Update on my moluccan possibility

[parrotntn]

I thought I'd update some of ya'll on my moluccan decision. I am taking it very seriously as I don't want to bring something into my FAMILY'S life that would, IN THE LONG RUN, cause more trouble than it is benefit. Not just now, but looking down the road as we all age, the bird ages, we have kids/grandkids and the rukus that goes with all of that. It's important for me to consider if i want to bring this bird along, for the rest of our natural lives and be a part of my family rather than be overcome by it's beauty and charm.
I am looking at a very beautiful and well behaved 8 year old female moluccan from a nice local family who don't have the time to spend with her that they feel is necessary. They are busy with horses, dogs, grandparents and Gigi, although well adapted to it, sits in her cage upstairs most of the day. She does well though.
The bird goes to anyone, nonplucker, happy, in no apparant distress or disease state. Is not clingy, plays independently in her cage. Appears well developed and well nourished. Non biter even to my kids as we passed her around on the first visit. Gets out with the family usually, they say about an hour a day. At times, they say, she has been in her cage for 2 or 3 days without being out.
Pros:
-The most well behaved bird I have ever seen. Ive seen a few, but this one is exemplary.
-I like larger birds.
-BEAUTIFUL to the nth degree.
-playful charmer.//had me at hello.
-Goes to cage or anywhere easily.
-poop trained to go outside or on the cage.
-Historically this species should get along with my amazon.
-not a picky eater.
-Would be nice to have a bird to pet. We can’t pet Cleo too much as she is just moody. It would be nice to have a bird that WANTED the interaction. (direct con to that below).
-Does great with my kids. Appears to be a great pet-therapy bird. A bird behaviorist told me that she has a friend with one that does pet therapy and moluccans do very well.
-Same pet therapist said if the moluccan is healthy, doing well there, that there is no reason to believe that she shouldn’t do well at our home. If the bird were not healthy there, it would be different. She says that as a rule, healthy birds rehome very well.
-A BIG Pro here, in retrospect is the fact if we are THAT busy in our daily lives that we can’t sit down and
Spend time with something that beautiful that loves us, maybe WE are the ones with the problem and not the bird.
In other words, maybe the bird’s needs puts our lives in persepective. Once you sit down to pet, it’s nice.
It’s our taking the time out of the day to sit down and pet our bird. The world will keep turning. We are not that important.
Hmmmm, that’s all philosophical but true.

Cons:
-LOUD and SHRILL scream. All birds scream. She is not habitual. Morning, evening calls and in betwen if there are visitors or a party. When we were there, she screamed about, I dunno I didn't count, 5,6,7 times in the hour and a half we were there. Then she settled down nicely.
-Can't leave her alone. Not her fault. I can leave Cleo alone for hours with an empty Bic pen and she's content. Gigi will wander...and eat things in between...not because she's devious, but because they do.
-Dandur, lot of dandur. Might require daily baths to keep it in check. Do I want to have a bird I feel like I HAVE to bathe daily?? Cleo gets one on Saturday. She loves it. Of course, Gigi loves em and is easy to bathe the owner says.
-More upkeep to keeping toys. Cleo is content wtih a Dixie cup strung up and a peanut inside. This bird requires, REQUIRES..2x4's. or soemthing similar to be made or bought.
-She is big. Although I really like a bigger bird, she is large. Requires more room; cage room, carrier room, playstand room.
-Although she plays independently now, might be a problem if she gets accustomed to all the petting, then either when the kids move off, or we get busy or whatever might come along.
-Vet bills, to me, don't apply. You own something, you take care of it..regardless.

I'm really analyzing this. She is a doll. She is coming to our home for a visit with her family Saturday nite to see how that goes. The "plans" are for her to come to our home for two weeks in February, Valentines weekend, to see how it goes. That is the plan...you know how plans can go. haha. I am thinking I might ask for her about a month. 4 weeks, day in and day out, could give a better picture of the situation. She’s in no hurry and I’m in no hurry. She and I just want the best for the bird.
As moluccans go…Gigi is top notch! But still, she is a moluccan with their inherent character and beauty alongside their inherent challenges. Nobody’s perfect.

Sitting down, looking at this list makes me go hmmm, the pros outweigh the cons, numerically. I don’t want to take the bird and have to rehome it just in case it doesn’t work out. I'm taking it seriously. It's not a one night stand to me. also, I need to see Cleo's reaction. Although they won't get near each other for two weeks, they know the other is in the room/house. Cleo is not really bothered by Dood. But Dood is like a lil snack cracker compared to Cleo.


If you own ANY pet, it's work. Anything is work. It boils down to do the benefits outweigh the work. Because, it is true that a bird chooses it's owner. But with GIGI, she doesn't know a stranger. Hops on the first hand comes up. So, yea, she chose me, but she'd choose anybody. She has a big and trusting heart. She is more partial to men, they say.
Oh well, just letting ya’ll know that I have researched this situation…and still am researching. Also, it might help others considering a bird to use this list to help them see what I'm thinking about.
I'll pic and vid the visit this weekend and get the owner's ok to post the vid.