Adopting vs. Breeder

[Falsk]

Hello everyone. My name is Falsk and I'm a new to the board, but have been lurking for the past few months.

I come from a pet-crazy family (the best kind) and have had numerous budgies over the years. On the cusp of graduating from college (and becoming an unemployed filmmaker) I've been desperately wanting to have a bird back in my life and have been reading up on all kinds of parrots, with conures and poicephalus being the most interesting to me. As I continue reading and learning which bird will be right for me, I have one (well, for now) question.

My parents are strong proponents of getting all of our animals from shelters and I was contemplating applying this to what bird I end up choosing. My question is, who here has adopted their conure? The one important thing I'm looking for is a well-socialized animal that will, more or less, feel comfortable going to strangers and not be a one-person bird. With an older bird in a shelter, is it more difficult to do this?

I guess just overall experience with shelter birds is what I'm interested in hearing, and I will try to keep all future questions to a minimum... otherwise I'd be flooding this place, haha.

Thank you all for your time and answers. This place really is a wealth of information and is so great!

[magdalena]

I think you can find a bird that will go to anyone as easily in a rescue as at a breeders (and with more long term consistency). When you get an older (or possibly more issue-ladden) bird you know exactly what its limitations at that time are. So many birds in shelters are there not because of behavioral things but because their families split up or had to move that you can immediately see (if you go in to work with them) exactly how they react to things.

I don't have a conure but I got my african grey from a rescue and was honestly a little worried because she was so skittish. She dosn't bite at all but she was terrified of me there. I brought her home and the change was nothing short of magical, she has been stuck to me for the past 2 months and I keep looking back and wondering what sort of idiot I was for having questioned that she was the right bird for me! You can absolutely luck out with a wonderful well adjusted bird from a rescue and yes you can luck out with one raised with you from babyhood too. It will always depend on the bird and the environment.

[menafu23]

This might get some hate mail thrown my way, but here I go. I have fostered for years for various rescues, including PearTree Avian Sanctuary. The last bird I fostered, Obi, the African Grey was great. The downside was that due to a lack of socialization and interaction with humans he had several "issues".

He was great with me. He would sit on my shoulder for hours, preening my hair. He would talk to me and even share his food with my (not that I was interested in eating Harrison's). The downside was that even after a year of theraputic fostering he could not have anything changed in his enviroment without what the rescue and I called a "freak out session". He would pluck and pin his wing.

I have a daughter, 4 years old, and she could not approach Obi. I could not have friends over until Obi was on his playstand in the other room or he would start plucking.

I continued to work with Obi and eventually we were able to work him past his need to pluck/pin. He never could fully accept strangers though and because I have a daughter that will have friends over and my family is very active and social, the rescue and I found him a home with a stay-at-home mom that had a quiet life and plenty of time to devote to just him. Obi found the "perfect" home. I of course cried when he left, I had spent so much time rehabilitating him, it was like watching a child move on with their life.

NOW.....I am not saying every bird is like this that comes from rescue, but realize that adopting from a rescue is a huge commitment. While it is not the birds fault for issues it may have, most come from previous owners, there will most likely be some "issues".

Ask yourself if you have time to work with he/she. Are you ready to commit months/years helping your rescue bird become a more socialized, well rounded parrot?

I have also met some parrots that come into the sanctuary that are pretty well socialized and their families just lost interest in them (so many people forget these birds live a LONG time).

I guess what I am trying to say (in a very long way!) is that if you are looking to adopt please go to a rescue that works with you and understands what you are looking for. The rescue I help turns down more potential adopters than it approves. The director is very picky and there is a LONG interview process and several trips to the aviary.

Parrots from breeders are a commitment too and will require you to provide the foundations of training. Yes, it is a clean slate (if purchasing a young bird), but remember you hold the key to the parrot developing into a happy, well-socialized parrot.

Sorry for the very long post. I tend to be long winded. I hope you do not think I am trying to deter you from either one, just see too many birds/dogs/cats surrendered to rescues because no one sat down with the potential buyer/adopter and discussed the commitment, requirements, etc. of getting a new pet, esp. a parrot.

Good Luck and I hope you find the best possible parrot for you!!!!!!

[Falsk]

Originally Posted by menafu23

Sorry for the very long post. I tend to be long winded. I hope you do not think I am trying to deter you from either one, just see too many birds/dogs/cats surrendered to rescues because no one sat down with the potential buyer/adopter and discussed the commitment, requirements, etc. of getting a new pet, esp. a parrot.

No, no, no. I'm really interested in everything everyone has to say. And the thing is, no animal (bird or not) is really ever the same. I'm just curious to hear about adoption stories... just because. We'll see how the next few months progress for me, but regardless, I know that a bird is a commitment and my family and I are ready for that.

[menafu23]

I think that is great, so many of us have experiences to share. I am sure that you will find the perfect parrot for you. Right now my little 5 1/2 week old peach front is sitting on my lap, chirping away as I type.

I love seeing people take the time to find the right pet for them, that task alone helps ensure one less pet ending up in a rescue some years down the road.

Keep us posted on your journey to find the "perfect" bird for you. Can't wait to see what you end up getting!

[usamma]

I think there are pros and cons to each situation.

I, too, ideally would adopt from a shelter or rescue. I ended up buying Moki from Craigslist because I couldn't afford the price of a new baby. Moki came with a cage and a history. Unfortunately I don't know much about the history other than people didn't have time for him, and he was hit if he bit anyone. I used to foster racing greyhounds before I had kids, so I figured if I gave him time and love he would come around.

Moki is the best bird ever now. :) It's been 5 months since he came home and I feel like he's been here forever. It's taken him some time to come around, but he has, with flying colors (no pun intended!). He went from a frightened, aggressive bird to a very lovable and gentle one. As I type this he's sitting on my shoulder grooming me.

I think if you go the rescue route you should maybe see if you can foster first, or get some support after you take the bird home in case you have problems that need to be worked out. It's taken me awhile to learn to read Moki's body language and moods. I have learned that even the sweetest birds become very grumpy during molting time or mating season, for example, and not to take it personally.

I sometimes wish I had adopted a baby bird because then I would have known that there was more chance for bonding, and the bird would never have learned to be afraid of people. I see some of these birds here on this board who are so much more tame than Moki from the start. Moki is a picky eater because he was probably not introduced to good foods at the critical age.

Personally though, I'm glad I had the chance to rescue Moki and give him a better home where he pretty much the center of attention as far as the pets in our house go. It was very rewarding to find the real loveable bird at the center of that scared ball of feathers that I first brought home.

[menafu23]

I definetly agree with usamma; foster first. My fostering Obi first, we eventually came to the conclusion that he would not be the best match for our family.

Fostering also allows you the chance to interact with several different types of parrots and find out in general what type matches you. I had always been fascinated by macaws, but now know that in general they are not the ideal parrot for me.

[janejacinto]

The first thing you have to do is ask yourself what do you want in a bird. The only thing you said is going to more than one person. Caique may be the bird for you, most others are known to bond more with one person than another.

There are so many other questions you need to ask yourself about having a bird live with you. You say unemployed, maybe you can not afford a bird, they are costly. What does the pocket book look like?

Do you have a home, apartment, noise is a factor, conures are known to be loud. Can you handle a loud bird?

Do you want an active bird, one that is really into playing or one that will just sit with you for hours? Do you want one the will talk, is that important to you? How much room do you have for cage, playstand and so on? Where do you live, some birds you are not able to have in some states? How much time do you have to spend with the bird? Do you want to have it flighted, do you want to take it places with you? Are you married, does girlfriend like birds? How clean of a person are you, can you handle the mess that the bird will make? Can you take a bite? Some birds are a longer commintment than other, live longer, are you ready for that long? There are so many questions.

Think it is best to visit people with birds, pet stores, bird fairs and so on to get all the information you can. Don't buy, just look and talk to people. Bird people love to talk about the birds that live with them.

Have three of the four birds living with us are rehomes. None from rescue group but people we knew or someone we knew them and told us about them. Rehomes are not for everyone, many come with issues, some do not. It depends on the bird and the people they come from.

Rescue places are not for me but are for many. The problem I have with rescue groups is they have you sign paper that says if you can no longer keep the bird it has to go back to them. If for some reason we could no long care for the birds, I want to say where they will go, not them. Some will only let one person be on the paper work, which means if the person dies that signs the paper, the husband/wife/partner/child can not keep the bird, it will have to go back to the rescue. Not saying that the birds are like my children, but I would not have wanted the courts to say where my kids went and neither do I want someone else saying where the birds would go. Not to mention, if husband or I would pass, would not want them to take the birds away also. They can take the bird from you if they deem you are not taking care of the bird the way they think is best. This may sound silly as I do know they are looking out for the birds. Just read about clipping wings and you will see how different people feel about that, not saying they would take away a bird because you clipped or did not clip. Just be careful with rescue groups and know what you are signing is a legal paper.

Glad to see you are doing your homework, not just going out and getting a bird before you know what you are getting into. Have seem many do that, some do work out but most do not. Bird are great but just not for everyone. Sorry for the long post.
Jane

[Falsk]

To answer all your questions...

In terms of money, I'm fine for bird costs. Unemployed with freelance just means I never know when the next job will come. But I've known this for years so I'm good at scrimping and saving and am definitely not hurting or anything. If I was, I definitely wouldn't be looking into a pet.

I just bought a Flight Cage from BirdsComfort that will more than likely be set up in the living room (the center of the house). I also have a smaller sleep cage that I will be keeping in my room that can double as a travel cage as well. In the next month once I'm finally finished with school I plan on building some play areas as well as all the toys for both cages. I'd like to dedicate at the very least a couple of hours a day with the bird (when I'm working this would be the maximum, otherwise I'd obviously be able to spend longer).

I'm actually really interested with the harness aspect. I've only ever kept budgies before and the thought of being able to take a bird with your out of the house (what a scary thought!) and go on walks. It's baffling (but in a good way). Definitely something I want to look into as it provides, I don't know, more bonding time (for lack of better words) with the bird.

I've kept all kinds of animals and can handle the mess.

The boyfriend (I should've mentioned I'm a girl, sorry!) is a writer, so my only concern is finding a bird that's not going to scream 24/7 which is why I was looking at a GCC or a poi because they've been labelled as quieter. I've been to a few stores and compared to the screaming Macaws a few cages over, this SEEMED to hold true. Of course, everyone's different, so...

Thank you so much for your response. I have one more week before I'm free as a ... well, you know. I've been to a few bird stores, but there aren't too many in the south Jersey area, but I will continue my searching!

[janejacinto]

Got a cage already, well that will tell what kind of a bird you can get, what the cage will hold. What cage did you get?
Jane