new bird is sick to return or not?

[Char]

I took the new BFA to the vet yesterday. She seemed fine but I wanted a check up to be sure she was healthy for her sake and for the warranty.

 

It turns out she has a yeast infection and a bacterial infection. They put her on 2 different medications. I would not reject her based on these treatable conditions except they lied to me about her handling. She is not as tame as they led me to believe. She bites and strikes out at my hands as soon as she sees them. I was willing to work on this and hoped to bring her around until I learned of the health problems.

These infections indicate to me she has not been cared for properly in the 8 short months of her life.

 

I am worried that there may be other health problems that would take another $500 to test for.

 

The reason I was willing to drive 6 hrs one way to a pet store is because after talking to the owner she convinced me that this little female was the sweetest thing alive. I wanted a female and I wanted an amazon that had been handled and was sweet and tame.

 

I arrived at the store before the owner got there and the employee told me the bird had not been handled in months. I almost walked out and forfeited my deposit when the bird appeared so unfriendly but it was beginning to snow heavily and she kept saying she would be ok once I got her home.

 

I called the store and they will either refund my money or pay the $200 vet bill.

 

I am really torn. Would it make me a bad person to return the bird? Am I selfish to want to start off with a healthy and tame bird.

 

If I return her I can wait until Spring when the local pet store where I got my grey will have some new birds in and I can get a bird that has been vet checked, tested and immunized and already weaned on Harrison's just as my grey was. Of course they are more expensive but it is really starting to look worth the extra money now.<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/01 23:27

[Dave007]

I would like to be honest with you if you don't mind. The bird sounds like what is called a *third party* bird which means that the store owner orders a bird from his supplier( broker) who in turn goes to a wholeseller, buys the bird at a certain price and then sells the bird to the owner for a slightly higher price who in turn finally sells the bird to the potential customer. The wholeseller usually is the breeder and the stock is low quality. It can be compared to *puppy mill* but in this case, it's a *bird mill* which are located all over the place.

The bird you're talking about more than likely came from stock that were also afflicted with similar problems.

I know you care for this bird but this is a situation in which you need to put that aside and get your full refund, not just money for a vet exam. The vet can give the okay right now but neither he/she or you can tell what problems will occur in the future from a bird is is from bad stock.

Also, there's been a bit of deceit here as far as what you've been told. That should be the first clue. I can see that you want a BFA but you should understand that as far as ZONs go, that's a pretty easy bird to get as opposed to other ZONs. That goes for female ZONs. Easy to get, small bird who is active, playful with family and many other times is a good bird to mix with other birds

You're probably right about how the health problems go as far as past treatment.

First and foremost, you need to start off on the right foot if you're gonna put a grey and ZON together. A ZON can be aggressive when their health isn't up to par. I can't tell you what relationship they'll both have but both birds should be healthy.

Put your feelings aside. You'll get over it. A third party bird isn't a good idea. Many birds that are sold in certain pet shops come under that catagory. All of this is especially true if you're a relatively new parrot owner. Training, socialization, family routines should be the things you need to focus on when you bring a new bird home. The major thing shouldn't be having to deal with a SICK bird first. As I say, it's my opinion but if it was me, the refund would already in my pocket and I would be exploring other areas to get a ZON. Yellow naped, white crowned, mexican reds all have the same easy going personality. Even others have good perssonalities. Stay away from DYHs. Sorry for the pessimisiom. My feeling is * better safe than sorry*

[Char]

Thanks Dave. You echo my thoughts but I was feeling guilty about returning the bird to what will be less than desirable life. I have a big heart but I did not pay for a rescue and I did not pay a rescue price.

 

I just needed some affirmation from a knowledgeable source.

 

As far as my feeling go I have not really been able to bond with the bird since she bites me every time I touch her. What I am really feeling is guilt and feeling stupid for making this mistake.

 

I will have to wait until next weekend to make the 12 hr round trip journey back there and in the meantime I will give her the meds which by the way has not been easy with a bird that wants my hands for lunch.

[Dave007]

I don't feel that you should have guilt and feel stupid. You did the good hearted thing and no one can blame you for anything that's happened. Just realize that you're not the first person who this has happened to nor will you be the last and in the end you should feel clear headed and alert and focused on what's ahead--a new healthy, spunky, active, lively aggravating litle pain in the ass bird that wants to play and cause grief with everything and everybody. That's enough on your plate. Good luck. ZONS are popular and located in many places including private breeders. You should have no problems nor do you want any unknown or unseen problems. Good luck.

[BMustee]

I would echo Dave on this one. I'm sure you paid "sweet baby price" for the bird and you got a rescue. I would feel the same way as you about not wanting to take it back due to the obvious mishandling of the bird but like you said, you haven't bonded with it and know one could tell you for sure if she's going to have any health issues in the future.

[Char]

I called the pet store today and told them I had decided to return the bird. They will refund my money but not the vet bill. $193 with meds. They said that that is retail prices and they will not pay that. The creeps!

I can not return her until Saturday so of course in the mean time I am treating her.

 

I wish so bad that I could get off work tomorrow and take the bird back so they would have to spend the money themselves to treat her. It just makes me so mad.:evil:

 

Stay away from Bird Farm in Youngstown Ohio and

Florida.

 

Now for the good news. I found a breeder in a neighboring town that should have Yellow Napes in the Spring. They vet check, test and vaccinate their birds.

 

Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/02 18:51

 

Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/02 18:52

 

Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/02 19:07<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/02 19:56

[Char]

Well after I got over being mad I realized that I can at least feel good about getting the bird the treatment it needed and that makes me feel better about the vet bill.

 

Who knows if it would have gotten what it needed before it was too late.

[judygram]

Well I am glad to hear they will refund your money but I guess you will have to eat the vet bill but then that does not surprise me.

 

It is good you can look at it this way, at least you know the bird got the meds it needed, who knows you may have saved it's life.

[Tycos_mom]

Its good that you have found a reliable breeder to get another bird from. I am also happy to hear that the store that you got the bird from is going to return your money. Ithink what you did for the bird as far as treating it for its infections is very comendable and says allot for your love of birds. I can't help but wonder where this poor bird is going to end up is it going to end up being passed from owner to owner and end up either locked in a cage for the rest of its life or in a rescue. I hope for its sake it finds a loving home with someone that is willing to work with it and give it unconditional love.

[Char]

I also hope the bird ends up in a good home. As for losing the vet fees..I believe in Karma. What goes around comes around. The last person who cheated me out of money was soon after that diagnosed with a brain tumor.

[LisaM]

I feel bad for you Char as I'm sure no matter what we all say you're still feeling a bit guilty. Please try not to. Our feathered friends live a long time. It's best to start out with one who is at least healthy to start out with and you never know what would come in the future due to his previous care.

 

As for the vet bill, maybe if you explained the situation your vet would give you a bit of a discount or at least a small credit towards your next appointment there (or discount on food, etc.). Maybe not but the worst thing to happen would be they would say no. Never hurts to ask.

 

Good luck to you and I'm glad you found someone from whom you can get a healthy baby in the spring.

 

Lisa

[Char]

Thanks everyone for your support. When I take her back she will still have 7 days left on the medicine. I am going to take it with me and give to them and say "Here are the meds I bought. Please make sure the baby gets them".

 

They are so deceitful. When I talked to the husband he said the bird must have got it from the formula and they did not hand feed THIS bird the breeder did. he knows the bird didn't get it there.

 

Funny thing is his wife told me she hand fed the baby for 5 months and she took a long time to wean. I kind of doubted that when I called them for the hatch date for the vet and they couldn't tell me.

 

I hope my story is a lesson to others looking to buy a parrot. Also how important it is to take the bird for a checkup immediately to CERTIFIED AVIAN vet. That was the first thing she asked me when I told her the bird was sick. She wanted to know if the vet was certified avian. I was happy to tell her I drove 1 1/2 hrs to take her to the most respected avian vet in the state. If you look at the fine print on most warranties it says Certified Avian vet.<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/03 03:54

[Tycos_mom]

Sounds to me like they could careles about the animals they sell they are only in it for the money. They probubly get their birds from a bird mill your lucky that bird only had a bacterial infection and a yeast infection it could have been much worse and mabie even could have infected your Grey. Thank goodness you took the bird back who knows what kind of health problems it may have as it gets older. Coming from a situation that doesn't have the birds best intrest at heart. Hopefully nobody will buy their birds and they will evenually have to close the store permanently. We can only hope.