Q: Are your birds hand raised?
A: Yes, we pull our babies at a young age and hand feed them until they are fully weaned. This ensures that your pet is tame enough to be handled.
Q: Do you ship birds?
A: No, we don’t transport ourselves. We can assist you with obtaining required documents and arranging shipping with a local specialized animal shipper. Please visit our shipping page for more information.
Q: Do you breed Cockatoos like the one in your pictures?
A: No, and there are many reasons for that. An Umbrella Cockatoo like our Frannie can live for up to 80 years if cared for properly. These guys challenge even advanced bird owners. If you’d like to know more about Umbrella Cockatoos, we’d be happy to share real-life information so that you can make an informed decision.
Q: Are all of your birds in your house?
A: Yes! We have a full house over here and ACA is ran 100% out of our home! Don’t worry, all of our breeders are treated as if they were personal pets. We have larger than normal cages for our breeders and an outdoor area for them as well for when the weather is nice. All of our breeders have names too! Our neighbors are all fully aware that we run our business out of our home. Please respect them by setting an appointment to visit birds. We want to keep traffic to a minimum on our street!
Q: You don’t have a store?
A: No, this would be cost prohibitive as we are far more focused on quality rather than quantity. We would much rather put our time and energy into the birds we raise and keep them close without the distraction and overhead of a storefront. We’ve crunched the numbers and we would have to raise an astonishing number of birds to support a storefront location. We continue to build up our online presence and as always, we’re just a click or phone call away if you would like to check out available birds! Again, please set an appointment to view available birds! We don’t mind visitors but we want to make sure we are home when you arrive so you don’t waste a trip!
Q: Aren’t birds loud? How do you sleep?
A: That is dependent on the species. Generally, the bigger the bird, the bigger the sound but this isn’t always true. Many people purchase birds because their songs are comforting or they like the mimicking (talking) that some do. Birds generally follow the circadian rhythm – wake up at sunrise and go to sleep at sunset.
Q: Aren’t birds messy? Someone told me they are a mess.
A: Again, this depends on the species. Certain birds are pickier than others and may throw out more feed. Different species also have different toilet habits. If you have one or two birds, one person can easily take care of daily tidy up. There are a multitude of solutions on the market today to assist with any mess your new pet may make. Believe it or not, you can potty train your bird with enough patience!
Q: Do birds bite?
A: They can as with any other pet you own. Remember, most birds use their beaks in some form for mobility. Biting varies immensely with each bird and each species. They all have very unique personalities. Some are “sassier” than others. We hand raise the babies to tame them so they are used to being handled. If it seems a bird we raise is aggressive, we will opt to keep it here rather than sell. Birds are very curious by nature, especially when it comes to different textures or what they view as “imperfections” be it on your skin, your clothes, or other inanimate objects. We really prefer our customers come visit to make sure you are comfortable with their new pet or the species you select.
Q: Aren’t birds hard to care for?
A: No, in fact birds are one of the easiest pets to care for. Fresh food and water a couple of times per day and replacing cage paper every day or two is enough. Most birds love attention and time outside of their cage and make great and loyal pets with proper attention.
Q: My friend said birds tear up everything is this true?
A: Birds need plenty of toys comprised of various textures to chew on and to keep themselves entertained while you are away from your home. Personally, I would not leave birds unattended (loose) for an extended period of time since they could destroy something in your home or get into something that could harm them. Unlike dogs and cats that have been domesticated for thousands of years, birds are only a few generations removed from those in the wild.
Q: What kind of bird is best for me?
A: We’re here to answer any questions you might have and can assist you with picking the best species to suit your lifestyle or family dynamic.
Q: Are birds hypoallergenic?
A: No, they are not. Some species have a form of fine powdered dander on their feathers. Regular baths significantly reduce any dander produced. We can answer any questions you have regarding this.
Q: Will a bird get along with my cat or dog?
A: Maybe. We don’t have cats here but we do have dogs. The birds are introduced to the dogs throughout their weaning so they won’t be afraid of or aggressive toward the dogs. Any bird purchased from us will be used to dogs. We suggest keeping your new bird away from dogs or cats you already own since we can’t be for sure your dog or cat will appreciate the bird as much as the bird appreciates them!
Q: I’m interested in seeing or possibly purchasing a bird from you. Can I bring my children along?
A: Absolutely! It’s important for children to interact with their potential new pet and to be a part of the decision making process. We can also help children with handling their new bird in safe manner. We can’t stress this enough, please set an appointment to come view birds. Our business is 100% run out of our home.
Q: What do you feed your breeders?
A: We feed them all a premium pellet and Brendan blends fruits, nuts, and seeds in to supplement the pellet. Of course, we also give various fruits, seeds, and nuts as treats. We also share seasonal fresh produce with everyone who wants it.
Q: Do you sell the food you use?
A: Yes, we can order the pellets we feed at market rate for your convenience. All of our babies are weaned to the brand we use. Feel free to reach out with any questions relating to food.
Q: Do you trim nails?
A: Yes, we can trim your bird’s nails.
Q: Do you trim beaks?
A: At this time, we do not.
Q: Do you clip wings?
A: Yes, we can clip your bird’s wings PROPERLY allowing it to glide to the floor.
Q: I’m going out of town, can you board my bird?
A: No, we do not offer boarding.
Q: What forms of payment do you accept? Do you charge sales tax?
A: Yes, we are a legitimate business and we do report sales – all prices that we quote are PLUS sales tax. We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, personal check, and cashier’s checks.
Q: I own a pet store. Will you sell me birds?
A: No, we have sold to pet stores in the past but made the decision to distance ourselves from selling to pet stores. As mentioned above, we would have to obtain licenses from the USDA to sell to pet stores. Also, the margins are extraordinarily slim when selling wholesale. We decided that wholesaling is not a sustainable business model for us given the amount of time and attention we spend with our breeders and babies.
Q: I have questions about my bird but I didn’t purchase it from you. Can you help?
A: Of course, we’re always here to help. Feel free to call, e-mail, or message us on Facebook and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.
Q: Do you require a deposit? How much are birds?
A: We do require a deposit for any “holds”. All deposits are non-refundable to cover feed, time, and re-marketing in the event that a customer does not pick up their bird or pay the remaining balance due. Most deposits are about 50% of the purchase price. Prices are dependent on rarity of species, rarity of colors, difficulty of captive breeding, and time to fully wean.