Long Island Exotic Birds in Selden, NY

Reviews about Long Island Exotic Birds

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  August 31, 2020, by e.g. Shimskey
  I've been a parrot owner for many years. I visited Long Island Exotic Birds while on vacation, having never heard of it and having no idea what to expect. I can't say I was suprised. As with most establishments that house birds, the conditions in which the birds lived were deplorable. Many birds were housed in cages that were at foot-level (in other words, a couple inches above the floor, where birds should not be kept) and every cage I observed-and I observed most of them-was filled with droppings. One cage that housed a cockatoo had a pile of feces in it that was about 3.5" high. I noticed that many of the larger parrots had dried fecal matter on their feet. More distressing, most of the larger birds had begun mutilating their feathers. Feather-picking becomes a compulsion with parrots, so taking a bird out of a stressful situation is not enough to make it stop. Once they start, they tend to keep doing it. One cockatoo had an open, bleeding wound on its leg and was actively picking out the feathers around the wound. Other birds had significant bald patches that come from feather picking. Apart from obvious signs of feather picking, many parrots had matted feathers and residue-covered, peeling beaks. The cages were far too small to be suitable for cockatoos and macaws and there was nothing more than a perch and a food and water bowl in each cage. Large parrots, in particular, need a great deal of mental stimulation to be content, so toys and/or shreddable material are essential. In spite of the fact that the parrots were living in filth and many showed obvious signs of distress, I was not surprised to see such conditions. Pet stores don't do a very good job caring for parrots, either. As with every establishment I've ever visited that sold or housed them, Long Island Exotic Birds appears to be run and maintained by people who don't really know anything about parrots and their wellbeing. If anybody within that organization does, it doesn't show. Caring for parrots can be very tricky, they're extremely sensitive and neurotic creatures, and I've never seen a parrot in a store that appeared to be receiving the kind of attention they need. They really don't belong in general pet stores, as they're too costly for most people to choose them over a cat or dog and they end up languishing in those stores for a very long time, receiving substandard care. Ideally, an establishment that sells or boards parrots should have the means to provide clean, suitably-sizes living spaces and plenty of one-on-one interaction between caretakers and birds. It's clear that those conditions are not met in Long Island Exotic Birds and I have no idea how anyone could board a pet there.