Cape Parrot Dynamics, would this scare you off?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

So, I've been trying to close the loop with the shop owner for two days with variable success. As far as I can tell, she's not brushing me off, she's just scattered and running from here to there -- and in no real hurry to sell the bird. She sounded sincere when she said she call me back yesterday, but it didn't happen. My husband described the shop setup fairly accurately, it's basically a breeder with a storefront (and a small rescue operation). The birds stay behind the counter except for one out on a playstand on the counter at a time, until you are passed as fit to interact with them, and hand sanitizing is strictly enforced -- all of which was a good thing, I thought. But they clearly also don't sell birds to just anybody and are a bit controlling in that respect.

We had some questions about the bird and about the shop logistics we wanted to sort out before making a commitment. When I called back for the second time today, the person answering the phone said the owner wouldn't be in today at all, after all (first call, she'd be in at 2:30). But the phone answerer said she had known the bird a long time and was the main person that handled him, so I tried my questions out on her.

I found out the following interesting tidbits from that conversation:
* The bird is 3 years old, not a year and a half. He was, in fact, bred by EB Cravens and he has been at the store since he was 3 months old. She couldn't recall if he was fully weaned at that time. (I've done a little research on EB and he seems opinionated but not out to lunch.)

* Aside from the shop owners and this woman, who seems to be really attached to him, a lot of the folks who have been around him during that time are afraid of him. She said the beak scares them. Not a lot of people have handled him. He apparently will bully people who are scared of him or who push themselves on him too hard, but she says he gives warnings... he always lets you know. And that he responds to confident people.

* He bullies the person who comes in and feeds and cleans cages in the morning. But he will step right up and come out for the person I spoke to. We handled him on and off his playstand, but not in and out of his cage. He went back and forth between us very obediently. Bill actually pushed his limits pretty far in the store and did get a bit of a nip, but he was deliberately being a little pushy to see what would happen. She says he has never bitten her. He let me hold him easily, but wasn't keen on being petted, although I did get a head scratch in. He used his beak to discourage me once, but did it quite gently (just pushed my hand away). I didn't feel intimidated by him, but I did feel I wanted to respect his boundaries and work WITH him.

* The vet they use wanted to buy him, but the owner wouldn't sell to him because he had another Cape and it flew off. The vet doesn't clip.

Is this sort of what you get talking to bird people, or should we think this is a problem bird? His being older than advertised doesn't bother me, but if it was a deliberated deception THAT bothers me. I suspect it probably wasn't. In some ways it is better, as he must be sexually mature at 3, right? So there shouldn't be drastic changes. I can't tell if she is describing a normal bird being handled by bozos, or if we are considering the only nippy Cape parrot on the planet.

My husband is already attached to him, so I suspect he is coming with us despite any weirdness. I just want to know if this stuff would put you off or if it is par for the course.

What's the going market rate for a healthy 3-year old Cape?

[Azure Hanyo]

This wouldn't scare me off...but then I have a caique.

He sounds like a sweetie who just needs more attention. And I think Capes go for around $800, but don't quote me on that...

[pchela]

My breeder is selling a 2 year old Cape for $1299 I think.

All of this sounds normal for an older bird. He will probably try to bully you at first and see what he can get away with but if you're patient you will have a great pet. Most parrots will not go to everybody. Some will but I'd say they are the minority. Most also respond better to people who are confident. Unless he's taking off peoples fingers and screaming at the top of his lungs non stop, I'd say he just needs a steady home and some firm, loving guidance.

[Azure Hanyo]

Pchela spoke far more eloquently than I. I agree with her! And $1300???!!! YIKES!

[Rue]

It wouldn't bother me. Birds take time. If it's not out to kill you when it doesn't know you, it likely won't later on either...(although I've heard of exceptions).

Not sure if the price is reasonable or not. I'm guessing it's on the higher end of 'normal'?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I'm more worried about the store than the bird, I think. Do they sound abnormally flaky? My husband is just frustrated 'cause he wants him HOME! LOL.

[Rue]

Well...that's a little different and I'm not sure what to say.

I like to think I'm a good pet owner, and I'm not inclined to jump through hoops to get a pet when I can get one without going through a protracted process. But I do admire sellers at least making an effort to find good homes.

I suppose it comes down to the question of how much do you want this particular animal and are you willing to do the jumping it takes to get him?

[pchela]

Hmmm... I don't know. I think I'd be more wary of a store that was giving me a hard sell and rushing me than one who is a bit reluctant to let go of a parrot and is particular about who the parrot goes to. If they refused a vet they must be very particular which can be good for the birds.

BTW- I believe Capes reach sexual maturity between 3-5 years of age so he may or may not be sexually mature.

[Michael]

The fact that that specific parrot has spent 3 years at that store starting at 3 months is extremely suspicious to me. Surely in 3 years it could have found a buyer?? Something is kind of fishy here. A store exists to make money. Hobby breeders can do whatever they want with their birds cause they don't have much overhead but to run a store requires constant revenue. So for them to be holding onto the bird for so long is very very strange. I know you bought scooter under similar circumstances but I think the reason is different. Petco (or whatever the big chain you got him at was) keeps few birds in stock to justify selling bird supplies so they keep em till they sell them and have a slow turn over on that. However, a specialized bird store getting a fairly rare parrot but then holding it for so darn long would be losing big money feeding and cleaning after this bird, not to mention taking up living space.

As a potential buyer, I would want to know (no bullshit) why that bird hasn't been sold in so long. Is it because it has a health problem? Needy diet? Too aggressive? Or is it because the store employees love it so much and keep it as an in store pet that they don't really want to sell it and will just lead you on? I asked the owner at the bird store I frequent what they do when they can't sell a bird young (cause hey people are much less likely to buy them as they get older) and was told that they send them back to breeders to raise as breeding stock. As much as that is not a great thing to do (for many many reasons but especially cause it makes the breeding stock worse), at least it was an honest answer. They won't keep a bird much more than a year cause they lose money and cage space where they could be holding sellable birds.

So if I were in your position, I would probably hold off buying until getting some really direct answers. And you'd better get a really incredible price because hey afterall it's not a baby anymore. Baby capes go for $1800-$2400, $1200 is pretty typical for a young "used" Cape. In this case you really wouldn't be getting a good deal (strictly price wise) paying anything more than $900. Only at $600 or less would it be much of a bargain. But don't forget that whether you spend $600 or $1200 on that bird, you'll probably drop another $1,000-$2,000 in cage and supplies anyway.

Since the bird has been in the store for THAT long, you'd have to be quite careful about bad habits they might have taught it. The benefit of buying a young parrot is that you can set all the habits or it is easy to unset habits that it has only had briefly. With the bird at this age, it will require much more work on your end. Personally, I don't like the deal, disagree with the breeder, think it's fishy that the bird has been there so long, and doubt you'll get a low enough price to justify all of that. However, it is really up to you and to see what kind of connection you get with the bird. It sounds like they don't really want you (or anyone) to buy it so I wouldn't be surprised if the price were ridiculous. Please be careful and don't let them scam you. Don't buy on impulse. If the bird has been there this long, time is definitely on your side.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I appreciate everyone's input. Ultimately this one is my husband's choice and he seems smitten. Also somewhat impatient. I think my husband has it right--they are a breeder with a storefront. They sure talk the talk of caring about the birds. We will see how it plays out.

She said they had initially wanted $1500 but would deal to the rght home. I don't sense their prices are out of line. He may be more challenge than some people want and practically every bird we saw in there was a bit unusual except the Greys. At any rate... Well, I certainly appreciate the moralsupport!