The Petco I used to work for got in a GOLDEN MANTLE ROSELLA PARAKEET

They are selling it for $299.00. It's a beautiful bird




The Rosellas are a more difficult parakeet to train and will need a lot of patience, as well as a loving but consistently firm handling and close interaction. These birds are not really considered a beginner's bird.


Now in the Petco I worked at, the majority of customers have trouble keeping Parakeets alive. This is a very advanced bird, and I have been told that this particular one is very aggressive. It just sits in it's cage, doesn't play with toys, or interact at all. Has to be handled with a glove. Why this bird was ordered in is beyond me. They will have trouble selling it, and if they do sell it, I can bet it will to the wrong family. Someone will buy it because "it's pretty" They aren't great talkers, and take alot of care and patience. In fact I was just told today that they had to clip it's wings, because everytime they take it out to show someone, it fly's into the windows.

I think everyone should write to whoever they can, to do something about this particular Petco. It's in Lakewood Colorado. They either need to stop selling animals, or shut down completely.

Again, I am so glad I got Pita out of there and that Bee & Hunter got Bella out. It breaks my heart.

OK, I just called and they are going to have the district manager call me. I have to say something, or it won't get changed. The animals can't change it.

I don't know why I'm nervous.....I don't work there anymore, and I don't think they can do anything to me. I'm just telling the truth.

to be continued......

I chewed Petco out for the same thing here in Glendale, CA. I spoke with the person in charge of purchasing birds and she told me that they have standing orders with certain breeders for particular types of birds, i.e. budgies, cockatiels, "exotic" or "larger" parakeets, etc. and the breeder fills the order from stock on hand. It seems that Petco doesn't practice much control over the birds that actually arrive in the individual store.

In my store in Glendale, the folks who handle the birds actually know something about them and all the birds have toys, fresh water and assorted foods. However, that doesn't alleviate the wrong that results from selling rosellas, ringnecks, lorikeets or any other more "advanced" bird in their stores. The buyer did not seem particularly concerned about this. So, I no longer buy from Petco. I buy everything via mail order, and get much better merchandise at a cheaper price even after shipping. I stop in to check up on the birds and see what they are carrying.

Let us know if you actually get a response. I can't imagine what is going to happen to that poor rosella.

It just agravates the poop out of me. I think because I worked there, and know what goes on behind the scenes, it makes it worse. Before this manager we had an assistant manager, Amanda, and damn if every animal in that place wasn't taken care of properly. After she left, it went down hill fast.

When I was in there a couple weeks ago, I saw this Rosella...it is stunning. But it just sits in the back of the cage. For the life of me I don't why they ordered it.

I will absolutly let you know if I hear back, but I have a feeling I won't.

I'm always mad at petco....good for you for doing something about it!!!!!!!!

I won't mention what the wife said to the manager here at Petco.
There maybe kids listening in....

One of our local petco's had a Rosella also - but they were selling it for $499.! I didn't see the bird in person. One of my daughter's friends took a picture of it with her cell phone and emailed it to me, telling me about it. When we went a couple of weeks later - it had already been sold.

i have seen the rosella the last time i was there and i was meaning to tell you since we talked about it a couple of weeks ago... the bird's gorgeous...

i force myself to stay away because every time i walk into a petco and end up in the bird room my heart aches when i leave...

gayla, keep us posted

Even in their native Australia, they are considered more as aviary birds than pets. Lots of people keep backyard aviaries with colonies of various species like Rosellas. Believe me, I would have one if they were suitable as pets. They are beautiful, cheap here and available at any bird fair. What is sad that this one is being sold at a pet store where people expect to buy hand tamed pets and they won't be able to handle this beautiful bird. He needs to be with experienced bird people.

Hopefully the carry flight-type cages that will be a requirement if anyone wants to buy this bird. You are right - someone will buy it merely for the color. And I am sure the employees at Petco are not permitted to purposely "blow" the sale if the perspective buyers are not worthy (otherwise, they may lose their jobs).