Buying a second sun conure

[Bongo]

Hello,

We have been visiting a local pet store and have been interacting with a sun conure there. We already have a 5 month old sun conure (Bongo) but we were thinking about getting him a buddy. The bird in the store is skiddish and a bit sad (no doubt from sitting alone in a tank being poked at!) but after playing with him for 15 minutes he started to come around. He stepped up onto my hand and took a treat out from me. He was a bit nippy, but that is to be expected. They have a ridiculous price on him ($1188). We are suckers for this guy and would like to give him the love he needs.

When buying a bird from a pet store (Petland) is quarentine still required or do they have shots? Since the price is so high, would they come down on it? We bought Bongo from a breeder in Calgary (We are in Winnipeg, MB). Is it even a good idea to buy from a pet store??

I know we would need a second cage and to slowly introduce the two birds. I've read, the existing bird should also be trated as the alpha bird. Since Bongo is younger (based on their feathering) would he feel resentment about this? We would like to have a buddy for Bongo when we aren't home, but don't want to have a bird rivalry nightmare!

Any sugggestions?? Thanks for your help and sorry about being so long winded!

 

[HRH Di]

Okay, here's my opinion....

Always quarantine. There are very few and specific situations that it may not be necssary, however, buying from a pet store isn't one of them. I'm not a huge fan of Petland. They have a reputation for buying from puppy mills and other disreputable breeders. Although this doesn't mean that your local Petland does that. This isn't a condemnations of all pet stores, but the larger chains don't always have the knowledge to properly care for parrots.

As for who'e alpha and who isn't...that's rough. It's kind of based on each bird's personality. Our Max is the oldest parrot in age and in time in our home, yet he has no interested whatsoever in the "running of the parrot household" as long as he gets his walnuts and apple bits. This is based on my experience only, I'm no expert. As long as both parrots get adequate attention, hopefully they can co-exist peacably if not as BFFs.

I hope this helps Good luck

 

[Spiritbird]

I agree. Petland has a very bad rep. for getting their pets from mass production places and that does include birds. That is an insane price for this bird. I would go back to the drawing board and look elsewhere. We always get attached to the birds in the stores. That is what they count on!!

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2010/01/petland_suit_to_proceed_012710.html

 

[Bongo]

Yeah, I agree about the price. That is actually discounted from $1388 that he was originally! :11: We got Bongo for just over $600 with shipping and a travel carrier. I'm sure we would probably take that route again if we were ready to do this.

I called Petland out of curiosity and asked what we would get for the price... "The bird comes with a one year warranty."

I thought I was calling a pet store, not a car dealership! haha

Anyways, I think that my heart is telling me to "save" the bird from it's tank at Petland, rather than getting a second bird from a breeder. I feel like the setup they have at the store is just like abuse.

 

[tlcgourdine]

It is abuse, I am not a believer in large chain retailers at all!! I so understand your need to save this bird, and if you do... make sure you take all procautions in protecting your already loved family member Bongo. I too have just recently rescued a TAG and I did it through my heart. Even though she had come from a single bird household and seemed perfectly healthy we have quarantined her and having her checked out by a certified Avian Doctor before introducing her to our Quaker Poncho. The one good thing with the 1 yr warranty if it is found that the bird needs to be treated the Pet store should have to pay for the treatments....read the warranty and confirm this though.
Good luck

 

[jonsbabykake]

alphas do not exist in bird societies. they have no sense of who is alpha and who is lower, it doesnt work that way like with dogs and cats. they can squabble and things but that would be over food or maybe for the owners attention, but its not to be alpha. just make sure you give the same amount of attention to both birds, so neither will feel negletcted.

 

[Printer bird]

I recently read an article regarding buying sad birds from pet stores that argued we are doing a disservice to the bird as it encourages the store to continue to buy and sell parrots. I read that some stores keep them looking a bit sad because they know they will tug on people's heartstrings and sell them. By buying these parrots, you are encouraging them to continue to stock them. So you may "save" the one guy, but you are feeding a cycle of them continuing to buy birds that they can't care for. There are good pet stores out there for sure but I don't think petland is one of them and you shouldn't encourage them to continue to stock birds by giving them money for it. (even if it is hard to walk away).

PS the pic of Bongo is super cute!

 

[erik7181]

I would never pay that price. Unless it was from a breeder

 

[erik7181]

I bought my green cheek from petland n have no complaintz

 

[Von1983]

This is difficult for me as our chain pet shop, Pets at Home, stopped selling birds a few years ago.......I don't know if this is the case in all stores, but I never saw any conures or large parrots there there. Mainly aviary birds and occasionally cockatiels.

I paid your equivilent of $237 - £150 for my girl. She was around £50-100 less than most sunnies, I was lucky enough to even find her at all....they aren't too common here! So really, the price they are asking is mad. However, if I was in your position and I could spare the money, I think I would buy the bird too!

I wholeheartedly agree that by saving one bird, you are condemning another to the same existence, that's a big issue. Unfortunately though, no matter what we do, someone will ALWAYS buy the bird eventually. If you feel strongly about this little guy and can afford him/a cage/vet check/etc and are able to quarantine, I would go for it. Sometimes a bond is just a bond.

I know this issue varies from country to country and here, birds are not put into rescue, they are sold because they have "monetry worth" and it allows people to keep the plazma TV during rough times.

I will be adopting an amazon when the time is right and will have to pay someone who is giving the bird up for whatever reason.

If they sold them frequently in pet shops here, and I bought one, in my opinion, chances are I am simply cutting out the middle man. There are SO many amazons for Private sale just now at an average of only 2-3yrs old.

Sunnies as you know yourself, are seen as the "difficult" birds of the conure family. Someone with money and no sense could buy the bird and you'd probably see him in the shelter a couple of years from now. Never any easy answer, is there?

 

[birdiemomma]

$1100+ seems ridiculous to me. In the USA Sun Conures sell for between $500 USD & $600 USD. I wouldn't pay that much... I hate to say it but it sounds like a huge ripoff.

 

[mishykinz]

I agree with the others, that is an EXTREMELY high price for a bird who may be ill or untamed, and like buying puppies from a puppy mill, you'd be profiting the shoddy breeders who sold the pet store the ill-bred bird in the first place. When I go into my local pet store my heart goes out to the birds there, especially the CAG with ONE toy in her cage...and she's terrified of everyone. She's also very cheap for a CAG, which makes "saving" her even more tempting, but I restrain myself every time I go in.

Like everyone else said, you are much better off getting another bird from a reputable breeder.