Petsmart

[Shoegoo]

I was about to pull the trigger on a Fancy Conure at Petsmart. I asked the store clerk how old it was and he got the paper work out. It showed 8/11/14 as the hatch date. I noticed that on top of the certificate it said Rainbow Exotics. I don't know beans about this so I decided to check it out on the internet.

It was not very pretty when I found a video about Rainbow and their pet mills. Now I am afraid to purchase from a pet store chain. I also found a denial from a source described as a pet store representative.

Should I rethink the place where I am about to buy a bird? I will be taking the bird to a vet for a wellness check during the first 2 weeks. Should that suffice?

 

[Mekaisto]

Well firstly, are they actually labelling the bird as a "fancy conure"?
Because I don't think I'd be willing to shop anywhere that doesn't know the species they're selling.

I'm not familiar with Rainbow exotics, but a google search doesn't bring much comfort. However I don't trust animal rights groups, it might all be over-exaggerated, I simply don't know.
The bird is probably healthy (the vet check will confirm or deny this), I suppose it just depends on whether you're willing, morally, to buy a bird from a pet mill.

 

[Terry57]

I personally feel that they all need good homes, regardless of where they started. Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[kimn818]

Well firstly, are they actually labelling the bird as a "fancy conure"?
Because I don't think I'd be willing to shop anywhere that doesn't know the species they're selling.

Yes, both PetSmart and Petco refer to their conures as "fancy conures". They had a pineapple and a sun labeled as "fancy".

I was about to pull the trigger on a Fancy Conure at Petsmart. I asked the store clerk how old it was and he got the paper work out. It showed 8/11/14 as the hatch date. I noticed that on top of the certificate it said Rainbow Exotics. I don't know beans about this so I decided to check it out on the internet.

It was not very pretty when I found a video about Rainbow and their pet mills. Now I am afraid to purchase from a pet store chain. I also found a denial from a source described as a pet store representative.

Should I rethink the place where I am about to buy a bird? I will be taking the bird to a vet for a wellness check during the first 2 weeks. Should that suffice?

I wouldn't let where the bird comes from be a determining factor. Petco and Petsmart both allow you to return the bird within a 2 week period if anything is wrong. I would take the bird to your vet for a wellness and disease test.

I personally believe every bird deserves and has the right to a happy life. Many people on these great forums have rescued birds from despicable conditions. I think it is more important that you feel a connection with the bird. Good luck in your search! Keep us updated on what you decide!

 

[95talongirl]

I agree, they all need a home.

Plus, you do have to be careful with animal rights groups. They do tend to exaggerate things. If they had it their way, they would force all of us to release our companions into the wild. As if these animals really know how to fend for themselves being brought up in captivity.

I have said it over and over, and will say it here, too. I am for animal welfare, not animal rights. Those people really are terrorists.

/rant

With any bird, I always have a wellness exam done at the vet. So I wish you the best in whatever you decide!

 

[Shoegoo]

You're right. After all is said and done a good home and plenty of love is what is needed regardless where the bird came from.

 

[veimar]

We rescued our little conure baby from Petsmart - he was miserable, dirty and not properly weaned. But my hubby fell in love at the first glance. They told us that he was to go back to breeder in few days. And he is the most adorable, fun, smart cutie EVER!! He was our first bird, and although I by no means support parrot mills or chain stores, I have to thank Petsmart for opening the parrot world for me. I never got a bird from a store since then, but adopted.
But seriously, if you fall in love with a bird from a first glance - who cares where you get it from? If you save it from that store "jail" you only do good to it. Great pet rats come from feeder bins too.

 

[Mekaisto]

It's true that all birds deserve a good home, but buying from a non-ideal location simply encourages them to purchase more birds from the same supplier, and guarantees that the supplier won't improve their conditions. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[RainbowRose]

Yea I've gotten birds from pet stores like that before. I, too, feel they need a home even moreso.

My very first bird EVER was a parakeet from Petco. I begged for a bird and my dad finally said yes so my sister took me to the pet store and there was my little Kiwi... sitting at the very top, by himself, scruffy looking, and apparently the oldest of the bunch. No one wanted him!! Especially the way he looked... oh boy... So of course I chose him! I was like HE NEEDS LOVE AND I WANT TO LOVE HIM hehe so I brought him home and my family was like what the heck did you get?! Lol but I remember after a couple weeks he was so much better looking and happy, and that was when I got him a little girlfriend from there as well They lived healthy lives the average lifespan a parakeet typically has. If you perceive the bird as well, trust your instincts and go with it. Even if he has anything minor, if you're willing to put the money into it, it makes your pet very happy and you helped it

 

[starrynightxxi]

I work at a petco. As far as I know, we don't label our birds strictly as "fancy conures" unless someone in the store is being lazy. We do have a "fancy green cheek" which is just a catch-all number for green cheeks that are flashy but aren't specifically from the breeder's pineapple, etc. lines. I would guess they are most likely the result of outcrossing to preserve bloodlines, but sometimes they look just like the fancy mutations.


We do get a few color mutations of suns, occasionally, but they shouldn't only be labeled as "fancy conure" either. If you are seeing that, someone is being epically lazy, and potentially wreaking havoc on their inventory and pricing if the actual price labels are wrong as well as the species card.

It has been a few years since the Rainbow Exotics debacle. None of the stores I have worked with have ever sourced from there, I'm not sure if any Petcos do or not, but after all that attention, I would hope that that vendor would have cleaned house.

 

[Dopey]

Save the bird! But then again that's just me because I will look on Craig's list to get a bird.

 

[RainbowRose]

I work at a petco. As far as I know, we don't label our birds strictly as "fancy conures" unless someone in the store is being lazy. We do have a "fancy green cheek" which is just a catch-all number for green cheeks that are flashy but aren't specifically from the breeder's pineapple, etc. lines. I would guess they are most likely the result of outcrossing to preserve bloodlines, but sometimes they look just like the fancy mutations.


We do get a few color mutations of suns, occasionally, but they shouldn't only be labeled as "fancy conure" either. If you are seeing that, someone is being epically lazy, and potentially wreaking havoc on their inventory and pricing if the actual price labels are wrong as well as the species card.

It has been a few years since the Rainbow Exotics debacle. None of the stores I have worked with have ever sourced from there, I'm not sure if any Petcos do or not, but after all that attention, I would hope that that vendor would have cleaned house.

Petsmart is my go to store, and even there I haven't seen them label their Conures as fancy conures. They had two last time I went and they were labeled as two different types one was a green cheek, I don't remember the other. It might have been Janday... But regardless they labeled them properly, whether it included the word fancy or not, it was still distinguished.

So I don't know what the deal is from what you saw, so just be weary about that because a fancy conure isn't very descriptive, obviously

 

[Helitorian]

I worked at Petsmart when Con was delivered from Rainbow Exotics. I think it's technically Rainbow World Exotics since her band says RWE followed by her number. I never cared for the guy who brought the animals and we always had to check everything that was delivered and send back anything that came in sick.

As for the fancy conures, yeah that's what they call any GC that isn't a normal.

If you want the bird, get it. If you wait, some idiot will come buy it because it'll match their drapes or something. I almost lost Con to an alcoholic woman that lived with her daughter and three little grand children. Do it before you lose it and regret it.

 

[kalypso123]

My Petsmart has one type of conure whch is GCC. They are not always the friendliest but one lady owns many birds and works with them. My Petco only carries budgies. They are the most active budgies. They may not be tame but are more healthy than Petsmart. I got my bird from a locally owned pet store. Carol buys the birds from a small breeder and weans them. I love my Kalypso. Follow your heart.

 

[veimar]

In my area Petco is whole different story - they have all sorts of conures, and they are just awesome! Very pretty, social, extremely friendly and lovable. well cared for as well. I even asked what breeder were they coming from, but they didn't know. Although Petco is 10 miles further that Petsmart I always shop there if I need something or just stop by for fun. They have much prettier parakeets too.

 

[erik7181]

I live in florida and one thing iv found out is a good majority of petstores buy from breeders here. Petsmart is one petstore i would trust. Not all places buy from big name breeders iv visited a few breeders here and some of there facility's. Are not the type of place you would expect.

 

[Jxjaxj]

Hi Starrynight,
I saw a fancy green cheek yesterday at Petco also. I read your reply to this thread but don't completely understand your explanation for why the GCC is labeled fancy instead of the specific type of GCC. Can you explain in more detail? I am just very curious because I might bring that conure home. Thanks for your help!!

 

[mh434]

Not every Pet Smart store is the same. I have visited some that I was leery even being in, but my nearest one is wonderful (if expensive!). The manager of this particular store is knowledgeable about animals, and is careful to hire ONLY people that love animals & know a lot about them. In particular, the girls that work in the bird section truly love their little charges, and treat them like they're their own. The enclosures are entertaining for the birds & immaculately kept, and the birds are, without exception, well-loved, and well-socialized.

Not all stores are created equal...

 

[starrynightxxi]

jxjaxj, if I'm being honest, I don't really know, I'm only making a guess. It could be a few things.

It could be that the breeder is bringing in new bloodlines, conscientious breeders will introduce unrelated animals into their lines to prevent the problems that are associated with high percentages of inbreeding. It's called outcrossing, but sometimes the first generation (F1) will have less-desirable coloring and it isn't until subsequent generations that you see the desired color or pattern return. So it's possible that the "fancy green cheeks" are birds from the F1 outcross.

It may be that the breeder and the retail company (companies, most large scale breeders work with more than one) created this "fancy" category to appeal to people looking for slightly more colorful green cheeks without having to pay quite as much as they might for a parrot bred from full yellow-sided, or pineapple, or turquoise green cheek bloodlines. These birds might LOOK like a certain color morph, but the genetics probably wouldn't prove true if they were bred. Since most people buying birds aren't really interested in breeding them, it doesn't matter that they are genetically color "mutts". It also allows Petco to bring in a variety of colors without the variety of prices, which appeals more to the "casual" shopper frequenting those stores.

A third option, and probably the most likely, is that the fancy green cheek encompasses both of these things as a catch-all item number.

There is a price difference between the green cheeks. If I am shopping for a bird and I see a standard green cheek for $400*, a "prettier" (read: more colorful) fancy green cheek for maybe $450 or so, and then a full color morph green cheek for maybe $500, all other things being equal, I'll probably buy the fancy. That means extra profit to the store. Next to sell will most likely be the standard gcc because there is a hundred dollar price difference between the remaining birds. Petco brings in more fancy and standard gccs to replace those sold, and you wash, rinse, and repeat. Except for the $500 dollar bird who hangs around longer and longer, which is bad news for store profits AND for that bird.

*purely hypothetical pricing

I don't know if I made my theory more or less clear. It made sense in my head lol

 

[Buddies_mommy]

Buddie came from Petco at 4 months old. When I took him to the vet the day after I got him, the vet discovered his band number did not match the papers I got with him for all the tests.
It took 3 months to get the "real"? papers.The store manager gave me the run around. I contacted the corporate office who contacted me back later to make sure the manager had given me the papers. He hadnt of course. When I contacted him, he was mad because I got him in trouble.
To this day I truly dont know if the papers are real or not. I do know I love my Buddie and really in the end that is all that matters.