African Silverbill in Cape Coral

[MiaCarter]

I was picking up a few items at Petsmart in Cape Coral today and they have a single African Silverbill.

I watched her for a while and I think it's a female, but I can't be positive. She didn't have the male body language -- no singing or anything like that. But it could just be due to the fact that she was alone.

She was very, very active. I watched her for about half an hour and she looked very healthy and vibrant, despite being in a pet shop environment.

I asked about her and they said she'd been there for about 4 months -- quite a long time. I'd asked if they'd had any eggs, but the girl wasn't sure (in an attempt to determine gender.)

She was unusually friendly. She was repeatedly landing on the girl's arm as she reached in to tend to the food bowl and hay ball.
They said she's extremely amiable. The girl said that whenever there's a bullying victim in the other finch cages, they'll put them in with her.

She was $49. So definitely a retail price. (To be honest, that's why I think she's been there for so long. She's a bit pricey and not very showy.)

I don't buy animals from pet shops, but I know many people do and I know this species is rather hard to find at times.

She was definitely very sweet. If I had room for her, I'd seriously consider making an exception to my no-pet-shop-birds rule. But alas, I don't have any other silverbills and she'd make for an odd number.

But she's there if anyone is seeking a silverbill.
She's at the Petsmart located at 1819 NE Pine Island Rd in Cape Coral.

[Sally]

I don't think we should automatically condemn pet shop birds. But you can get a bird from a breeder at a cheaper price and with a little history. My very first Strawberry finch came from Petsmart, and look where that got me now!

[MiaCarter]

Sally -- Oh absolutely agreed.
There are some ethical pet shops out there. They're few and far between, but I know they do exist.
And you can certainly get a wonderful bird from a pet shop - absolutely. I wouldn't have mentioned this particular bird if I thought she was unwell or a poor specimen. She was quite lovely.

I will say I worked at Petsm@rt when I was a teen and I saw some very disturbing practices and policies. (Of course, it's possible some of these practices/policies have changed, as it was over 15 years ago. I'd be quite curious to hear if that's the case.)
It was disturbing enough to make me quit my job and team up with the MSPCA law enforcement division as part of their citizen action team that monitors pet shops. (Which led me to see some truly horrific things. Egregious abuses. Rotting birds in the food bowl. Algae-filled water. Small cages with 40+ birds. Cages with both hookbills and finches/canaries, many of which were injured, mutilated and dying as a result.)

I wrote a little about what I witnessed here:
http://wp.me/p4JWrl-7D

There's a lot more I haven't written about, but I will someday. Some of the things I witnessed were/are extremely upsetting, so I've been putting it off as I try not to think about it.

But indeed, that's why i don't personally purchase animals from pet shops.
But I don't condemn others who do opt to purchase their pets there because I think they're all deserving of loving homes.

[MiaCarter]

Gone!
Turns out it she was my bird.

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=29909