I've bought a number of birds from Claudia and they've all been healthy and well cared for. Going into Your Basic Bird is a real treat because there always seems to be some adorable entertaining conures and sweet kittens and cats up for adoption. The staff is very knowledgable and they really care where their birds and other small animals end up. My only issue is that I purchased a canary that I was told was a male but the cute little thing is laying eggs like crazy! I could have called Claudia and returned the bird for a male (she offers that guarantee) but by that time I was too attached to let her go... read more

What a wonderful place. I've been going there for 20 plus years. A very knowledgeable staff who really are helpful. It is very nice that they team up with pet adoption agencies to find homes for other animals too. read more

I've visited Your Basic Bird several times in the past few years, and I have to say that I enjoy the atmosphere greatly. Some of the other reviewers have said that it's dirty and that the birds aren't taken care of, but the birds I've seen are usually alert and happy. They've also had a variety of cats, guinea pigs, and even rabbits! I've had the same experience with the man that several people described as cold and somewhat rude. However, I've also spoken with Claudia, who is friendly and knowledgeable about her birds. They have a catalog of birds that they don't usually carry in-store, but they can be special ordered and picked up at a later date. Claudia was helpful during this process, and made sure I knew how to care for my birds without being condescending. I really enjoy my visits here. read more

The entire staff at Your Basic Bird is very devoted to both birds and customers alike. They was incredibly patient with my boyfriend and I, answering our swarm of questions. We spent several hours in the store and gained a tremendous understanding of parakeets and how to care for them. In addition to the wonderful staff, the selection of birds, bird treats, and literature was diverse. And for fish enthusiasts, the store appears to be well stocked with fish as well. Our experience at Basic Bird far surpassed our experiences at other bird stores. read more

5 stars, I've dubbed it the 'Berkley Bird Spa.' Claudia takes my bird under her wing and makes her part of the flock when I'm out of town. Its cool to see my bird so happy and well adjusted. Chad read more

What a wonderful and fuzzy place! It has a HUGE selection of birds and fish, as well as a lot of pet supplies (food, hay, pellets). They even have rabbits, and in fact that's the place I got my rabbits Oreo and Cookie from. The owner Claudia is very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

I come by to buy bird seeds for my bird feeder, which I only have so my cats have something to watch when I'm not at home. Folks here are super nice! read more

This is one of the few pet shops in the Berkeley area. I can't buy any pets since I am in college and would be a horrible pet owner (I am never home), I love to check out this place to see all the animals! It's a great way to get some pet therapy, especially because of the adorable cats and birds that talk. The staff is always super friendly and informative! I wish I could get a pet here, but it's just not the right time! The baby cockatiels are so funny when they make that "I'm hungry" shrieking sound. Stop by! read more

While I do not think this store is the ideal place to have cats up for adoption, the high foot traffic and high adoption rate would indicate otherwise. The cats they keep there never seem freaked out by the noise from the birds (and it is QUITE loud) and all have been just perfect bundles of sweetness. My friend adopted two kittens from here this weekend. We visited an awesome adult cat, who had been there for no more than a week, and by the end of the day she was adopted too! This would be a solid five star review if they did not sell birds from breeders. Goodness knows that there are PLENTY of birds available for adoption from the city shelters. read more

I have 3 birds, every thing my buddies need I can find in this store, variety toys, food, cage. They have a good brand foods for your pet. I definitely recommend this place for your buddy. read more

I got my ratties from this store. They were tailless rats. Oh how I loved these little creatures. A lot of people are put off by the whole rodent thing, but believe me, they are the sweetest little munchkins ever. They are intelligent and funny. Ok, I got off track here. This is a pretty nice store with lots of supplies for birds and other creatures. They also have critters for sale, thus, my little rambling above. read more

LOVE it here. Minus a star for not having things I can pet. I like to pet things. But they have lots of birds to look at...it's like taking a little zoo-break in the middle of Elmwood. read more

We have a pet rat purchased at Your Basic Bird. We are very happy with our rat. She's a healthy and pretty hooded rat; doing very well at 1 year old. Our friends have had less good luck with other pet stores, especially big chain pet stores, because the rats get sick and die after a few months. We return to YBB for rat food and supplies. If you go in the late afternoon at bird feeding time all the birds are calling at the same time and it sounds crazy in there. Kinda fun! The rats, however, remain quiet, as always! read more

This is one of my most favorite places to go on my day off. Everyone is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about each bird. I bought my new friend, Louie, and Angeline knew all of his favorite treats and toys. While we waited she gave me a huge refresher on what I should do with Louie in regards of his first few days. I love that Claudia has always recognized me from the first time I ever walked in. She treats you like an old friend and she's so sweet even when she's extremely busy, she takes the time to acknowledge you. I love that they know the specifics for each feathered friend. I recommended this place to a few friends and I can't wait to come back. Also she has great pricing on her own mixes and she can tell you what's in each barrel and what she recommends for each feathered friend in your household. Alphonso and Michael are also extremely helpful and knowledgeable as well. Thank you Claudia and Angeline for all your help with Louie's transition, you two are awesome. read more

We recently found out that one of our kids had developed an allergy to our cat. Claudia, the owner of "Your Basic Bird," allowed us to post a note in her store window. After just a few days, we found a new owner. Thank you, Claudia! Your Basic Bird has a nice selection of birds, bunnies and pet supplies. The store has been a staple in the Elmwood neighborhood for years. Keep up the great work! read more

I used to be more into birds in college. I have owned and raised from hand several Cockatiels. Alas, they did not jive with my adult life but I can revisit my past by entering Your Basic Bird. My husband likes to look at the kitties when they are there for adoption. Great pet store! read more

What a great place! I don't have a bird, but I love to go in and see the parrots that are for sale, or just at Your Basic Bird for a temporary stay. It's a bit like a crazy jungle in there, in all the good ways. YBB really has my heart for all of the Hopalong Animal Rescue cats that they sponsor - our darling foster kitten will soon be up for adoption there! Edit: I was walking by there today, and couldn't help but notice that a lot of people BRING their birds there - and I can't think of one possible reason to take your bird on an outing, especially to a bird store...? Any ideas? Edit #2 (months later): Nail clippings! People bring their birds in to get their nails cut! I should have been able to guess that... read more

The people who worked there are really nice and knowledgeable! The animals seem happy and healthy. They have a huge selection of birds and bird related things. They have other animals too, like rabbits and fish. I got two goldfish there, and they are really healthy and active. I am really happy with this place and my fish! The only negative thing was they don't greet you when you walk in so you have to approach them to get help. But there are lots of people working there and are happy to help once you get them away from all the cute animals. read more

This store was very well kept and full of happy and obviously very healthy birds. I ran into the store by chance when passing by, and was delighted to see it actually had pet birds for sale, and some possibly were store resident birds. The store was well stocked and full of lots of happy customers when I visited. I don't live in Berkeley, but I plan on stopping by again just to visit this gem of a pet store. :) read more

I just adopted a bunny from Your Basic Bird today and we love him so much! His previous owners couldn't keep him but they socialized him beautifully. This is my second rehomed bunny I've gotten from Claudia and they are amazing. There's just something special about them. Thank you Claudia! read more

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Your Basic Bird has all the toys that my friends love. This is one of two places (that I'm aware) that carry as much bird food and toys in Northern Ca. People are helpful and they place is always busy. read more

welcome to the jungle, when you step into this place. DO be prepared for some bird sounds-- BIG birds. i was happy to have this place so close when i got my canary home & brought my husband along to pick up some canary supplies. for my husband-- this was hell. the large birds are making their natural, requisite racket which can be completely overwhelming for people not used to it, like my husband. Claudia, who owns the store, is extremely busy all the time answering questions, feeding birds, all while asking more about your bird & getting to know you. i recently went in for ONE THING for my canary-- & came home with an Australian Grass Parakeet. before my purchase, she asked me a few questions like, have you owned birds of this variety before? do you have a cage prepared? what are you wanting this bird for? i appreciated the battery of questions, knowing she wasn't just selling to sell. she cares where her birds go & welcomes you back for any concerns or issues with the bird. i'm very happy with my lovely bird from her; she's very healthy & well-adjusted. the staff is helpful to find just what you need or order what they don't have. so if you can handle the bird noise, def. this is a place to shop for pet goodies (they have the good pet food brands like Merrick, etc. for furry pets as well as birdies.) oh! & bunny owners? every toy, treat & supply you need for your bun is here too. i wish i had known that when i had my bun. read more

Good for all your bird supplies but she sold me a gouldian purple finch that had head mites I questioned her on the condition she said it was young and would clear up. Well it got worse. Couple of other birds in her store or questionable especially the one with no feathers she said it was a hormone condition I don't think it is. Not sure if I would go back or trust her on any other conditions of her animals. read more

Kind of a horror show. Birds are crammed, traumatized and mutilated. Walked in with the intention of buying 6 months worth of supplies. We left knowing only that we had to tell others of what we saw. Booooooooo! read more

This store made me sad and ruined my Sunday . Walked in and took a look around because I love birds and am thinking about getting a conure or electus in the near future . The cages were very small and over cluttered with birds. The cages for the larger birds were clearly way too small for them and very dirty . I only saw one toy in each cage . A few of the birds looked very stressed and plucked a lot of their feathers out. The one guy I saw working there looked like he hated life and didn't even acknowledge or look at us , just said "excuse me" as he pushed his way by . I hate to see birds stressed out in an environment like this it breaks my heart . read more

CLAUDIA HUNKA-you should be ashamed of yourself! Do not look to YOUR BASIC (second-hand) BIRD, for a healthy, well-socialized, not previously owned, bird. I called in advance from SF, looking for a: 4-6 month, hand-fed, BABY, Grn. Cheek Conure. Went all the way out to Berkley, put down 50% of $300 for a bird that I was told was "just weaned." After getting her home I noticed evidence of self-mutilation and separation anxiety. NO BIRD GETS THIS CONDITION OVER NIGHT!!! The vet confirmed that A) The bird was well over a year, and had not been recently weaned. I was lied to on the phone, lied to when I went to the store and asked numerous questions as to the birds origin and swindled for $300.00. Take note: When I enquired about all the other birds in the store, not one of the birds had not been PREVIOUSLY OWNED or in several cases, had serious and debilitating emotional/ health issues. DO NOT LOOK TO TH$ PLACE FOR ANYTHING BUT PET SUPPLIES ONLY. Boarding your pet here involves placing your bird behind crates of CATS-whom I might add have little or no room to move around. The cats I observed had just enough room to turn around. Not a good setup. I also noticed that the majority of birds were either previously owned or had serious behavior issues ie. feather-plucking, aggression etc. I never saw one bird enjoying out of cage time. I asked about that as well. I received a rather terse response. Finally, when I asked Claudia, about the particulars of the "recently hand-fed, GCC. I hsd was purchasing-she couldn't recall a hatch date and changed the "recently hand fed" to about 8months! A very sad and disturbing experience. If you want a parrot contact a breeder and take a trip to their facility. Retail pet stores are best left to (some)pet ssupplies! I can see I am not alone in my sentiments, experience and observations. Oh, and I agree with my Yelp comadre, Angelina, is best avoided! Although the sign remains the same, my "$$$-sense"is sending me a loud message regarding this establishment. read more

Let me preface this review by saying I have never purchased anything here, just stopped by a couple times to look/talk/play with the birds. On my last visit, I encountered an employee so sour-faced and rude that I was completely deterred from ever stepping foot in YBB again. My friend and I (both college students) went recently, we were having a great time moseying from cage to cage and talking to the feathered residents (we're both avid bird lovers). I walked up to an employee there (Angelina--avoid her at all costs) to ask about purchasing a bird. She had the worse attitude- perma-scowl on her face, rude as hell, and condescending about bird care to me, despite the fact that I have owned birds all my life (and told her this). So I dropped the whole buy-a-bird question and kept perusing the store. Soon after, a cockatoo threw a screeching fit. I walked over to the 'too and interacted with him. I was merely talking to the bird when Angelina marches over and scolds me for paying attention to him when he screeches. I understand why you shouldn't acknowledge bird behavior like that, but the way she practically yelled at me and handled the whole situation was way rude and uncalled for. This employee is chasing off potential customers (like me) left and right. When I do purchase another bird, I will steer clear of this store and certainly will never come back for any reason. read more

I went in to this shop ready to buy a companion bird for my cockatiel. I saw 3 birds I was interested in and asked if any were female. The clerk did not know and said I'd have to pay $25 to have one sexed. I asked if it turned out to be a male would I have to pay again to have another sexed and she said yes. Then I asked again about the 3rd time and she said, yes, I'd have to pay another 25. I asked if the expense went to the cost of the bird and she said no. I looked at my husband and said, we will go elsewhere. The next day, I called the store and talked to the owner. I asked her the same questions and she (while actually laughing) said, yes, that's the way it is. I said so if I sex all 3 birds and they're all males, I'm out $75 and have no bird. Again she laughed and said that's just how it works. I ended the conversation with "that's a hell of a way to do business, and we will buy elsewhere", she stuttered a moment and I hung up. Have to wonder: if I had paid to sex 3 birds that turned out to all be males and left empty-handed, would they tell the next person the sex of the birds, or would they play dumb and make them pay as well. With their business ethics (or lack there of) I'll bet they'd play dumb. We're headed for Feathered Follies in Concord! read more

I've walked by here multiple times when eating at the restaurant next door to see rabbits and cats in small crates with their litter and food, alone in the dark. This is not how humane people keep animals. A cat should be fostered until a good home and a rabbit should be free to run. This is not a compassionate place and I was very disappointed to see this. It made me lose my appetite. read more

Great place to get yourself a bird, or info and education on your birds or anything u need for your them. Not much of other pet stuff , but this is a great bird place. We bought a parakeet pair when there today and are very happy with them read more

This is the best place EVER to board your bird. They are knowledgable, friendly and know their birds. I have a cranky cockatoo and when I board him here he comes home happy and content. Usually he doesn't want to go home!! They are wonderful!! read more

I've been to this place a few times and each experience has been worst that the last. The older lady that I believe owns the place is just awful (with horrible breath!). One star because the birds she sells there seem nice. The last time I was there with my daughter looking to buy a guinea pig. I have had a guinea pig before when I was kid and didn't see the problem. My daughter is on the young side but she loves animals and I figured since I always wanted to get another guinea pig someday, why not today? I of course realize that I would be doing most the work in taking care of the animal and I enjoy it. Anyway, she refused to sell me a g. pig and my daughter was in tears, I asked her if she could hold it once more and she also refused. It really was ridiculous. She thought my daughter was too young or something. ???? We ended up going to the Lafayette Pet Shoppe instead that same day because I was not about to go home without our guinea pig. The ladies there were so kind and sweet (without the bad breath)and we found a much better and cuter one there! I am glad to say he is happy and healthy and my daughter is great with him and loves him. So, happy child, cute Guinea Pig minus Ms. Dragon-breath. Someone give her a tic-tac or maybe ten! read more

This store always had a good feel, but last Tuesday Claudia enacted a miracle. My beloved African Grey escaped on Friday and flew 11 miles back to the Ashby Flea Market, where she landed on someone's head. He's a bird guy and has had chickens his whole life, and fell in love with my Lulu. He went into Your Basic Bird for advice about caring for an African Grey. Claudia, hearing his story, became convinced it was a good chance it was my bird. (I'd posted my sign there the day before) But the guy was skeptical. So she took the initiative and called my cell phone from the store, and put him on the phone with me. The following afternoon, I was reunited with Lulubird, who just melted when I came in the door, starting talking to me right away after 2.5 days of silence without me, clinging to my finger like a lifeline, and kissing me endlessly. It felt miraculous. read more

I bought a bird recently and the staff said it was about 6 months old but I'm pretty sure it's over a year old. It's already trying to mate and its weight is consistent with an average adult's weight. They might take care of the birds well but they're being kind of shady about the whole deal. The prices seem higher than what they should be for the items and birds they're selling. Plus, one of the sales reps was trying to sell as many things as possible, really pushing people to buy stuff like high pressure sales as if she were a door to door salesman almost using the bird as hostage for other products. Overall it just wasn't a great experience but I still love my bird! The quality of the food products look really high and I'm thankful for that. read more

I have been coming here for literally years, and I have gradually become more dissatisfied with this store. My visit last week to buy bunny food was the last straw. I was waiting at the counter while there were two employees who weren't busy, and they refused to acknowledge my presence. When one of them finally asked me what I needed and began to get my rabbit feed two other customers stepped up to the counter. The owner who was helping me proceeded to stop what she was doing, and rang up another customer, answered her questions, then walked to the back of the store to help another customer all the while I was waiting at the counter. She finally returned to finish ringing up my order which took less then a minute (all the while awkwardly avoiding eye contact). I am all about supporting small businesses in Berkeley - but Your Basic Bird no longer gets my support! I have been a long term customer, but Your Basic Bird simply does not deliver. No friendliness or customer service, but aside from that, I am more upset about their lack of respect for their customers. As a side note, another incident from the past has left a bad taste in my mouth. A year ago I gave them a baby bunny I had to sell or give to a rabbit adoption agency. The owner told me she would get back to me about the price of the rabbit, if they were going to sell it (of which I would get a percentage) or if they would give it away to someone else. I never heard back. I will never go back. read more

let me preface this review by saying it has nothing to do with birds. being not especially great at keeping living things alive (i have been party to the deaths of two angelfish, two orchids, numerous houseplants, and one cactus), i wanted another fish, but was scared for its life. when i heard betta fish can practically live through a nuclear war, i knew this was the fish for me. your basic bird is the closest pet store to my house, and despite being bird-centric and smelling like a large aviary, they have a fair amount of supplies for other pets. i'm not really a fan of any winged-creatures (i was traumatized by hitchcock's the birds when i was young), so i was pleased to see that they don't let their birds roam the store freely (they may be pretty, but so is my poop-free hairdo). YBB had an adequate selection of bettas to choose from, as well as the rocks, chemicals and food i would need to prep an environment for my new finned-friend. the staff was very knowledgeable, and in a non-pushy way, suggested that my betta buddy would enjoy some plant life to hide behind in his bowl. in other places, this might've been a sales associate trying to goad me into spending more money, but here it really just felt like a tip on how to improve life for my fish. well i've successfully kept my little buddy alive for about seven months, and i will credit YBB! when he got gill disease, i thought the end was near, but a friendly YBB staffer (whose name i should have gotten) directed me to the fish meds and helped me save his life! whether your query is of the ornithological nature or not, the staff at YBB will surely be able to assist. read more

Let me cut to the chase -- Claudia at Your Basic Bird saved my canary's life. She also got him singing again after 6 months of distressing song-less silence. I bought a red-factor canary at YBB in 2007. He sang beautifully and all-day long. In 2010, I moved to an apartment in the middle of summer. Since it's molting season, he wasn't singing. I didn't think much of it until ... Otcober, November, December ... in January, I called Claudia. She told me to bring him in. She asked all kinds of questions and then examined him. She said he looked a tad on the fat side (really? how? he only eats seeds) . She offered to keep him and check it out. He was there for 3 weeks. I won't take up space here with all the things we learned, but 3 weeks later, Claudia called with the good news that he was singing again and he'd lost weight (hint: he was eating too much of the red factor special diet supplement and not enough seed) Along the way, she'd treated him for airsac mites and trimmed his nails -- and I learned more about canaries from Claudia than what's in the canary book! I am sure that if he hadn't been under her expert watchful care, my canary wouldn't have sung again. And he may not have lived much longer either. Every time my healthy bird trills a song, I am deeply indebted to YBB and Claudia. read more

We board our bird here 3-4 times a year. Claudia and her team do a great job taking care of all the birds. They carry plenty of food, toys and supplies plus will trim your birds wings and nails. read more

I have been a retail customer here for 10+ years and my husband and I have been boarding our special-needs Alexandrine Parakeet, Lucky, here for 2+ years. Claudia and the staff are Lucky's 2nd family. They treat him so well, they accommodate him in back since he's high stress and a plucker, and he always comes home happy. We sometimes call for boarding at the last minute, as we just did for the thanksgiving holiday, and as always, they squeeze Lucky in. We adore the loving and very competent staff there and feel super lucky to have them near where we live. read more

I've stopped in this store over the years to pick up safe and creative toys for our parakeet, but your Basic Bird really came through with amazing customer service a month ago, and I didn't even buy anything. I called the store for advice about the best way to move our budgie from California to Northern Michigan. Do I fly? Do I drive? Will she be so stressed, she drops off the perch and dies?? I got lucky with the woman who answered the phone (I later learned this was Claudia, the owner). She spent several minutes on the phone patiently explaining how I could safely convey our bird, Lulu, via both car and plane, and she answered all my questions and shared her own experience with transporting birds by car. Because of Claudia and Your Basic Bird, I felt calm and prepared as I drove for four days, nine hours per day, with Lulu in her cage in the car. As it turned out, although she seemed slightly bored (her favorite hanging/swinging toys having been removed for her safety), she was perfectly fine and a real trooper. She has settled in beautifully, and I could not be more grateful for Claudia's willingness to share her experience, knowledge and support. I will continue to tell anyone with bird needs to go to Your Basic Bird -- which is still, by far, the best bird store I know of in the East Bay. read more