I think I ruined a sale, oh well...

[Taw5106]

Nothing pressing going on today so with the cool weather Husband and I decided to go walk around a flea market. We walk about 2.5 miles there, get fresh air and some fresh produce. Well there is a bird vendor there who has been there for a while. He's friendly, never has the same birds so I think he's a bird broker but I like to visit the birds. Today he had 8 amazons, 4 DYHAs, a Red Fronted, a Mealy Head and 2 YNAs. I had one of the YNAs talking and then totally relaxed, scratching his head and cheeks... This went on for minutes to the point it was leaning against me. I never took my eyes off the YNA waiting for a surprise attack. Husband even got to give it a scritch.

Well I gathered a crowd without realizing it and the bird man was talking to people kicking up his sales spiel. One lady is asking about the two DYHAs, are they friendly, loving, easy to handle and he's saying yes they are and they are so gentle, and easy going. I stopped scratching the YNA and with no filter blurted, "Uh not exactly. The DYHA is one of the top hot three meaning they can be friendly one second and change mood in a fraction of a second." The lady asked me "You mean like being bipolar?" I said "Exactly" and we told her about Buddy and he's very sweet. OK I said he's very sweet and Husband told her I was confused, that Buddy was bipolar, lol. All the while the YNA is still relaxed, eyes closed enjoying his head scratch (I'm still stunned over this). The lady left, The seller started telling me they are sweet and friendly. I took a millet branch and stuck it in the DYHA cage and one snapped it in two and I told him not right away when someone is looking to buy one, and getting a parrot is a long term relationship that has to be built and I'd see him next week gladly making him mad.

I'm repeating "no more birds, no more birds, no more birds" but that YNA.... I'm in love!!!!

 

[Dinosrawr]

I think you did a wonderful thing IMO! If people can't handle the bad side of a bird or haven't quite learned about it, then they really shouldn't be investing in one at that time. It's so easy to sell an animal when it's acting all sweet, but not one it starts to act itself (and that can entail a LOT of unpleasant things!)

 

[MosaicMadness]

I actually really like amazons.. but can't say as I've ever heard them described as "easy to handle". Fiesty, acrobatic, talkative, entertaining, enjoyable, crazy, MAYBE friendly, if they are in the mood. Good save.

 

[Taw5106]

Exactly. Also to me you don't see a bird and buy it, you visit it and get to know it, see how it responds and determine if it's a good pairing. The week prior we were visiting this same flea and had the little kids with us so I took them by to see the birds. My oldest niece knows better to stick her hands at the birds or move fast, but she is also comfortable with Venus and Buddy, well, a DHYA went for her arm when she startled him laying her arm against his cage and here he came. I pulled her back and said that's not Buddy, you know better, you came close to loosing something like a chunk of skin! She said she did forget.

No hard feelings in ruining a sell here, parrots deserve the consideration of a home environment, proper diet, interaction, the commitment to have one and the buyer should know these things, all the good, bad and ugly.

 

[Kalel]

Good thing you expressed your view because at the very least if this woman was serious about buying the bird then she will do her research. Then she will actually know what she is getting into