Apologies to the too owners

[The Outlaw]

Dear Flock:

I know I'm frequently the bad guy when it comes to cockatoos. Its only because I'm a crusader for macaws. Its pretty much an either or in the long run. I know that many of your homes have both and at least for now its seems to be working out. For those of you with big hearts and even bigger checking accounts, I congratulate you. I have often pondered how different my home would be if I was still raising little rugrats and fighting the beltway traffic on a daily basis. Its no cake walk. I came into parrot ownership late in life and that was a blessing. It gave me more resources than I would have had in my youth, lots more patience and far more life skills. I'm truly glad that the timing worked for me.

I was called by a dear friend whom I think I insulted today. It was not my intent. Certainly not. She is working hard to rehab some problem birds and provide the best environment that she can. That's certainly commendable. But, I cannot in good conscience promote owning both species if you have to house them in the same building. If you didn't know any better, then now you'll just have to work harder to protect your flock. Anyone willing to save a bird is a good guy as far as I'm concerned. Let's just get that on the record.

Again, for those of you whom I have offended, my humblest apologies.

THE OUTLAW

[Monica]

It would have been nice if I got into birds after I had first gotten a job, however, I wouldn't have gotten Casey and Noel, whom I love the dearest, and I wouldn't have been able to give Cosmo and the bourkes a needed home, and I wouldn't have been able to save Smurf from the horrible situation that he was in (he lived in a place where they smoked, did pot, etc).

I do wish that I could help out 4 cockatiels in one house, and some other's in another home (though I might be able to help those other birds, however, I am not sure... I only talked to the owner once, when we had lost our dear kitten Kirara "Kee-La-La"). For now though, I'm sure that I cannot do much for the cockatiels, since I've already talked to their owner and he hasn't changed anything... and the daughter of the family wants to breed them....

However, ever since I got into birds, I've been trying to find ways to get money, and now I have the chance to get a job, if only I have transportation...

Though being young, and owning birds, I've gotten more patience, have become more responsible, and even calmed down from the times when I'd get outbursts of anger... Before we moved, I was going to make some toys for Noel in my woodshop class that I had, and I had some plans, but I ended up moving before that was made possible...


I wouldn't say that you are "the bad guy," only that you care greatly for birds, and you want what is in their best interests, and you try to make it clear to the owners, even if it may come out harsh, and you mean it not to. You only stress how much care and attention that they need.

[wildirish]

Nancy, thank you for that, but you didn't insult me. I know my situation isn't the best in the world, and I am trying to fix it soon. Like I said when I talked to you I am always open to suggestions.

Your opinion means alot to me, and I value your advice, you have been a wonderful source of information and encouragement. I am new to all this bird stuff, especially on this scale, and can always use good advice and someone on the other end of the phone who can appreciate the chaos in the background ....right Jodi......LOL!!!

I wish I had the resources to alot of things differently, but given some time, it will be better.

[TooLover]

Nancy,
I am NEVER insulted by your advice; I, too, value your opinion and all the wonderful suggestions you give.
I, also, came into bird ownership late in life; thank goodness my kids are grown and I can afford to provide the best care for my babies.
Don't ever feel that you can't speak your mind Nancy............

[wildirish]

Noooooo, my house is so very quiet..... :oops: Ginger can be very amusing, during her b*tch sessions. Everyone seems to love hearing them.

I have a sister who does that, asks for advice and then ignores it and it blows up in her face half the time. She loves animals, but with 4 kids and total chaos, she doesn't have the time to dedicate to her dogs much the birds that she wants. Right now all she has are 2 parakeets and 2 finches. She is bent and determined to get a larger bird, and of all things she likes sun conures, YIKES!!!!! Her life is so busy with selling avon, a hubby that works nights, now getting into Party Lites, on top of the kids stuff, including GS troop leader, she's hardly home and her house sounds like mine, but with the kids screaming instead.

I know I don't know all the answers, that's why I come here and read online, and buy books when I can find them. Although experience is the best teacher and asking people who have similar situations is the best way to find out what to do.

Nancy and everyone else, the whole idea is that we shouldn't have to walk on egg shells here, we are all adults and should be able to take the good advice and the criticism and turn into a good thing, as a way to learn from our mistakes. No one is perfect, but it would be a boring world if we were.

[The Outlaw]

Ya know, its so good dealing with grown ups. I have posted on some boards where all they do is hug and kiss each other and forget that we all joined to exchange information and learn. I don't always like to have to do things differently that I had planned, but dammit, I'll do whatever I have to do to protect my birds. They depend on me to make the proper decisions.

Thanks, ladies, for understanding the INTENT of the message. Its tough being the bearer of bad news. You have no idea what lengths I'd go to just to save one day of tears for an ignorant pet owner. This isn't rocket science, but it IS zoology. Thinking that its anything less is not thinking very clearly.

THE OUTLAW

[TooLover]

And we love you for it Nancy!

[primrose04]

I want to say that I recently joined and had a hard decsion to make and was treated very good here. I appreciate all of you and I take each thing that is suggested here to heart. I have really learned alot in the short time that I have been talking to you.
you will be happy to know that I have desided to keep Popper. she may be a brat and hard to handle but she's my brat and my husband has said that he would be willing to work with her more. since she LOVES him.
I am a little embarrassed to say that I don't know all your abbreiviations and am confused sometimes.like why do you refer cockatiels as fids. I always called them cocks or tiels. it took me a while to realize that you were talking about tiels.

all of you are great and keep up the good work trying to educate us dummies (myself included) :D

[The Outlaw]

Fids is a universal expression that simply stands for feathered kids.

[TooLover]

On the board before our terrible crash someone had listed a website with all of the abbreviations...... does anyone have that link? It certainly helped me......