Bought a great little Half Moon Conure at this store about 4 months ago. Our first bird and we got lucky--he's been wonderful. Returned to the store this weekend with our winged-man riding on a shoulder. Visited the Conures and one of them immediately took a liking to my wife. We asked to see the bird (having gone through this for our current Conure we know it is very important to meet the bird and handle it before buying). We were rudely told "that bird is not handle-able." We pointed out that we already owned a Conure (the one riding on my shoulder) and that we had purchased him at that very store. We said we were aware of the risk of being bitten but that we wanted to meet the bird. After all, how in heck is an animal supposed to have a chance at having a good home if you can't be properly introduced??. We were again reminded gruffly that the bird was not handle-able. Petco advertises on the cages that these birds are hand-fed, yet they cannot allow potential buyers to meet them up close? Anyone who knows about birds understands that especially parrots of any kind are prone to bite and those of us who actually own them are prepared to work with them when they do. I guess I just don't understand the mentality of putting a bird out on the floor for sale but then preventing actual contact with the folks who want to buy them. If a bird is prone to bite it is probably due to fear or anxiety, or a person approaching them in a manner that causes them to feel defensive. A little education by the store could go a long ways here. Maybe the better approach is to post a sign that the bird is in training and isn't ready yet to be handled, or maybe an experience person at the store could hold the bird to show it more closely to the perspective owner. But to just say it can't be handled is pretty much sentencing the animal to a life in that cage, in that store, until it's time for inventory to be rotated. These birds cost over $300 so I would think that Petco would want to sell them. I'm confused and saddened by the attitudes I saw this weekend. read more