Dilemma

[Freedomoflight]

There are two sides to every coin. The birds I have purchased are few- finches, canaries. A pair of lovebirds way back when- and my first bird, a greencheek conure.
With the exception of the finches and canaries (who can go wrong with those little guys? *grins*) All the others birds came with just as much baggage as my current flock, whom are all rescues. The lovebird pair was a supposed bonded pair- the male hated the female and attacked her repeated times, plucked her and even causing severe injuries to her beak.
The greencheek was my 'first large bird'. I had done loads of research, saved up money. A birdfair came around and I found a breeder who was offering a greencheek at reasonable price. I purchased the cage, the bird, food, etc etc. That bird was a baby, and still for whatever reason turned at so... nasty. Flying to attack my face, screaming nonstop. I consulted many, many people. Finally I decided to give the bird up to a friend who has many greencheeks- the bird is much happier now living with his own kind.
From then on I have taken in rescues. Are they mean? Sure- wouldnt you be if you have been passed around from home to home all your life? Stuck in a small cage unable to move so all your muscles atrophied? Given an inadequate diet that suppressed your immune system, or lead to heart disease, ultimatly leading to an early death? Tortured by the same toy in your cage for the first 3 years of your life- a cage not small enough to flap your wings or play properly? Sure- I'd be mean to if I was hit, cussed at, and then after it all, dropped off at someones house, or a store to be rehomed.
Thats how all my fids came to me- and I wouldnt trade any of them for the world.
Would I like a baby? Sure- one day. To see if I could really raise one 'properly'. My goal, honestly, would be to get a baby, that has no background, has no past. Socialize it to the fullest extent possible, and use it as a therapy bird. Kids and adults love seeing the birds in elementary schools and nursing homes, but my birds are too flighty because they havent been exposed to that thing, or something that resembles a person or object they have seen in a previous home scares the jeepers out of them.
Will I ever disgrard a bird because it was 'someone elses?' Nope. On the same token, will I never by a baby. Nope. Its all in the timing and situation.
JMHO

[GreetingCardReligion]

You could go either way and whichever bird you bring into your home will be all the better for it and a very lucky little guy/gal to be so properly cared for

You could always go play with the baby TAGs and see if any leap out and make an instant connection with you. There isn't any comitment required to go look at babies and you might decide that none of them really "stand out" to you which would make your decision easier (and vice versa)

You could always get both as well, depending on your situation

It is a very good thing to rescue a bird, few people are going to contest that, but from what I've seen you post in the grey forum, I think you really do want a grey.

Go with your heart on this one - birds live a very long time, are very time and money consuming and will own you ... so choose wisely. I would go with whichever pulls you the most, since its ultimately you that are going to be living with and caring for your decision for years to come.

Me, personally, I would get a baby (and did ). This is going to be someone who (hopefully ) will be sharing the rest of my life with me and I'd like to grow with him from the beginning.

Not all rescue birds are going to have issues - some are going to have really awful ones, but none of them are going to be the same as the baby TAG you may have purchased.

I do not think its selfish in any way to buy a baby bird. That baby exists just as much as the birds in the rescue and both deserve a loving home equally. The baby you buy from the breeder may be one you saved from torment, and ending up in a rescue later in life. Babies are more likely to end up as impulse buys from uneducated people and the TAG would be very lucky for you to take him/her in.

[bustersbuddy]

Buster is a true rescue bird. She was lost and literally wandering down the sidewalk when our friend Dave found her and brought her in. She is a wonderful little girl, BUT there are a lot of issues and it has taken us a full year to really gain her trust and get her back to what I would consider "normal" cockatiel behavior. She is still very wary of hands (except when they are holding food!) and will not perch on us, will not allow us to pet her in any fashion and does not step up. Buster does fly on command and do several other behaviors that are actually more difficult than stepping up, so her reticence is not due to a lack of smarts! We are working with her continually and she makes continual progress so I would expect her to get to the scritches and step up within a few weeks to months.

We are getting another cockatiel in the spring and at this point, I would not adopt another rescue. I don't have the time to do the work necessary right now. I will buy a hand-raised, banded baby from a local, reputable breeder. I will check the breeder carefully and insist on seeing the parents, facilities, etc. I believe in supporting my local breeders and won't buy from a general pet shop, although I would buy from a dedicated bird store (we have some excellent shops in Los Angeles).

Everything depends on what you want in a bird. You have a well-behaved, smart Nanday that you clearly adore. I have to ask if you are willing to let him be exposed to a bird with bad habits and a lot of baggage. Look at things from Doyle's perspective. It is going to be hard enough to learn to share mommy and daddy's affection. What will he think of a bird that yells all the time, bites, plucks or exhibits other undesirable behaviors? It would be like having a constant drunken party complete with people who fight all day long move in next door. Of course, the same could be true with a baby, but they are much easier to train and much easier to correct negative behaviors. Those are just my thoughts based on long experience with birds of many different species from finches to macaws and cockatoos and I know they are contrary to many opinions on this board but I don't believe in being PC just to do it.

[The Outlaw]

Its about the right bird, not where you find it. I always say, let the bird choose you. Now, I'll step off of my soap box.

[Doyle'sMommy]

Thanks for all the help, we really appreciate it. I am going to contact that rescue and see if we can go visit, maybe on Sunday. I think we will keep our plans to go to the breeder for now, but we want to check out both options.

[cfulhage]

I agree with Nancy, but I think you also need to take into account your experience with birds. Many rescues come with baggage that a novice bird owner may not be able to handle. But along with that- if you have a connection with this rescued bird, then it will make it that much easier. Plus, the rewards to adopting a rescue and giving them a second chance at life would be just incredible.

I don't feel that I am in a place in my life right now where I could adopt a rescue with potential behavioral/health issues, but in the future if I were wanting another bird I would probably look toward a rescue before anything else. It would be so rewarding.

[homebird]

I agree with Outlaw here & many others - there are so many to choose from - all sort of parrots & ages - that if you look carefully & patiently one [hopefully not 10] will stand out as to the one who suits you best. There are members here who have second-hand birds that don't really qualify as a rescue - My Laker is probably one. He just needed another home because he didn't have one - cause he flew away & got lost {who nows the real story}. A friend of mine got a free bird from a Bird club - a member was downsizing his flock.

Some Parronts are ill or have to go to a nursing home. It would be a blessing if you helped their peace of mind by giving their pet a new place. If they lived near maybe they could have a visit later from you & their old friend. Maybe an Avian Vet would be able to pair you up.

As already said some birds come with baggage but a lot are just little innocents waiting for a chance.

[lilmama]

There is a very large rescue near where we are (about 2 hours east of Atl.) if you want to look around. I'm not sure if it is a good place to get a bird. I did go there when I was looking for a bird but decided it would be best for an inexperienced person such as my self to start with a baby. The place has a lot of birds! http://www.featheredfriendsforever.org

[Machelle]

I think your doing the right thing with visiting both. Like Nancy said, let the bird pick you. Birds take alot of patience anyway but a rescue takes alot more. Of the 5 I have, none are rescues, 1 is a rehome and the others I purchased, 2 from breeders and 2 from pet stores. My rehome took alot more patience than the others (except for my tiel) becuase he preferred men over women before I got him. He is now a mamma's boy. BIG TIME. He didn't have any behavioral problems or anything but it still took some patience for him to trust me. It broke my heart when he would go to my husband and not me but I eventually won him over. This is just a rehome and not a rescue. And I did gert him off of a poster from Craigs list. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Best thing I ever did. He's my baby and I love him dearly. I honestly can't imagine having a rescue. I have ALOT of respect for those who have taken them in. You definitely have alot to think about, but liek I said, I think you are doing the right thing by going to both. Who knows? When you got to one or the other, one could totally pick you and you'll wonder why you asked the question in the first place.

[Doyle'sMommy]

Originally Posted by lilmama

There is a very large rescue near where we are (about 2 hours east of Atl.) if you want to look around. I'm not sure if it is a good place to get a bird. I did go there when I was looking for a bird but decided it would be best for an inexperienced person such as my self to start with a baby. The place has a lot of birds! http://www.featheredfriendsforever.org

That's the one we're looking at. Glad someone else has been there! Do tell me about it!