Selling to Pet Shops

[tobyneilson]

Ok,question for any breeders,would you sell your chicks to a pet shop?
I have only ever had 2 nests hatch,and i sold those chicks on personaly to people i know will take care of them,anyway i had to nip into a pet shop today(desperatly needed some supplies).I dont usally go in,but I was looking at the Zebs they had in store,there were some bonny ones but i resisted(mainly because they wanted £15 per bird!) Anyway,the sales lady was trying to tell me she could do me a great deal on a cage and a single bird,when i told her that Zebs should be in pairs she said that they are solo birds and prefer human company!and the cage she wanted me to keep it in was no where near long enough,was more hight to it for budgies etc, but i got talking to her and told her i already had a few birds and had bred Zebs before,she asked me if i would be willing to sell any chicks to them,told her no way as I prefer that i know the buyers know how to look after them,

[CandoAviary]

As a breeder I have not sold to any pet shops yet but there are two I am 'investigating'. Most pet shops are interested in turning birds for a profit... buying as cheap and selling as many as possible.
Though there are exceptions... Some really want to offer quality birds and have knowledged of the species. Care for them very well while in there care.They also believe in educating the new buyers. So I would say it all depends on the owner/employess of the pet shop and how they care for the animals in their store.
I think you should always investigate the store,....if you don't like what you see...don't sell. If they aren't taking care of the animals they already have then they won't take care of your chicks either. I do believe we need to do the best for the animals we allow to come into the world.

The shop that approached me was at a bird fair and commented that they liked that they were banded (told the age) and that they were furnished with records so that they could pass that on to their customers........... they said they didn't want to by birds without knowing the history of what they were selling. They had the sense that this would reflect badly upon them in the long run.
A very fresh change to the normal pet shop attitudes around here.
Most will buy birds from brokers..cheap...and then when the customers buy them and they do not fair well...or die (do to bird mill prodution or from lack of correct information to the new owner... Then when the customer goes back to the store to complain the pet store wants to blame it on the breeders. So breeders need to be careful of who they deal with. Though I have not sold any birds yet because they are just getting ready to open. I will visit the facilities and then determine wether the cages/space, temps, etc are to my standards. So far no one has been able to do these little birds justice in my opinion They figure, little bird, little cage, little money...........

I find selling to friends, or at bird fairs where I can educate the buyer (and offer my email for further contact) is the best for my birds.

[tobyneilson]

The petshop did seem to look after the bords OK, but to me i have never seen a petshop keep their birds in a correct size cage,i suppose they think they only have them for a while that it does not matter
My previous nests,i gave some to a friend who fell in love with my bengallesse and wanted to start keeping them(think she has got the bird bug as she has bought more from auctions when she has come with me )the others i sold on at a auction,where all the buyers are breeders after new stok line and i have got to know the breeders over time so know they will be looked after

[Ameza]

I have sold three birds so far to a petshop. But it is a small bird and fish only shop that I bought my zebra pair from originally. It's very small but has a lot of different birds and the guy who owns it is very pro. So I know he will provide all the neccesery information and take good care of them

I guess it also makes a difference is that even our "big" petshops might be very small compared to many in other countries so there are not as many animals at the same place.

But I prefer to sell my chicks to people I know or people that contact me and I can meet them personally and tell them all they need to know.

[ac12]

I have a local bird shop that I take my excess birds to. In my case I have no choice as I do not have the extra space to keep them while looking for homes for them.

I currently have 6 zebra chicks in 3 clutches ranging from hatchling to juvs. After they molt, and I can see what they look like, I will cull out the ones that I don't want to continue breeding, and those will go to the bird shop.