There is a Starbucks in the same shopping center and since I had this feeling I was going to be seeing the baristas a lot I decided to chat with a few of them when I was in and they weren't busy. It turns out one of them had "a green parrot" though she didn't know what species or gender it was.
Upon finding out I was the bird specialist she asked if I "knew how to make the bird to talk." I gave her a few tips but told her that not all birds will mimic. She seemed disappointed but brightened up when I told her a lot of younger birds take a while to learn as well. She also showed me with her hands about how big it was and I guessed it might have been a Conure or a young Amazon because they're relatively popular.
Three days later one of her coworkers told me she wanted to give me the bird because it still wouldn't talk. Apparently that was the only reason she had gotten the bird in the first place. I was rather shocked but told them to tell her of the local bird farms because a)I'm renting and can only have one animal on my lease b)my dog would probably eat it and c)I'm not stupid enough to commit twenty or so years of my life to another animal when my living conditions are only semi-stable, and moving can really stress out a bird. Her coworker agreed to pass on the message.
The next night I meet up with the original parrot owner again. She hadn't gotten my message but seemed willing to check out the farms, especially upon hearing that one of them might be willing to buy the bird from her. It was then that another one of her coworkers offered to take it. Coworker #2 (hereby to be referred to in the rest of the post as B) had had cockatiels in the past and her mother bred lovebirds. It was at this point I had to leave again, but B seemed to be asking a lot of good questions.
I didn't see either of them again until B came into our grand opening.
Three days later one of her coworkers told me she wanted to give me the bird because it still wouldn't talk. Apparently that was the only reason she had gotten the bird in the first place. I was rather shocked but told them to tell her of the local bird farms because a)I'm renting and can only have one animal on my lease b)my dog would probably eat it and c)I'm not stupid enough to commit twenty or so years of my life to another animal when my living conditions are only semi-stable, and moving can really stress out a bird. Her coworker agreed to pass on the message.
The next night I meet up with the original parrot owner again. She hadn't gotten my message but seemed willing to check out the farms, especially upon hearing that one of them might be willing to buy the bird from her. It was then that another one of her coworkers offered to take it. Coworker #2 (hereby to be referred to in the rest of the post as B) had had cockatiels in the past and her mother bred lovebirds. It was at this point I had to leave again, but B seemed to be asking a lot of good questions.
I didn't see either of them again until B came into our grand opening.
It turns out that the bird is a female Indian Ringneck Parakeet (soon to be backed up by a genetic test), and her original owner had been feeding her gummy bears. Despite this her stools were apparently well formed, but her new owner was having trouble getting her to eat anything but fruit. I suggested some of the colorful veggies and helped them find a pellet/seed mixture that might work until they can slowly switch her to something their vet recommended to stop possible calcium deficiencies.
I guess my list of "Are you a moron?" questions will now have to include, "Are you feeding your bird candy as its primary diet?" Sheesh.
