice was prevalent, centered around dominance and force. Practices like “Grab ‘em, wrap ‘em in a towel, and hold ‘em until they stop struggling,” or “Push your hand into their belly to make them step up,” were unfortunately common. Dietary recommendations were equally lacking, often promoting seed-based diets with minimal fresh foods.
Behavioral Consequences of Inadequate Pet Store Environments
Birds in bird pet stores originate from various sources: direct breeders (parent or hand-raised), hand-feeders who wean birds or stores that complete the weaning process, and owner surrenders. Each source, and the conditions within a bird pet store, can influence a bird’s behavior in their subsequent home. I believe some of the most common behavioral problems stemming from less-than-ideal bird pet store environments include excessive screaming for attention and extreme dietary pickiness. While hand-shyness, likely a result of aggressive handling, was once prevalent, improved handling standards in many bird pet stores have made this less common.
However, a well-managed bird pet store can actually offer benefits for young birds. My observations suggest that birds weaned in a bird pet store environment often exhibit greater adaptability to novel stimuli – noises, colors, and unfamiliar objects like wheelchairs or hats. They tend to handle change with less fear and stress, demonstrating improved resilience.
Partnering with Pet Stores to Prioritize Parrot Welfare
Initially, advocating for change in bird pet stores required a creative approach. While most owners genuinely cared for their animals, my recommendations often challenged their established practices and beliefs. Implementing these suggestions involved changes, staff retraining, and financial investments. Therefore, I focused on demonstrating the value and feasibility of these improvements.
To ease the financial burden, I began sourcing fresh produce – fruits and vegetables donated from local grocers’ “scratch and dent” boxes. Finches, canaries, budgies, and cockatiels eagerly consumed these fresh greens, while other birds received a mix of produce alongside their regular diet. This nutritional enrichment was not only beneficial for the birds but also served as a visual demonstration for potential and current bird owners. I also provided donated toys for birds lacking enrichment. Gradually, I persuaded store owners to incorporate these elements into their standard bird care.
To further illustrate the benefits, I offered to train bird pet store birds in essential behaviors. Using positive reinforcement, I showcased its effectiveness compared to force-based methods. I successfully trained a turaco to recall to her cage, replacing the stressful net-catching method. A timid African grey learned to step up without forceful handling. An “aggressive” Amazon, previously approached with a towel as a shield, was trained to station, enabling safe access to food and water bowls.
I also conducted free workshops to educate store owners and demonstrate public interest in improved bird care knowledge. This proved influential in at least one bird pet store‘s shift towards better practices. Today, most bird pet stores and bird sellers I interact with embrace more positive and informed approaches. Many now offer classes and workshops through bird clubs or independent educators – a significant improvement from when I started in this field.
My most popular workshop topics center on basic behavior and training, areas where both new and experienced bird owners seek reliable information. The abundance of online resources, often contradictory, leaves many bird owners unsure where to begin. Understanding bird behavior is crucial for successful long-term bird ownership. Therefore, I prioritize foundational knowledge in my workshops. Other workshop topics include environmental enrichment, toy making, debunking internet myths about bird care, emergency preparedness, nutritional guidance (“You Want Me to Eat WHAT!?!?”), and avian-related legislation.
CasperToo, my creative problem-solver
Currently, the focus of my collaborations with local bird pet stores has shifted from overcoming outdated practices to expanding their existing knowledge and skills. For instance, a newly opened bird pet store in my area impressed me with its cleanliness, healthy animals, enrichment provisions, and clear guidelines for customer interaction. The owners’ dedication to animal welfare and customer education led to a successful initial workshop, with more planned and the formation of a local bird club underway.
To celebrate their one-year anniversary, I brought CasperToo, my umbrella cockatoo. CasperToo, a remarkable bird with a challenging past, exemplifies the transformative power of positive reinforcement and patience. From a bird who resorted to biting as a primary response, he evolved into an interactive and engaging companion. At the store, CasperToo interacted positively with staff and customers, vocalizing and soliciting gentle petting. His ability to target his beak to my palm allows me to monitor his stress levels. He serves as a powerful ambassador for positive reinforcement methods and the importance of patience in building strong bird-owner relationships.
Creating the Ideal Pet Store Environment for Birds
While conditions in bird pet stores have improved, further enhancements are still desirable. Increased enrichment – a greater variety of toys, chewables, foraging opportunities, and noisy toys – within cages and on bird stands is crucial. This includes a focus on foot toys and playthings not attached to perches. One innovative bird pet store in San Diego utilized “flats” instead of traditional cages. These were essentially large, wheeled tables with borders to contain bedding. Within these flats, play stands, perches of various materials, and diverse foot toys were arranged. Food was provided in shallow, stable dishes. For stores considering this setup, adding a plexiglass barrier is advisable for security, given increasing theft concerns.
While direct interaction with potential owners and store visitors provides enrichment, cages may be a safer housing option for certain species like budgies, cockatiels, and finches/canaries. For smaller birds, spacious flight cages could be beneficial.
Beyond enriched environments, implementing LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) based training programs within bird pet stores is essential. These programs should focus on practical behaviors that facilitate a bird’s successful transition into a new home. Recall training, effective even in a distracting store environment, and “step up” training are vital for care and demonstrating birds to potential owners. Conditioning birds to basic handling of feet, wings, head, and beak, as well as veterinary husbandry behaviors like beak examination, should also be included.
Positive reinforcement, through treats, gentle scratches, verbal praise, and laughter from staff and visitors, should be consistently employed. It’s important to acknowledge that not all ideal practices are feasible in every bird pet store setting. Time and resources are finite, and essential tasks like cleaning, feeding, and customer service are priorities. However, even brief, focused interactions – a short trick training session or step-up/off practice – can be valuable additions without disrupting daily routines.
Encouraging bird pet stores to provide information from local parrot behavior consultants, including contact details and informative handouts, is highly recommended. This could encompass basics of bird body language, training, and harness conditioning. Parrot behavior consultants should also proactively offer services to new bird owners. Especially for first-time bird owners, access to reliable information is crucial. Partnering with bird pet stores to direct new owners to workshops, classes, or consultations can benefit both consultants and bird owners, potentially preventing more complex behavioral issues down the line.
Final Thoughts on Bird Pet Stores and Bird Welfare
My experience, both as a former bird pet store employee and a frequent visitor, suggests that most bird pet stores genuinely aim to provide good care for birds and support new owners. Ensuring a bird’s smooth adjustment to a new home is in everyone’s best interest.
My ongoing goal is to advance animal welfare and owner education. As our understanding of avian behavior, biology, nutrition, and enrichment needs expands, I strive to enhance the information available to pet and aviary bird owners, enriching the lives of both birds and their human companions. With increasing resources, we must prioritize science-based information and the highest standards of care for our birds and all animals. Animal ownership should be a joyful, enriching, and interactive experience for all involved – a far cry from the outdated image of a solitary budgie in a small cage with only seeds. This vision fuels my dedication.
Adrianne is a Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant through IAABC and a mentor in the Living and Learning with Parrots online group. She is actively involved in organizations like the American Federation of Aviculture and the Avicultural Society of America, dedicating her time to education and policy development. Adrianne frequently presents at conferences and bird club meetings on various topics, including behavior, training, parrot body language, nutrition, and legislation.
