U2 opportunity?????

[meijuhua]

my neighbor has the sweetest 1 year old female umbrella that has captured my heart. the woman has decided that she can no longer provide the time and attention the bird needs, and has offered to sell her to me. she is unbelieveably tame, goes to children, potty trained, and just adorable. as some of you know, we already have a quaker, and a greenwing on the way in one week. for those of you with umbrella's, i'd like your advice and opinions. i already would love to take the bird, but don't want to make an emtional decision that would really not be best for the bird and our family. i work part time, and already have my quaker hurley to play with during my spare time. he keeps my hands pretty full, but is also great at entertaining himself when i can't play with him. my husband and i are also thinking of having kids within the next few years, and i worry about having time to spend with the fids and the kids. we have the room, and financially we could make it work if we went for it. i just worry about neglecting hurley, and getting myself in over my head with a cockatoo. what do you guys think??

[The Outlaw]

If only I could honestly say "go get that wonderful bird" and mean it, I'd feel much better. Fact is, I can't. You have a wonderful baby coming home very soon and that baby will be in jeopardy if and when you decide to bring home a too or any other of the powder feather birds. Unfortunately, GWs and BGs can be very sensitive to Too dust. You won't know anything is wrong, but slowly over time, in about 5 years, your macaw may develop respiratory problems that could ultimately kill him.

Secondly, those sweet Toos often don't STAY sweet when they hit their teens. And, if you do decide to have a baby, you will likely find one very jealous bird living in your home.

And, finally for the record, just because this bird is as described in the current home is NO indicator of how it will act in your home.

Laurie and Tammy have a bunch of toos and love them to pieces. They DON'T however have any human babies at home. They are high maintenance. JMHO.

THE OUTLAW

[peeker]

I think you will have your hands more than full with your new baby Feo. I suggest you pass on this opportunity and give your full attention to Hurley and Feo. It will take some time to adjust to the new guy and macaws require alot of "face-time" attention. I think you would be better off waiting at least 6 months before you even consider another bird.

Also you might want to research information on macaws and feather-dust type birds. Macaws can be sensative to the "dusty" birds and it's recommended to keep them in separate rooms and use air filters to clean the air.

[LivingFiction]

Jenny and I have talked about this a lot, and it's a difficult decision. We've played with this bird, she's sweet as pie, potty trained, and loves Jenny.

My concerns have been exactly what you two have mentioned, apart from the 2 dust and it's effect on Macaws, I didn't realize that.

I think we're leaning toward not getting Zoe. I put so much time and patience into getting Feo, passing up opportunities to get Greenwings when the time wasn't right, always thinking I'd never find such a sweet bird. And now that only makes the process of brining him home all the more rewarding.

The time isn't ideal, and Zoe deserves to be brought into the ideal situation.

[meijuhua]

wow - i hadn't thought of the dust effect on feo. thanks you guys. i think you're right, nancy. it would be a selfish decision for me to get this cockatoo, and wouldn't really be best for it. the neighbor has said i can go play with her as much as i'd like, until she is sold to someone else.

[The Outlaw]

Feo is gonna be more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Think how fortunate you are to get a dream bird from such a young age and watch it grow. Before you know it, he'll be following you around, smooching you up and saying the most adorable things. And, God willing, you'll one day have your own baby. Trust me, you are very young and the world is your oyster. MANY wonderful birds will present along the way.

In addition to powder feather issues with other birds, just think how bad you'd feel in your HUMAN infant was highly allergic to dust and you had to rehome her anyway. That's a very real problem.

Good luck. I know you'll do what's right for your situation. You may decide that you can manage all of the additional problems. At least you're aware of them.

THE OUTLAW

[mamalovesrico]

My opinion is I think you should pass on the little angel. I have a 1 year old male U2. He's a handful! Very dusty and they are known for being quite the P.I.T.A. when they hit their sexual maturity. They can be very loud, if you were to soon have a baby in the house it would be awoke by the U2. I can hear my neighbors U2 across the street and down 4 houses when their windows are shut. Uh huh!
Another thing, I've read that U2's aren't suggested in a house with small kids because if they wanted to they could take off a child's finger and have done so. She's a sweet heart now, but when they hit their sexual maturity that sweet heart will disappear from time to time. Well, so I hear, I'm still waiting. They can be a very demanding bird and mine gets jealous of my dog occassionally. He will hiss at my dog and I literally have to "work" on making them get along. Any time Rico has the opportunity to destroy something...he will. And believe me I think it's their mission to destroy things.
I love my little sh*# to death though. We get along great, yea he bites now and then but he knows better. It took me months to work on that. He's a little cuddle bug and loves me to death. I can honestly say he's turning into one of my best friends. I know it sounds corny. He knows me very well and I know him very well. He even laughs when I laugh. I wouldn't trade him for the world...but they are a handful.

[smallonion]

However...isn't Feo meant to be your husband's bird? Would the too be your bird? Does that make a difference, everyone?

[LivingFiction]

It's true, Feo will be a member of the family, but I will be is primary caregiver, and responsible for him. Jenny is not yet ready to handle such a large bird. We've discussed it, and fully intend to get another bird for Jenny in the future. She's still on the fence about what kind of bird she'd like. She loves the toos, Greys, and the Macaws. Even so, it's probably best to wait until our children are older, possibly even on the way out before looking seriously at another large bird. We are a pretty traditional couple, and Jenny really wants to be able to spend the time with our children. And we both have so much love and respect for our birds we just couldn't stand to see them go neglected.

[basketbagley]

Coming from the view point of a sorta new mother, Lauren is 6 & Lia is 3, I would also advise to wait on another bird for Jenny till you have kids and they are a little older.

Your human babies will take up sooo much of your time and attention it really wouldn't be fair on your Fids. especially one that is mostly bonded to Jenny. And like previously advised, if your kids have an allergy or if the bird doesn't take to them and attacks your kids, the poor thing will have to be rehomed or kept away from the rest of the family. and thats not fair either.

I would love a bigger bird right now, but I know with my 2 girls, the smaller ones will have to do for now. for me anyway.

You guys are wonderful parronts and will be even better parents to the georgous babies you will have! You are both such beautiful people (inside and out) and I know will have beautiful children!