Strictly Feathers

Sandra Guerra

2024-04

I purchased my Blue & Gold Macaw from here in 2007 from Gwen the owner. My bird was 3 months old & is still thriving 17 years later. I was a first time Large bird owner myself. Gwen informed me of the diet this bird was fed and gave me recommendations. Yes my bird go to is seeds and flavored pellets. Fresh fruit and veggies ahe has always been picky with. Each bird is different. I purchased my seed from here up until her store was damaged due to a rock slide that had nothing to do with her care of the birds. I continued to purchase from Gwen on the weekends when I make it during her limited hours she's open.Gwen loves her Avian business and is a Very educated breeder & owner of her own personal birds. Her raising & hand feeding teaches the birds to trust. Trust in any living being is not transferable, its earned. As for transporting, answering some negative reviewers, are you not intending to transport the bird home yourself? It does the bird good to travel, in its cage/crate. I traveled to Ga & back with mine many times as well as to my vet and she does great!It's up to you to keep your bird de-stressed.I do not know Gwen on a personal bases only by business.I do recommend her business & education to buy your next pet from. It is your responsibility to know the breed of bird you purchase to keep it healthy. Find your closest Avian vet after purchase if you have issues.

NuclearHurricane Plays MC

2024-04

I adopted my conure from these people and they let you look at them and handle them first I can't wait to make Speedwagon my new family member. I pick him up next week these people know their birds and they are a bit pricey but it is worth it if you want non abused and neglected parrots unlike PetSmart who neglects their parakeets and finches

Braylee Damron

2022-05

They are very helpful , kind , can’t say enough good things about this ,. I don’t wanna say company , no I wanna say family and they are amazing as soon as you walk in they can point you in the right direction , they lead you to a room with feathered babies , and they can tell you how old the feathered friends are their diets , Most important of all their healthy and you can pick up amazing hand made toys and these animals have so much love . For that I can’t say thank you enough for my bird , he’s almost 5 months hand feed loves corn :) to be played with and he’s still growing :) . Ps he’s not camera shy he loves the mirror affect , so if you need a feathered friend please see them they can get you started and help you with all questions you might have for ur feathered child , no not friend child :) thank you lovely people again you have made my heart feel whole again .

IsBestGirlナツキ（Kamasan）

2023-10

Lisa told me that parrots need seeds to live and that my veterinarians are wrong. She also grabbed a poor baby by his tail and a feather even came out. He was screaming in pain and fear and he couldn't fly away because his wings were clipped. I was astonished that such abuse could go in in a place that claims they take good care of birds. It was disgusting to watch and the birds were mostly fed seeds and were kept in such tiny cages. I think this is not because they love birds but because they want to make money.

Jamie Bosnjak

2023-09

The folks with Strictly Feathers are so sweet. They take great care of the birds and raise them in their homes until adopted. Our Mango is super healthy and was well taken care of until we adored her.

Brian P

2023-05

Don’t buy from the chain pet stores!These people know and love these birds and hand raise them the right way. Super knowledgeable and top notch food, too! Only open Saturdays, so plan accordingly. Really good people!I would like to address some of the negative comments.1. They DO NOT recommend an all seed diet! They even send you home with a list of foods the particular breed can and cannot eat.2. Transporting the birds doesn't stress them out. Our birds travel with us and they couldn't care less.3. All of the birds we have purchased from them have left heathy and if cared for properly will stay that way.4. Wing clipping: You have to handle the bird in a certain way to control it for its safety and I've watched him do it and I've done it myself. Sure it can be stressful on a bird like it can be cutting the nails on a dog, etc. And if you want your bird to have more "glide time" by not clipping them all the way, it will take off more and end up getting hurt more.Either clip the wings every three months or don't.You don't have to clip the wings. That is up to you and they'll tell you why...

Alicia O' Mary

2023-05

If I could give this establishment zero stars, I would. After being on a wait list and being told my bird was ready for purchase, I traveled to the location. I was met with someone whom I feel was a very rude and pretentious. Surprisingly, this was the owner! My daughter asked to hold the bird who was to be our new family edition. She was barked at with a big "NO" by the owner. Now, mind you we have birds and I informed the owner of this. She knows how to hold birds and has plenty of practice doing so, among various other animals we have hand-raised since birth. After being told no, my daughter baby talked all the birds and was asking questions. She is a curious 8 year old and is a respectful child. She was so happy and was excited to be there to purchase our new edition. Suddenly, the owner marched out of the room while I was holding the bird and a new lady came in, took my daughters arm and told her she needed to "calm down" or the owner would not sell us a bird. The owner then came back in and said the bird was not ready. All of a sudden, the bird who was young but was ready and weened the week prior and who was eating an apple needed to stay there. I excused myself and we left. Just be an honest person and say you do not want to sell a bird to us. You do not need to lie. Also, while we were there, another mother and her child had an urgent issue and asked the owner to use the rest room. The owner snapped at her and said she doesn't have a public bathroom. Ummm, the last time I was there, I used the bathroom. I did not have my child with me at that time though. If you have a child, I recommend you do not bring them to this location. I would also like to add the birds are all transported to this store for sale each week, which has to be stressful on each bird. Some were even in Tupperware bowls with towels on top.

ROW G

2023-05

We purchased a crimson belly from here. They clipped his wings so low he could not even glide to the ground. The way they handled the bird was rough and frightened him. He had frayed feathers from small cages and blackened tips which shows stress or illness.A few months goes by and the bird started to show illness. This place does not sell healthy birds. It is all about money.We spent thousands trying to save this little fella. Unfortunately, he had a birth defect and was not able to survive.Do your research. Wing clipping is not required or safe for your bird. Darkening feathers is a sign something is very wrong. Birds also should not be on a seed diet. Everything they tell you here is outdated and wrong. Our vet does not approve of one thing they do.Please find a breeder that cares for their birds and educates you with correct information.I also agree, they are abrupt and rude to children. There are other breeders that are educated who offer the same birds.Also, yes they do transport the birds here so they are extremely stressed.1400 for a bird that lives 3 months is sad!we loved him and lost him because of the way they raise and breed their birds.

Max ItBeYaBoi

2022-05

The owners obviously care about their birds but their care and information is sadly incredibly outdated. They insist you should trim a birds wings to keep it tame when that’s not the case. All birds in the parrot family need to be able to fly. To clip a birds wings is comparable to cutting off a persons legs; the birds have no way to escape and feel endangered and stressed thus making them more likely to be temperamental and bite, never really bonding with the owner. Birds need a lot of time and patience to be able to do recall training and bonding with the owner which will make the environment much more safe and secure for the bird, as well as give you an actual connection with it. Furthermore, when a bird cannot exercise properly (by flying) they get fatty liver disease, depression, and other health problems. To get a bird is to get an animal that flies, if you can’t handle that then a bird is not the right pet for you. Additionally, the food they give out is seed. Seeds have been shown to damage liver of birds, due to their high fat content. Pair this with a complete inability to exercise and a bird will have a very short lifespan. Seeds should be used for training. The way to get your bird to trust you is to feed it mainly pellets and fresh veggies, and offer it millet or seed from your hand. It’s incredibly sad to see that these birds will get no flying time nor will the owners be taught to handle their birds properly. Please do extensive research on getting birds, they’re basically toddlers. This place really needs to update their care and information.

Jenny McMahan

2022-05

We had spent a long while looking for a bird store that we could go to. We settled on Strictly Feathers. I (the son of Jenny McMahan who is writing this review) was very happy. I had been wanting a Lovebird for a very long time, and I couldn't find one until I found Strictly Feathers. The staff was great, very friendly and spent a good 45 minutes with informing me on how to care for it when I arrived. I got her shortly afterwards and am now caring for it. They offered great tips and gave me advice for everything, I'm a beginner. If your looking for a bird store in/close to your area, Strictly Feathers is the place to go! 5/5

MewThew

2019-05

This is such a great store the workers and owner are so nice; they will help you with anything you need, just ask. I recently just purchased a Fischer lovebird that were born around 6 days ago. I'm going to go there every weekend to bond with my feathered baby until he/she is ready to come home with me. But anyways they take such good care of every bird they own with most of them being hand-fed. I would trust them over anyone else.😊

Nita Puckett

2022-05

I got my Lovebird from here and he is thriving. It makes a huge difference that they hand raise their birds.Lisa is also great! And the cherry on top is that if you get your bird from Strictly Feathers they will trim your birds wings if and when needed for free.

Edith Smith

2019-05

I was so pleased with Strictly Feathers! Everyone was friendly and gave me valuable advice regarding my parrot's care. The store had a large variety of perches, foods, toys, cages, treats, and the most adorable birds! The store and the parrots were clean and you can tell how much these birds are loved. Definitely go in for supplies and if you are considering a parrot, these are the folks to talk with. A side note: the parrots there are friendly too and good conversationalists. I enjoyed my visit!

Linda Hatfield

2016-05

We had bought 2 parakeets from the pet store, we wanted a bird we could handle. The 2 birds from the pet store are so hyper and they bonded with each other so we can not touch them at all. We heard about Strictly Feathers from a friend so we all went to check it out. Gwen was out of town that day, but Lisa took care of us and was amazing. She talked to us to find out what we wanted and tried to make sure we found a bird that would fit well in our home. Gary is super nice and they both have so much knowledge of the birds. They spent time with us and we did not feel rushed. We purchased a Love bird. We have had him for two weeks now, and have been working with him everyday and he is learning who is the boss....lol he is starting to learn some commands. He has a stubborn streak but he is so sweet and we love him so much. I have messaged SF several times in the last couple of weeks with questions and they have always gotten back with me quickly and answered my questions. I highly recommend SF and we will be going back in the future to get another bird.

Aynonomous Person

2021-05

Gwen Woodard is the best in the field. She knows as much, if not more then most Avian vets. She has an extensive list knowledge base, and practical experience. Mrs. Gwen has been working with parrots for more then 50 years. You won't be disappointed, and you WILL NOT buy a sick parrot. When it leaves her hands, you can be rest assured its healthy.

Lauren Eacho

2021-05

We bought a sun conure from here in Jan. He has been healthy, sweet and the best thing we’ve ever done. So much so, that we turned around and bought a second one a few weeks later. They’ve been great for information, and have been amazing with my kids. A lot of my future business will be given to them 💕

Nathan Van Gundy

2023-06

We love this little gem of Knoxville. Such friendly people who will take the time to talk to you and answer all your questions. Glad they were able to get back on their feet after the rockslide took out their other location.

Tia Long

2018-05

Strictly Feathers has earned their excellent reputation over the last thirty years.The Birds are hand fed, healthy and beautiful.You can count on sound advice from Gwen and Gary on everything from choosing the right bird for your lifestyle, cage and toy selections, to the correct high quality food and treats for your fine feathered friend, as well as countless high quality accessories.Strictly Feathers is The Very Best Choice for all Your Avian Needs.You Will Love It!

Julia

2014-05

I visit this store frequently when I am in the area. I love to see the beautiful birds and talk with the owners about pretty much anything bird related; I'm an avid animal lover and enjoy diligently planning ahead for my future pets, so the wealth of knowledge and experience in this store is something I really enjoy hearing about. As much as I enjoy going in to see the lovely birds at the store and speak with other bird lovers, sometimes I am not so happy with my visit.The customer service in the store REALLY needs some work. The first two times I visited the store I was happy with the customer service, but that was because I was very close to getting convinced to drop close to $2000 on a sweet baby bird who was clouding my judgement with his cute baby face. When I am not about to be swindled into buying a bird I'm not prepared for, they pay no mind to me.I don't even get eye contact when I walk in the store. Not a "Hi, how are you doing?" I find that a little ridiculous, to be honest... it's a small store, so being ignored is blatant and uncomfortable. It puts off a very unfriendly vibe to any potential customers. I've tried to begin conversations and ask about the birds only to be answered with very curt replies which swiftly and not-so-subtly tell me to stop talking.

Diane Gehrig

2024-04

Very nice and experienced bird lovers here

Jest Xero

2019-05

I bought a green cheek conure here. The people are very friendly while pushing the sale. Once they made the sell they informed me they didn't actually know the sex that they told me had been confirmed by dna test. They don't take ANY of the birds to the vet. They say you can't take pictures or video because their lawyer advised against it. It's really because all of their licenses are expired. This store needs to be shut down. I paid nearly $500 for my bird. The vet check confirmed a respiratory infection and that her left wing was clipped too high by the owner. She will never be able to fly because of these people. When I contacted them about this, they claimed the bird is better off without flight and refused to refund the now health bird. I'm taking action to file a lawsuit against them for the treatment of their birds. It would be a nice store if it wasn't for the horrible owner.

Kellie

2019-05

Although their birds do appear to be healthy and in good spirits, they keep the temperature far too cold for small parakeets and other young birds. The owner is far too rough when grabbing birds from the cages, and has crushed them with their head folded and wings not tucked in against the cage. When I purchased a parakeet on my first visit she incorrectly clipped his wings. Feathers were cut higher up in the wing, and his wing never layed down properly after that. The man that I presume is an employee will even try to discourage customers from taking their birds to the vet. He will also try to convince you that a seed based diet is all a bird needs, and that veterinarians just make money off of anyone buying pellet or other food type products.

Joseph Fanning

2013-05

After trying many other places, we finally found Strictly Feathers and called to ask about a green-cheek conure. The lady there gave us an excellent price and told us the little guy was hand-fed. We rushed there, and he was still waiting for us. She helped us get the bird, his travel cage, and a supply of food to last a while. He's already proving to be a wonderful companion, very loyal and intelligent, all signs of him being hand-fed. This store has many other types of birds, most of which are friendly and cute. We would recommend this shop to anyone looking for a bird, or anyone looking to buy feed for the bird they already own!

Vicki Broyles

2017-05

I have known Gwyn and Strictly Feathers for many many years. No one in Knoxville knows birds better than Gwyn and no one has nicer birds. They are happy, healthy, and handled. Her prices are great and her care for you will be personal. Highly recommended.

donna Pressley

2015-05

We got our baby grey Liberty from Strictly Feathers, Gwen is awesome. She is full of knowledge. Very nice people that work at this store, you can tell that they care about all the birds.

Katharine Rasnake

2021-05

One of the employees treated me as if I was naïve and he/she had to educate me. Something about that interaction left me feeling very uneasy. I was horrified to learn that birds' wings had been clipped to where they would NEVER fly, and some birds had become ill. This knowledge verified my uneasy feelings. Birds were BORN to fly! No ETHICAL breeder or business would treat God's creatures so poorly. I am thankful I purchased my birds elsewhere. This business and those breeders should be closely investigated by Animal Control.

Shelby Vazquez

2018-05

They were extremely informative and helpful. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to gain a new feathery family member. We didn't purchase the bird during our first visit but we are most definitely going back here when we do.

Brenda Miller

2018-05

Our experience at Strictly Feathers was exceptional. The ladies were so sweet and helpful. We were looking for a love bird and they helped us pick out the best one for us. Very satisfied!!! Will return!!

John Cox

2018-05

Incredibly rude over the phone. Insulted my girlfriend by saying she shouldn’t even own a bird (by the way we own 7 birds in total and love and take care of them daily)The man upfront brutally trims their wings so they hit the floor hard when they try to flutter. As well as tries to scare you away from going to the vet (probably because he knows he cuts their wings incorrectly)They’ve lost all business from me in the future.

Diana Hurst

2013-05

My experiance at Strictly Feathers was a very pleasant one. I went in to pick a bird for my autistic son because he loves birds and we had recently went to parrot mountain and he wanted one at home, he is 5 years old. The owner was a little nervous because keegan was so excited about getting a bird he wanted to hold them all and touch them all just as he did at parrot mountain. Anyone who goes in to purchase and look at the birds must understand these are her babies and she wants to make sure they go to a good home were they will be taken care of. It took us two days and about ten hours in the store picking the right bird for our family and the owner was very patient and willing to discuss anything you had questions about if you are willing to ask! After hearing some things that kids had done to birds in her store i understood her nervousness about keegan, and we talked she was very caring. Strictly Feathers and the staff that work there are awesome kind bird lovers that are very passionate about the birds. Anyone going there to purchase a bird needs to make sure they get the right bird for them and have the time it takes to care for them. My family ended up getting a green cheecked conure for $199, it is a smaller bird that plays and talks and is quieter than the other breeds it is also cuddly and gentle so he is perfect for my son. As long as you show respect to the birds and make sure your small children are watched closely you will have a great experiance at Strictly Feathers! :) I highly recommend Strictly Feathers, and their caring staff, to everyone interested in buying a bird and/or purchasing food and toys for their birds. The Owner carries the best foods and great accessories.