Every now and then I wander through a pet shop or two to check on their budgies and other birds. Today was no exception...it was near where I parked to go elsewhere.

PET SHOP ONE

Budgies................these ones were smaller if possible than the average bush budgie. 75% of them had scalyface, 50% of them advanced scalyface to the point of beak distortion and growths on the side of cere and beak. 30% of them were visibly sick. Price $25.......why? Because they were mostly green.

Large dishes of seed directly under perches and just consisting of millet and oats.

Other birds.............canaries with no head feathers at all and still with the price tag of $75 each. Other small parrots looking weedy, small and quite ill.

I approached the staff. I asked where they were buying their birds...they said they had a source. I said I wouldnt buy them from that source again if I was them. They asked why.............I told them about the scalyface and health of the birds and the inbred standard and overall size of them also. I made a point of explaining the birds needed treating and should not be in a for sale cage until they were well. He tried to tell me he was applying lotion to the birds beaks but there was no evidence of that and he couldnt show me the product he was using at all. I was actually considering helping them by coming back and applying spot on ivermectin for them. I told him about the spot on ivermectin. he said he knew all about it. I asked if he knew where to get it and he said yes, but at this point he was looking nervous so I am not sure if the birds would ever see that ivermectin.

Seed bagged up in that store had 20-30 weevil moths flying around inside the seed bags.

I told him he shouldnt be buying birds that were that bad as they wouldnt sell anyway and that sick birds or scalyface birds should not be on display in for sale cages. He went on about green budgies not selling. Said he pays $10 per bird. I told him I knew a show breeder who had far superior birds to sell that would make the ones he had look like he had been ripped off. I mentioned that educating themselves about the birds would ensure they didnt buy any more rubbish.

I also said I was from a Budgie pet shop watch group that would be making regular visits to pet shops to both educate and watch over the for sale birds and the conditions.

Noticably the owner of this store retreated to 5 metres away when I began talking to the store manager .......... but she was listening.

 

PET SHOP TWO

 

Budgies all fine and healthy although small ( I might have to get used to the small part :hap: )..........budgies in cages labelled as Danish Pieds were actually danish pieds Price $35.

No scaly face...all healthy. All other birds healthy. All seed excellent.

Approached the pet shop staff and commended them on their birds and store. Told them about US here at BBC. Told them we are doing a pet shop watch group ( Yes we are ...more about that later ) and asked if there was anything they needed extra help with or any extra information. They said they have trouble choosing male and females. I said I woulod call back with some information sheets with pictures and suggested they laminate it and keep it by the cages. I told them I would have no hesitation in recommending thier pet store. Other visits to their store before always had the same result.....clean cages, healthy birds.

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Upshot of all this is..............I will return to both those local shops with information sheets to help them. I will call back to the first one with ivermectin and stay there long enough to treat their birds and get the worst ones seperated into a cage for ill and quarantining. I will allow them to pay me for that with a bag of seed or birdie treats

I will print out info sheets for both stores with our website address on for new budgie purchasers.

 

 

Based on this ( and believe me I often do this kind of thing if I see a pet shop near where I am at the time ) ........I think, we should all be a little more proactive with the pet stores so they are all prompted to work to a better standard and the ones that already are maybe could get a recommended by certificate to display. We could all offer assistance to both the ones that are doing so well and even more assistance in the form of education to the petstores not reaching an acceptable standard.

With all that we know here, we could start to help out a little....maybe make some of them think they are being watched so they get better at what they are doing....and the ones doing a great job need more encouragement.

What do you think ? Can any of you guys do this too ? We could start a movement all for the betterment of birds in pet stores.

 

Edited April 1, 201015 yr by KAZ

Lol I love the way you explained the first store visit. Fantastic Job Kaz. Fortunately the lady in charge of the budgies in the local pet shop i visit is a breeder herself and buys from backyard breeders as well as show winners as she knows whos who and what she wants. She recently refused to buy my greens and would only accept my blues in order to keep numbers and colours to a decent ratio. Never seen a sick bird in there that wasnt quarantined.

well i quiet often helped my pet dude out

he knows his birds only he gets pressured i feel sometimes into buying **** with the good ones

hes a lovley man and he does listen if i tell him somethings not quiet right

i wish i could look at his perchusses before he buys them as i would make sure he didnt get stuck with the crud but well

it would be a bit rude to ask if he wanted me to cheak the birds over one by one before he handed over any cash

he pays good money and i feel the breeders around here rip him off

 

 

he does treat birds if he sees their unwell and they are looked after better than when i first came to town a few years ago

 

most owners i fine think they know it all

so i just dont bother with pet shops anymore

but i still support my pet shop buying supplys and things when i need them

 

all in all i dont think his birds are their long enough to get out of condition or unwell give or take the **** that the breeders sneek in with the nice birds he buys hes just to trusting and gets advantage taken of him at times if this didnt happen id say his birds would be good

ive brought from him many times

theres only one petshop i know of near me that sells budgie the others just sell the supplies. the shop i guess its okay... but i dont really think they know what they are talking about yesterday i was in there and one of them had a splayed leg so i dunnu ill never buy anything from them though the bird supplies are rather limited while another petshop in the area sells many bird supplies (bigger range of cages to)

That is a great idea Karen... We could even do display at these shops... Bring certain budgies, educate buyers and seller... Ex, how to tell sex, if adult or young, pet shop or Show budgies... Just the simple basic...

 

I love the certifacte idea Karen... So buyer know that it is supported by the show breeders... In return we could display our clubs and when meetings are held, etc...

 

We should make a club, have our own ID's, info with us when doing inspection etc... We can even do fundraises to help us buy our equipment, like treatments we can use on sick birds when out and about, etc...

 

 

Thumbs up Karen... You really are a star... :yes:

Well, last night after reading this post and talking with Karen I have come up with a example of a leaflet for store use only... Just need to add some final pictures than will send it to Karen for her pointers before posting it here for all to see...

 

This was something I wanted to do and it is only a draft and something I created myself on my PC, someone out there could easily make something better...

 

Hoping to put online soon...

Good on you buddy Terrific job !!

Thanks Karen... Uploading photos now... will send to you first to double check me... LoL...

Here are those photos I promised...

 

 

 

 

Looks Awsome *BBC Inspection Team

I wasn't sure on what else to call the group... So BBC Inspection Team was the best name that came to mind...

 

Thanks Houman, I went for simple look and simple words as I did not want to confuse the staff at pet shops... LoL

I went to the BEST pet shop! It had four small aviaries for the birds and not at all over-crowded. There was breeding cabinets and medication for budgies and other birds. The budgies were selling rather cheap too. The guy seemed to know his budgies too. It was clean and had great feeding devices. Only problem is..... I live too far away from it.

Looking good... Some suggestions if I may...You refer to the different sexes as hens and males. I think it would be best to keep the names the same, so 'females and males', or 'hens and cocks', not mix them up. Maybe it's just me being picky, but it makes more sense and would be eaiser for those who are learning. Also, refering people to an email address... are we prepared for the emails we may get and who will be the one to answer them all. Possibly refer them to this forum so we can all help them... instead of one person and their email. Just my suggestions... good work though!

Edited April 4, 201015 yr by maesie

Opps, Thanks Maesie I didn't even notice and everytime I read it to myself I read 'females and males'... LoL... Hmmm maybe I should check myself in somewhere... Hee hee

Opps, Thanks Maesie I didn't even notice and everytime I read it to myself I read 'females and males'... LoL... Hmmm maybe I should check myself in somewhere... Hee hee

 

haha... no worries. When you write something yourself, you often read what you want to hear and not what you've written... I know I do it all the time

Have made the change on my hard copy on the PC to 'Males and Females'... Thanks again Maesie...

 

Just read your update reply Maesie, Well because this copy is for store use only, I thought it better for a email address instead of the website (just my thoughts, no reason why anyone using it can't change it)... Because than the store manager would have to become a member in order to ask a question and everyone has email...We can always put both too... :)And people in different areas can always change the email address to, different email for Queensland to perth...P.S. Mind you if we all used the sameone no one would have different info too...

Edited April 4, 201015 yr by LittleBudgie2005

Have made the change on my hard copy on the PC to 'Males and Females'... Thanks again Maesie...

 

Just read your update reply Maesie, Well because this copy is for store use only, I thought it better for a email address instead of the website (just my thoughts, no reason why anyone using it can't change it)... Because than the store manager would have to become a member in order to ask a question and everyone has email...We can always put both too... :)And people in different areas can always change the email address to, different email for Queensland to perth...P.S. Mind you if we all used the sameone no one would have different info too...

 

By store use only, do you mean for the staff, or to be handed out to customers??? If they will be for staff only, ignore my comments If you mean they are to be given out to customers, please read below...

 

I understand your reasoning, I just wonder who will have to answer all these questions, and if they can't answer them, what then? I suppose you could then direct them to the website for further information. I just know how busy everybody is in their daily lives with work etc...

When I say store use only I mean for staff only... I have been looking at making a brochure for staff to have on hand for the customers, which I would like to see on display at all times (that would be the aim for the customer brochure)... That will have the BBC website on it...

 

With the email I even thought that we could have a special section made on the website here where emails would be posted for members here to reply to and than once we are all happy with a answer someone who has access to the emails can reply back... Once a email has been received and read and posted on the forum whoever has access to the email can send a email back saying something like 'Thank you for your email the BBC Inspection Team is now discussing your enquiry and we will email you back as soon as we can.'

okay... yeah, makes sense. Sounds like you've put a lot of thought into it. Good stuff.

Thanks Maesie, I'm glad it makes sences to you aswell... It nice to know others understand what I'm trying to get across or suggest... But i'm more than happy to change anything as we all know this is a team effort to make this big change in Pet shops all over the world...

 

Thanks to Karen for the kick start in making this dream start to take shape... Thumbs up Kaz...

I wasn't sure on what else to call the group... So BBC Inspection Team was the best name that came to mind... :DThanks Houman, I went for simple look and simple words as I did not want to confuse the staff at pet shops... LoL

I had in mind more of a BIRD WATCH GROUP rather than inspectors as it seems more like we are watching and helping not necessarily an authority that inspects their premises and birds. psychological connotation

Also, refering people to an email address... are we prepared for the emails we may get and who will be the one to answer them all. Possibly refer them to this forum so we can all help them... instead of one person and their email. Just my suggestions... good work though!

I wouldnt have the email address but give the shops posters with tear off forum address for "further assistance" for the budgie purchaser.

I wasn't sure on what else to call the group... So BBC Inspection Team was the best name that came to mind... :DThanks Houman, I went for simple look and simple words as I did not want to confuse the staff at pet shops... LoL

I had in mind more of a BIRD WATCH GROUP rather than inspectors as it seems more like we are watching and helping not necessarily an authority that inspects their premises and birds. psychological connotation

Also, refering people to an email address... are we prepared for the emails we may get and who will be the one to answer them all. Possibly refer them to this forum so we can all help them... instead of one person and their email. Just my suggestions... good work though!

I wouldnt have the email address but give the shops posters with tear off forum address for "further assistance" for the budgie purchaser.

 

Kaz, just 'Bird Watch Group or BBC Bird Watch Group'... I too like that name better...

 

This poster I have made is just for staff only to learn the basic info when asking customer questions... For the customers purchasing budgies I was thinking a brochure with info and care on them with BBC website on it for more help... So customers would never see this leaflet only staff... Customers would have one of their own... Does that make sence...? :S

Kaz, just 'Bird Watch Group or BBC Bird Watch Group'... I too like that name better...

 

This poster I have made is just for staff only to learn the basic info when asking customer questions... For the customers purchasing budgies I was thinking a brochure with info and care on them with BBC website on it for more help... So customers would never see this leaflet only staff... Customers would have one of their own... Does that make sence...? :S

 

For sure there is a need for shop staff to be able to

1. recognise illness in birds they are being offered for sale from breeders to them..so a health check info sheet for petshops with pictures so they dont buy birds with scalyface etc.

2. recognise males and females by a chart and info we can provide for staff.

 

with input here we can refine it all and start putting it into practice....we can adjust methods info sheets etc based on results and feedback

Yep defaintly... So come on people anyone wanting to help with this change than we need your help to make it happen... Any more idea's all???

 

A leaflet for sexing, baby or adult and happy healthy check list... These are the ideas we have so far the leaflets the Pet shops will have on hand for the staff... Anymore great idea's guys...?

I also take the time, ( if I have it ) to recage the petshop birds according to sexes. If they have three or four cages, I put baby boys in one, baby girls in another, then adult males and adult females. In doing some positive things for them they also take on board the criticisms