Lonely Petco Green Cheek

[Whitlee]

Hi!
There is a petco by my grocery store. I always pop in to say hi to these two green cheek conures. They have been there over a year and I've felt bad for them because no one at the store is able/wants to handle them because they bite. At least they had each other to play with though

When I went in to say hi today I saw that the pineapple one was gone. Hopefully to a wonderful home that will love him. The normal colored one was alone in the glass cage. I felt so sad. He came rushing over to the glass where I was and started frantically pecking it. I think he is so lonely. How hard for him will it be to bond to a human? It breaks my heart to see him all alone.

 

[Weezerj]

Sounds like you need to bring him home.

 

[Allee]

I think so too, you should bring the little guy home!

All parrots are individuals but a lot of birds in similar circumstances and far worse have very deep bonds with their people. It's according to the bird, the trainer and the time invested.

 

[dhraiden]

It is a big decision. You will giving a lot of time and resources to your new pet. If you think you can make its life richer, go for it, but be aware it may take a long time to get used to human touch (or never, even)...you must be patient. very, very patient.

 

[PETCO]

Hi there. Your post about the lonely Green Cheek has made our attention and we'd like the opportunity to look into this.

 

[Kiwibird]

I bet, at this point, he would probably thrive in a different environment than the one he's in and it is very likely (with time a patience) he will be able to bond with you. Sounds like he might even recognize you, if you've been going in there to say hi to him for a while and he came running over now that his buddy is gone. Might this little guy be saying "bring me home PLEASE?"?

 

[Grraarrgghh]

Interesting to see PetCo's social media arm take in interest in this forum. Wonder if we will start seeing the other big chains follow suit.

PETCO just an FYI, this isn't the first thread on this forum that mentions your chain, there have been noted grievances regarding your treatment and lack of attention to parrots previously.

This one was notable:

http://www.parrotforums.com/others/51752-different-petco.html

 

[Weezerj]

I have to say I'm impressed that Petco ha social media and is actually active on this board. I hope they keep it up!

 

[Whitlee]

Gosh it was hard to make myself get away from this little goof bird. There were not very many people on staff to show the animals or else I would have asked someone to open the glass cage for a second and show me him/her. He was actually mislabeled as a "pineapple green cheek". The pineapple was his friend. I had someone show me them before and they were not mean little birds but they weren't used to human interaction. Not too scared though. I go to this particular petco everytime I go to the HEB that is near the University in Austin and pick up some toys or just look.

I do want him. Gosh if I didn't like him than I wouldn't even be posting anything. 4ish months ago we lost our little Charlie in a freak accident. It was really really hard. I still think of him a lot. I couldn't bear getting a bird that looked like him. I missed having a bird and I have a soft spot for animals that need someone so we adopted a one legged red bellied parrot. He HATES me. He loves my boyfriend and every strange man he meets but it is just his preference. Which is fine. But I miss the playfulness of my Charlie.

I'm going on vacation soon so I can't adopt a bird that isn't used to our house or else I might have walked out with him.

It sounds horrible to say but Petco prices are high! I could get a well raised baby green cheek for half the price from a breeder and know what I was getting (not a pineapple for one). I feel like the people who fall in the trap of buying from Petco often haven't done homework and don't know what they are getting into. I know price shouldn't be a factor when considering a friend that will be yours for 30+ years, but it is for me.

So, Hi Petco. Im going out of town. I know this little guy bites and doesn't know how to bond to a human yet and has been living in a little glass cage. I hope he will have found a happy home by the time I get back. If not I hope to find him in a better environment (like at least a little huddle hut to sleep in) P.S. I would like to play with him with the door open. His wings are cut short so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Whitlee]

Gosh I really do want to bring the little guy home. He's just a baby still!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I'll admit, I'm not a Petco fan. Every time I visit their birds they are all 'fluffed up' and sickly looking. Not to mention they are kept in stacked cage areas sharing the same ventilation so if one gets sick, so will the others.

I got Skittles at the local PetLife. Skittles had been moved around to three different pet stores and was just over 1 yr old when I bought him. He was all excited and hopping. The local Petlife keep their parrots in 'large' aviaries.

The conures at the local Petco are in a cage the same size as the parakeet/finch cages at PetLife.

That being said, Petco does have a MUCH larger variety of toys and cages for purchase.

I just find the local PetLife to be a MUCH better store than the local Petco.

The employees at the local PetLife 'interact' with the animals there regularly. Every time I visit, someone is tending to one of the animals. I never see that at Petco. Never.

 

[MyFlock]

I might have a different view than some but I don't think the Petcos where I live are not too bad! Petco- if you're still on this board there is a lady named Kathleen who works at the Pearl City, Oahu, Hawaii Petco who is brilliant with the birds, so caring and loving toward them that it really left a positive impression on me when I purchased my Jenday and GCC from there. She REALLY deserves a good raise!