I had to run to a big box Superstore to get some pellets. Don’t like doing it much but the place isn’t far and I was damned near out. I also picked up a few reasonably priced toys. I took my purchases up to the counter and fished my wallet out of my bag. As the sales associate was ringing up my items, she asked, “How many birds do you have?”
I told her I have three African Greys.
She replied, “Those are nice toys for them. Too bad they waste them.”
“Waste them? What do you mean waste them?”
“Well, they chew them all up and ruin them.”
Kathy Mancuso’s Overalls.
I was absolutely flabbergasted. Here is a woman working at a pet store and she doesn’t know that bird toys are supposed to get chewed on? They are supposed to be torn to bits? That’s the entire point of the toys!
Kris Porter’s toys at “Parrot Enrichment” Read here!: Parrot Enrichment
I simply said, “Well, that’s what they are for. That’s what they are supposed to do with them. Do you sell rawhide chews for dogs?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, do dogs chew on those?”
“Yeah.”
“Same thing. The toys for the birds give them that chewing and gnawing instinct a workout. They spend their life in the wild doing just that. This is what the toys are for.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that.”
“Well, now you do. They aren’t wasting them. They are doing to that toy precisely what they were designed for. Have a good day.” And I simply smiled.
“You too. And thanks.”
And that was my frustrating moment for the day.
Patricia Sund
Parrot Nation 
March 22, 2013 at 9:41 am
Should have mentioned what a macaw can do to a 30 dollar toy in 24 hours. LOL
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March 22, 2013 at 9:44 am
I would have been in shock to hear such a comment. My grey can shred a senior ole kabob within 8 hours.
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March 22, 2013 at 9:50 am
Is there anyway you can email me the Company, I’m in NZ (asked you about the Grain Bake the other day, I made it and all the birds here loved it!!) I need to get some decent toys, and these look brilliant….
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March 22, 2013 at 9:57 am
Puzzler toys are by Kris Porter She has GREAT stuff! Here is the link: http://www.parrotenrichment.com/products/toystore.html
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March 22, 2013 at 9:53 am
DOH!!!
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March 22, 2013 at 9:56 am
I feel the same about the big stores. I pretty much order online. I love the toys from Things for Wings. Very pricey, high shipping (from Canada) but what wonderful things. I plan to order something from the Carrot Patch for Easter 🙂 Can’t afford a lot, but a treat every now and then. We also have a Bull Run pet and feed store here and they carry a HUGE supply of birdie toys. Fun to shop. http://www.thingsforwings.ca/The-Carrot-Patch_c_119.html
ps….I have a friend who lost a Great Dane to rawhide. Seems bits of it can lodge in the intestine, rot and become infected. I stopped with the rawhide then.
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March 22, 2013 at 10:15 am
When I was working at a pet store years ago to earn my B & G (and learn about birds), we had an “emergency” call from a lady who wanted to bring in her cockatiel immediately. We said “sure,” since she sounded desperate (although we did suggest a vet first). When she brought the bird in, he looked normal and happy. We asked what was wrong and she said, “I can’t get him to stop chewing up the branches and balsa wood toys I put in the cage for him.” I am proud to say I did refrain from smacking her which was my first thought. Buy a book and talk to some owners, people… before you get a pet! And, by the way, use some common sense…
🙂
On Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 7:39 AM, Parrot Nati
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March 22, 2013 at 10:17 am
LOL, we were visiting my Mom & had the birds with us. My Mom asked if they birds liked the bird toys she had sent them & I told her yes, they chewed them to bits. Mom looked so shocked & said well if she knew they were gonna do that then she wouldn’t have wasted the money.
SOooOooo! After a good solid hour of explaning bird mechanics to Mom, I’m pretty sure she still doesn’t “get it” but we’ve all agreed to not let the parrots have any bird toys Mom gives them until “they are old enough to not tear them up”. Snort snort snicker.
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March 22, 2013 at 10:20 am
That is hilarious!
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March 22, 2013 at 10:50 am
My too loves to chew buttons off shirts lol….was thinking of making a shirt just covered in buttons for her….can u post the link to Kathy Mancuso’s Overalls.
They look awesome! Thanks
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March 22, 2013 at 11:28 am
I just called her. She’ll be jumping on my Facebook page for the link for you in a minute!
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March 22, 2013 at 11:39 am
I hear that all the time owning a store! People say they dont buy toys since the birds destroy them. I tell them that is what they would be doing in the wild… I ask them how they would enjoy being locked in a room with NOTHING to do. Then they get it.
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March 22, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Those overalls are awesome!
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March 23, 2013 at 11:16 am
I have to say, your last photo summed it up so well, haha! What, parrots chew?! Kind of reminds me of the first questions always asked by non-bird people meeting my flock: ‘Does it bite?’… Shortly followed by, ‘Does it talk?’
Sigh.
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June 29, 2013 at 12:52 pm
It is would be funny if it was not just so sad. I saw a review for Kings Cages, and the lady mentioned that she also like the toys for her Macaws, as “they lasted a really long time.”
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September 15, 2016 at 6:04 pm
The ignorance of clerks in these type of stores never ceases to amaze me too. I am asked the same question but along the lines of the fact that my birds must “waste” a lot of food. How does one explain that they are not wasting it, they are highly sensitive and extremely picky? I gave up years ago and now I just smile and walk away.
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