Has anyone dealt with this breeder

[4theBirds]

Two months ago I contacted Exotic Parrots for Sale (Laura Owens) in Sandpoint, ID and placed a deposit for a Timneh African Grey. I was supposed to pick up Babu this weekend. Contact has been sketchy, but appeared to be OK until about a week ago. While she is quite clear that she doesn't open her home to the public. I live about 5 hours away in MT and wanted to personally pick up the timneh and pay the balance. She wanted to meet in the Safeway Parking lot. I realize many people purchase animals sight unseen (our CAG Bindy was purchased from Golden Cockatoo and is a real love) and have them shipped, but I am able to go and see this bird. I was able to overlook the pick-up site, but I really don't like that the only contact info is her FaceBook Page.

Has anyone dealt with her? What are your thoughts?

 

[WharfRat]

Wow, I would've discussed this very early on before even giving a deposit. Granted, it might be her "trying" to be safe, but this should have been disclosed early on. A facebook page is NOT enough to go on either, do you not have her phone # or even spoken to her before? Need more info before I comment any more really.

 

[IcyWolf]

I don't know her personally but she is one of my facebook friends so I see all of her posts. I thought it was kind of odd that she uses the page for her business but also posts completely unrelated personally stuff( a lot of fishing trips and such). It seems like all of her comments are really positive and I've never heard anyone complain about her, some people are just really weird about having people at their house. I'm not one of those people lol

You could always contacct some of the folks that have gotten birds from her, see what their experience was like.

 

[kc_y0]

Meeting in a parking lot is odd... I wouldn't be happy with that lol

 

[Spiritbird]

I would never, never purchase a bird from someone you cannot trust. Meeting outside her home should be a red flag. Is she hiding something??

 

[henpecked]

No i think she has reason to be shy. Like she doesn't want the SPCA showing up on her doorstep and taking her birds, which does happen. ARF (animal rights fanatics) are a very really issue also. She might be worried about someone stealing her birds,happens alot down here. Safeway parking lot with security cameras might not be so bad.

 

[4theBirds]

Well, it was an interesting experience...I did pick up Babu in the Safeway parking lot. Babu is healthy and very sociable. He came with an Idaho Health Certificate and clearance to travel interstate dated yesterday. What is still troubling is that he comes without the leg band. Isn't a leg band required? One lives and learns....

 

[MaraWentz]

This is what I read online

"The USDA mandates that all imported birds are banded. Since these bands are put on older birds with mature feet, open bands are the only option. These bands are engraved with an identifying number and the quarantine station that banded them upon their entry into the United States.
The federal government and many U.S. states require permits to move certain species of exotic birds within the different states. Other states require permits to own or breed exotic birds. In order to obtain such permits, the breeder needs to provide the birds' band numbers as proof that the breeding stock was legally imported or domestically bred. A few states will accept other forms of identification, including microchips or DNA fingerprints, but most still require a band."

I've heard you can remove the bands, but it's not recommended and should be done via vet if so and you keep the band for ownership proof

 

[henpecked]

You might have trouble finding anyone in Idaho or Montana to tell you what the laws are. Some of it is state issues , but many don't require banding. So it gets confusing. Me personally, i'd band all CITIES birds.

 

[Pookamama]

I tried to deal with her but she wouldn't communicate with me. I really was looking into getting a bird from her but she wouldn't respond via her facebook page or her website address. She even deleted a post I wrote on her facebook wall asking for her to contact me. It was just weird, so I passed her on even though she had a few breeds we were looking into and pretty good prices. There were many other breeders who not only were very keen to pass out their phone numbers and email addresses, but when I got them on the phone I got so much information about the bird species they raised I couldn't even get them off the phone easily.
Her practices just seem very odd to me. Giving the benefit of the doubt, it sounds like she has kids and wants to protect the privacy of her home. I'm hoping that's the issue, and perhaps the bird-feeding lifestyle was not the best choice in that case. A Safeway parking lot doesn't seem like a safe place to meet a bird for the first time, it would make it awkward for those who wanted to meet the bird before making the final decision or let a bird from a few birds pick them as many experience pet owners advocate.

Of course, her website does show her kids handling the birds and all. Bird Breeder has mostly good reviews of the bird socialization results. So you probably are getting a well-socialized bird.

Our Pepper is unbanded as well. She was bred in Washington from somebody on the coast and that's all I know about her orgin. She was super sweet and that's what was important. I wasn't aware that there were banding or unbanding laws. We aren't going to be moving outside the state or anything so I don't anticipate being an issue but I thought it rather odd.

 

[BradGC]

I don't think you can judge a breeder or hand rearer from the lack of a web page.
The lady who hand reared our parrot is an elderly but extremely caring lady, her house wasn't exactly tidy but I can imagine she'd be self conscious about her house keeping, her house was huge but had a side garage filled with hand fed baby's, conures, ring necks, alexandrines, ecklectus and more. I would totally understand if they don't want strangers at their house, my partner and I actually were roughly adding up the amount of birds and value, and it went into the thousands at one time. And we're thoroughly happy with our parrot, I don't think people should judge people before seeing the product

 

[4theBirds]

It wasn't the webpage that bothered me. It was the "cloak and dagger" act. These days I can believe that people will steal anything and I'm sure that in Idaho (let alone anywhere else) there are enough "strange people" around. The whole setup was just too strange. I think I'll buy next time from someone who is a bit more open.

 

[ATouchOfGrey]

:64:I've Greys for 20 years and this sounds very weird to me. BTW, I bought my first CAG, Jack Flash, in Great Falls, MT while I was stationed there with the military. :42:Just like there are crappy "puppy mills," there are also just as sinister "parrot mills." I want to see the home set-up, it's cleanliness, the health of other birds and other pets in the home, etc. She's either a paranoid nut or is hiding something. Probably both. Even if you receive pics or videos, how do you know that's the bird you actually bought, or that it's the bird who was seen by the avian vet?

Nor would I ever buy an unbanded bird, no matter what any state law says. If something should happen to me, or if my birds should escape, or if they're stolen, they could never be identified and returned to me. Not to band a bird is simply irresponsible. Even if she didn't have to band your bird, if she had any sense or ethics she should have gone that extra mile. She obviously isn't as smart as her Greys. I'm just sayin.'

____________________________________________________
"Oh well, a touch of grey kinda suits me anyway
And that is all I have to say....." (Grateful Dead) :57:

 

[BarkleyLoves]

That sounds sketchy. When bought or Ekkie, the breeder let us come to her house and visit him. It was a good two hours drive to visit on the weekends but it was worth it. And our bird was the most social bird I've ever owned, incredibly sweet. And of course she kept up updated with lots of pictures. When he was ready to come, we came with a travel cage and picked him from her home. I worry when it's a place like Safeway.

 

[ATouchOfGrey]

:64:Well, the deed is done; you now own the bird so I reckon it's best to take good care of your little Timneh, love him much, and hope for the best. It won't help if you fret about it; things now are what they are. Hopefully you didn't get cheated, and other people reading this thread will think long and hard before buying from this breeder or anyone who has a similar set-up. If something doesn't smell right about a purchase, there's gotta be something rotten somewhere.

Wishing you and Babu a lifetime of love!

 

[friedsoup]

The pet store in NC that my friends own gets all his babies from a breeder and they always meet in a town half way between them and in the Wendy's parking lot we call it our drug deal meeting LOL they too never let anyone into their aviary/ breeding/ home, and we've spent thousands of dollars with them.

 

[4theBirds]

:64:Well, the deed is done; you now own the bird so I reckon it's best to take good care of your little Timneh, love him much, and hope for the best. It won't help if you fret about it; things now are what they are. Hopefully you didn't get cheated, and other people reading this thread will think long and hard before buying from this breeder or anyone who has a similar set-up. If something doesn't smell right about a purchase, there's gotta be something rotten somewhere.

Wishing you and Babu a lifetime of love!

You're absolutely right! Babu will have a great home!

A few more items from Laura: I asked about the band -- She removes them for safety reasons!?!? She also refused to give me contact information regarding the actual breeder. I'm going to see if I can get DNA testing and possibly an ID band for Babu after the fact.

Buy from Laura Owens, Exotic Parrots 4 Sale with caution.

 

[henpecked]

She sounds more like a broker. If she's bring in all those strange babies, why would she worry about people infecting her set up or upsetting breeders??

 

[brianlinkles]

She sounds more like a broker. If she's bring in all those strange babies, why would she worry about people infecting her set up or upsetting breeders??

I looked at her facebook page, that is exactly what she is a broker, not a breeder. She buys the babies and then hand feeds them. Not sure why she would be so cautious since it is not a breeding facility. However like it was mentioned, what's done is done. You have your baby, enjoy him/her now!

 

[kc_y0]

I have heard about people not banding birds because of health problems - broken legs.. My bird isn't banded but I think the rules might be different in Australia.

I saw her facebook too, and she does say that she isn't a breeder.