Aarghhhhhhh!!! Save me from myself!

[Casa Amazona]

I have the chance to "acquire" (for $500) an M2, about 5 years old, missing one wing, very quiet and timid, absolutely gorgeous and fully feathered, seemingly healthy, along with his less-than-wonderful cage. Will somebody remind me that I've done LOADS of research and decided that an M2 is TOO LOUD for me. Help me ... I'm slipping .........

The lady also has a 5-year-old U2 male, somewhat plucked but very friendly, who played catch with me, for the same price. Not such a temptation, because the bird took about 30 seconds to velcro himself to me and I know that won't work over the long haul.

[Joel]

Snap out of it Joanie!!!!! .........I realize what you are going thru, happens to me also. If ya don't have the time to love & care for them properly and plenty of ear plugs besides a good ventilation system or outside aviary set up, I would suggest for your sake to pass. However for the bird's sake I would suggest you get them both as you sound like someone who is capable of giving them a good home if ya truly can find that time needed to devote to them.......I do think however that those prices are way too high for a handicapped bird and even for a plucker. IMO, the current owner should just give you FREE or as close to free as possible the "missing wing" one & be happy that you are going to provide it love & comfort for the rest of your life and the bird's life also. For the plucker I would not pay more than maybe $300 myself if everything else with the bird is perfect & cages incl. since they are not so hot..........Good luck with your decision and remember to quarantine before placing them anywhere near your current birds. Remember the dander and germs travel thru the air & air-conditoning sytsem in your house so quarantine is best done maybe in a separate enclosure outside and by using strict hygiene procedures such as washing hands, body and clothes when going from new birds to your own bird(s).

[alleaa]

Hi Joanie I have to tell you, I've been around birds for a bit over 30 years. I have always wanted a M2 and had been around many that were sweet as pie and just lovely in the short term. Well I had the chance to adopt one, Syd from a lovely family that just didn't have the time for him. He is a great guy, the majority of the time, however with it being breeding season he has gone a bit off the wall. He is the first big bird to ever bit me and just the other day he hopped off his play top to try and attack my hubby who he loves. He can be playful, sweet and a great bird to have but then everything changes for a couple months and you have to be very careful with him. You can see in his eyes what kind of day you will have with him. Don't get me wrong we love him to no end, however in my opinion a Male M2 is the loudest, most unpredictable bird there is.
And just to remind you "You've done LOADS of research and decided that an M2 is TOO LOUD for you." LOL

[Casa Amazona]

Thank you both. You're both right, so I'll just step away from the cages, get back in my truck and leave ALONE. Of course, with my sweet little Elisa on my shoulder last night giving lovin's I was thinking about how wonderful the M2 is, but you're right. No sense in setting myself up for a disappointment for the birds, especially as hard as it is on them to have to adjust to a new flock if he would push me over the brink.

[okieparrots]

And Joanie, don't think that what you see, is what you get. A quiet M2 won't stay that way. Especially if they are currently unhappy and were to move into your home to discover true joy, which can only be expressed in the cockatoo way for all the world (I swear they take that literally) to hear!

I have a friend who experienced something similar. She's been researching and wanting a 'too for over two years now. I'd warned her several times about the realities vs the idea. Finally she had the opportunity to acquire a four year old M2 male. perfect feather, a little stand-offish (loves men..). She works for my vet and the bird was there for several weeks before she took him home. He was relatively quiet UNTIL he got home. Then he screamed incessantly the moment she walked in the door. He bonded to her boyfriend immediately and proceeded to attack her when she came in the room. It was only a matter of weeks before she couldn't take it anymore and had to find a better suited home for him. Trust me, no amount of research is as loud as the real thing....

Good for you that you realize an M2 just isn't a good match for you, even if it's free with all the bells and whistles. Stick to what you know...love the ones you've got.

[The Outlaw]

At last, grown ups! It's hard to say no to yourself. I agree with everyone on this thread. Here's your reality: should you lose your mind again in the near future and "just have to have an M2", then I can PROMISE you there will be one waiting in the wings.

Wendy can surely attest to this, for she and I have the same kind of things happening to us weekly. On average, in any given month, I have at least 2 M2s or U2s offered to me free, usually with cages and playstands and whatever else the owner could fit in a truck. Its frigthening. Too many impulse buys and breeders desperate to unload a backlog of babies. Frankly, I'm shocked that anyone is still breeding them for the rescues are up to their eyeballs trying to find good homes for them.

Something that everyone really needs to understand is just HOW viscious a mature male (say in the 15 year range) can really be. Its frightening and lasts many months and goes on for decades. Or perhaps a plucking female is more to your liking. Take your pick.

THE OUTLAW

[Casa Amazona]

To all of of you wonderful friends, thank you! You've confirmed what I already knew but was trying to ignore. A good decision is best made away from all temptation and then enforced in the midst of temptation. What REALLY tipped the scales was the thread on the U2 and the B&G that's been running for the last day or so. Even cockatiel dander makes itself known in my lungs. I live in a house built in 1936 with NO ventilation system in the bird room other than what comes through the French doors from the living room. What makes me think I can live with the dander, let alone the NOISE?!?! I think I'll just keep praying for the right Yellow-Naped Amazon female, a real desire of my heart, and be patient. I turned down a lovely young Double-Yellow Headed Amazon at a good price last weekend because I'm waiting for the Nape. A few weeks ago I had the idea of making a note of every "bargain-priced" bird I came across that I was tempted to buy and putting the price of that bird in my cookie jar. It wouldn't be very long before I could afford what I REALLY want and would be far happier (as would all the birds) in the long run. So far the cookie jar would have around $2,000 in it, based on the number of "bargain" birds I've seen advertised lately! Why can't we just give them all a home? Anyway, thank you for the feedback and moral support.

[Casa Amazona]

By the way, Outlaw, it's hard for me to imagine anything ornerier than a male DYA in breeding season, but my exposure to M2s has been very limited (limited, actually to the nastiest bite on a tender part of my anatomy that I've every had, come to think of it). Hmmmm..........

[sweetie&meli]

it might sound stupid buts whats and ''M2''?

[Monica]

Moluccan cockatoo... It also goes by salmon crested cockatoo. Like the sulpher crested cockatoos, except their crest feathers are usually a deep yellow (tinted orange) to a vivid orange (and possibly rarely, a deep red in color).