tough choice...need some advice

[kbennett]

Originally Posted by Emmilyy

are there any parrot rescues in you area? at least they make sure the parrots go to good homes usually.

I can't afford to lose 650 that I paid for paco plus the 100 for the cage but no there are none in the area

[Greycloud]

I posted in the Conures section, after you PM"d me.

[Emmilyy]

what do you mean you can't afford to lose it? i'm sorry, but when you bought the bird (how long ago was it that you did) did you expect to have to re sell it and get your money back?

[Tom Lawless]

You may find in your husband's absence the bird warms back up to you again. That often happens.

I have to say, I'm not sure I understand completely where you are coming from. Do you feel you can't afford to keep the birds? If inexperience is your concern that can be quickly rectified by some reading, research, and seeking advice on online forums such as this. I just read a little article where the author said conures are the most forgiving of any 'training' mistakes we might make. I think you can make this work, even in your husbands absence, if you want to but your posts lead me to suspect that ultimately you may no longer want birds. If that is the case I agree that rehoming them will be in the best interest of all concerned. I know the money issue is important. $650 is substantial but rarely is any amount, big or small, spent on an animal considered the equivalent of equity in an investment. Taking a pet into your home means you are now responsible for the animal's best interest and money spent needs to be taken out of the equation when considering the best way to give the best life to this animal. Just one man's opinion.

[Sandybottomsmn]

A bird is not like a home or some sort of jewelry. There is no animal that any one buys, unless its for breeding intent, thinking that after x amount of years they will make that back. If you are "concerned" with the birds well being then do the right thing and give them to a rescue instead of being worried about the money you will lose out. Ultimately its the birds loosing here, not you.

[Lisa B]

May I add, that this post is coming from a soon to be deployed soldiers wife. understand her emotions are all over right now. She has alot to be dealing with, and possibly her words are short because of it. There is more going on with her thoughts then most will ever understand.
With that said, I wish her and her husband the best.

[MaryG1959]

There are a couple suitable rescues that might be able to help with your rehoming them. Contact them, keep the birds in your care while they help you search for a home.

Good Luck with your decisions.

[shellbeme]

I am an army brat and I know what it's like when someone close to you has to go overseas like this and be gone for so long. It's not easy. I know durring these times money can sometimes be tighter too. In the end you know what's best for you, and you have to do that, but here is what I think.

I think the birds can be great support for you while he's gone and I think he will love to hear how they are doing, and get pictures and updates. I think it will be nice for you to come home to them-and I think this is your chance to make friends with the bird who likes to bite you. If you are willing to put forth the effort there are alot of knowledgable people who are willing to help you out.

Toys can be expensive but you can make your own in hard times, they may not be as colorful and such but you can still make them decent toys with things from a craft store and such. I would encourage you to keep them, I think it will be good therapy. :) *hugs* but none of us are currently in your shoes.

Oh and birds can adapt to children... ;) no worries there.

[kali]

I wouldn't worry about any of the things you mentioned. They can all be rectified. But if you no longer want them, it is better to own up to that and not hide behind other reasons.

If Luke had to leave me to go into the army i would take a lot of comfort in our 'babies' and even though one of his birds doesn't really like me, there are ways to get them to come around.

[New Ekkie Mom]

I am a Navy wife too, and I can't see how your husband's deployment has anything to do with needing to rehome your birds, unless you just want to travel a lot to visit your family while he's gone, and you feel you can't take your birds with you. There are very easy solutions to all of your other concerns. The part that confuses me is when you said you would return Paco, but not Tango, since Tango is your husband's bird, but Tango is the one you can't handle which was the original reason you stated for rehoming/returning them.

If you have decided you just don't want to deal with the birds, then please rehome them to a good home. Don't return them to the pet store unless you have completely lost patience and have no concern about their future. But if you truly don't want to get rid of them and you just don't know how to manage a bird that bites you, then please check out the yahoo group called Bird-Click. They can help you learn to clicker train Tango, which will do 2 things. It will improve your relationship with him immensely, and in the meantime, it will give him a great quality of life with a stimulating, entertaining environment without you having to handle him at all. If you absolutely have to handle him while he is still agressive with/afraid of you, put on a pair of gloves and use a perch to move him from place to place.

As far as you possibly having kids at some point in the future...tons of people on this board, including me, have children AND birds. There is no reason to think that your birds would suffer from neglect just because you have children, unless you just don't want to deal with them. It's a little more work for you, but it's easily do-able. Would you rehome your first child because you thought you might have a second baby later and you didn't want your first one to get less attention? I know birds aren't children, but it's the same concept.

I agree with everything Tom said. If you truly hate having to give up your birds and wish there was another option, there is. You asked what we would do, and I would not give up a bird for the reasons you listed. However, if you have just decided that you don't want to deal with them, then please be honest with yourself and rehome them to the best home you can find. Do not offer them for free, because some pretty horrible people are quick to snatch up free pets, but do not expect to get back everything you spent on them. It's unreasonable and selfish to expect that.

If you want more advice on ways to keep your birds, there are many, many people on this board who would be glad to help you. If you decide for sure you are ready to rehome them, this is a good place to start too. Let us know what you decide. I wish you the best for you and your birds, and for your husband--fair winds and following seas.