CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Cory and Gina Dewees, owners of Parrotopia at 5910 Auburn Boulevard, Suite 9 in Citrus Heights welcomed and sheltered parrots in their home for years before opening their Citrus Heights store last February.

Their store, which celebrated its first anniversary, is a place “where a parrot will always have a second home.”

The couple, young parents of an active two-year-old son, were past volunteers at Parrot Planet, located in the same business plaza which closed in December 2018.

The closure of Parrot Planet left local parrot and exotic bird owners with just The Bird Shop in Roseville as their only other alternative for food, grooming and supplies, she said.

“Northern California is home to a large parrot and exotic bird population,” Dewees said. “We wanted to create a new business which would share our love for these birds as we welcomed our new customers.”

Parrotopia is a family-owned business, with both co-owners committed to the well-being of their feathered friends and responsible parrot ownership. Colorful parrots regularly take in the action from the owner’s shoulders as customers browse the store.

“Our vision was to specialize in the supplies and services both owners and potential parrot owners need, always keeping in mind that we are advocates of the parrot first,” she said.

Parrotopia offers a variety of hand-fed baby parrots and “second-chance” parrots that are seeking new homes. Many of these birds come to the Dewees because their owners can no longer care for their feathered friend, or they outlived their owners.

The owners try to match their “second-chance” birds to a new owner based on the positive aspects of their past environment.

This process consists of whether the bird has a gender preference, has been raised with children or pets, or has been an “only bird.” Finding the right second home might depend if the bird has always had someone home all day, had behavior issues, or was kept in a bird room or outside aviary.

“We want to help new parrot owners with the commitment they are about to make,” she said. “It’s not just the honeymoon phase where they’ll walk in and fall in love with one, and then want to take it home. It takes multiple visits to allow both bird and human to fully bond.”

Parrotopia provides one-on-one educational information on interpreting parrot behavior and body language, valuable tips to choose the right parrot species for the family, and practical advice on day-to-day exotic diet and nutrition. Both online ordering and curbside pickup are available.

Parrots and exotic birds tend to thrive in an enriching, stimulating environment, Dewees explained.

“We also have one of Northern California's largest selection of toys and other bird- related products, most which are custom made by local artisans,” she said. “We also have a large selection of cages, locally made custom play stands, carriers, and nesting boxes.”

Parrotopia also offers its customers both “fresh chop,” a finely-chopped mix of cooked and uncooked food such as vegetables, grains and seeds and their very own signature feed blends, which are available either pre-packaged or in bulk.

While Parrotopia does not groom or work on beaks, it does offer a “birdie spa” to its feathery customers. A wing refresh is $10 for any size bird. The price for a nail trim is $7 for small birds including parakeets, cockatiels and lovebirds; $10 for medium birds including African Greys, Amazons and small Macaws. Pricing for larger birds including Macaws, large Cockatoos, larger Amazons and Hyacinth macaws range between $15 to $20.

Parrotopia offers bird owners boarding services which provide a safe, stimulating and secure environment while their owners are away.

Find Parrotopia on the web at www.parrotopiasac.com or visit the store six days a week at 5910 Auburn Blvd., Suite 9 in Citrus Heights Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 916-891-5309 to schedule a grooming appointment.