Terrible Finch-care in Local Pet Stores

[Javy]

Well, I'm pretty confident that PEI is such a small part of the world that it would be very hard to find a private place that would sell me a healthy finch around here. So I turn to the local pet stores. PetSmart and PetCulture. Critters went out of business; where I got mine from.

The finches I got from Critters (at the time I wasn't aware of proper finch care, which has changed in the last month) were four to a cage fit for one. 16" x 12" roughly. Consequently, three of them were sleeping in the same nest, and just the second morning after I brought them home one had a stroke (I believe) out of pure stress (also, I believe) and passed away very suddenly. The remaining three, two had canker.

I go to PetCulture to look for partners that the two that remain after one of the two who had canker died before I could figure out what was wrong. There were a zebra, society, and two canaries in the same, horribly dirty and unkept cage fit for two. One of the canaries was sprawled out on top of the food on his belly and wings flopped over like he was gravely weak and tired. I decided not to get a bird there. It wasn't even the worst of it.

I go to PetSmart. There are SIX birds in the same cage suitable for two. And another with four. The one with four was all zebra finches, and exhibiting the same canker symptoms (particularly around the beaks) as mine used to. The one with six.... there were three small orange-cheek waxbills all with feathers completely plucked out and one that was bloody and was fighting to keep his eyes open. Just minutes after I notice this, there is a perfectly healthy star finch who plucks another tail feather right before me. The last two were green singer finches. One that stood on one foot indicative of something wrong with his other leg. The other one had a missing toenail and was puffed up and still but awake.

So I talk to the employee that day who claims to know nothing about finches and I tell him to move the star finch. Next day I come in and talk to the manager who ALSO doesn't claim to know much about finches, tries to pass off on me that finches are naturally aggressive and then defends himself by saying that he's just following corporate standards and encourages me to call them. I look online and PetSmart has over a hundred stores, leading me to believe talking to corporate would get me nowhere.

So I have no partners for my pair of boys because I can't find any birds in town that aren't sick or injured.

Is this normal for these types of pet stores? Anyone else encountered this? Comments?

[chirpy]

I don't know how they do things.. my local petsmart are actually pretty good. IF they have spare cages they always separate them. so whenever I go there it there are no spare cages with nothing inside them.
They always have food water etc.. and they don't look HORRIBLE, i would like to see them in better standards but thats cause I hosue finches and know what would be ideal. I just hope that people snatch them up quickly so they are homed in a better environment.
You could always cal up coorporate.. perhaps they will do something.

Did you see any unused cages???

[cindy]

I think it depends on management and the help within the stores. One manager which I became friends with would have me show his employees how to sex birds, the care and he asked me for links his bird section help can refer to and that he could share during an educational session he did during meeting. Never had issue with that store...the one closest to me...hmmmm that one belonging to the same chain I have had issue with.

[dfcauley]

It is common for some pet stores to not know a thing about the pets they sell. I think this is absurd! It would be like me teaching and not knowing a thing about the curriculum. I made the employees so mad at me here at the pet store. They NEVER have water when I go in there. When I tell them they say "we fill their dishes every morning." I say.... well now it is 4:00 and they have no water. What are they suppose to do until tomorrow morning??? It makes me so MAD!!!!

[chirpy]

dfcauley UGH!!! obviously its not enough, HELLO PEOPLE.
Let me take away all your drinks while you work a full day and see how YOU feel!!!!

I hate that..!

When I worked at a pet store we changed every animals water x3 a day or more when needed. its not a HARD thing to do.. Even if they were birds and they only drank two sips! it still gets slimy and icky.. thankfully my bosses loved birds... I don't like people who work at pet stores where its just a pay check and have no knowledge. IF you have no knowledge atleast have the passion.. and attempt to learn... I would LOVE a job at a pet store again but they won't hire me, instead they hire some person who is lazy doesn't know jack about animals..

sorry for the rant but UGH, I know everyone on this forum feels that things like this should not be tolerated.... its a pleasure to be able to work with animals..... they just don't understand.

[Angela&Shalamar]

I get my birds from Petsmart and they have been fine. The cages in the stores for all the animals always seem clean and well maintained. one of the people that was helping when I got some of my zebras and my first society even questioned me if I knew about birds etc...told me a story of someone that was talking about releasing them and said "we decided not to sell to them" WOW. We had an acutally nice chat about bird rehab ( I used to volunteer with a wildlife rehabber) as well as the dangers of invasive species. It really is a matter of where you are and the level of care the management and staff give. Not all petsmarts are good I'm sure, but not all are bad either.

[Javy]

Chirpy, forgot to mention that the star finch that I had asked to be moved was moved into an empty cage that was right next to the cage with six and the cage with four.

I'm still considering my next move because I do still want these two to have mates or at least another pair of friends. I guess I just have to wait and see if I can come across any healthy finches in these stores.