Advice, Help needed

[donnakris]

I need advice and opinions. I'm adopting a 1 year old Greenwing. After talking to the lady last night for about an hour we decided she's bringing him/her to me, with cage.
I got an email from her this morning saying she also had a Blue & Gold that she needed to rehome and after talking to me she wondered if I'd take him/her as well.
A little background--she has 11 birds and is trying to lower the number she has due to not enough time for everyone. Both birds she says she has had since babies, bought from a breeder. Both are friendly, have never bitten and I could tell from talking to her that she adores her fids.

Now, I would like to know what everyone thinks about adopting 2 Macaws? Am I losing is? If I take these 2 I think it would be the last birds since I would have 5. Hubby and I are discussing both but I need the experience y'all have.

So, let me have it--the good, the bad, the ugly. I'm ready.

[Lessadalinar]

ALOT ALOT of work!! The time you have into your birds you have now... double it. errr Triple it!! Well worth it though
How do you think your other Birds would react to new Brothers/sisters?

[kellywess]

I have 5... its alot of work (I personally love it). It might make the transition on the Greenwing easier if he had a buddy with him in Quarentine. Its really a personal decision. Do you have time to share with two more large birds that require alot of attention? Are both you and your husband hands on? Do you work? Do you have kids? I see you have a U2... thats a handful in itself. Then you have to take into consideration the space needed and the cost. How old is the Blue & Gold? I will tell ya its hard some days with 5. Everybody wants their one on one time. Whether it be with me or my husband... they pick days where they like one of us better than the other LOL. We clean one cage a day and take Friday and Sunday off from cage cleaning. Good luck to you and making such a tough decision. I know its hard because "who can resist"... these animals are so addicting. You gotta be fair to the ones you have though... cant bite off more than you can chew (no pun intended). Keep us posted.

[Sashagirl]

Donna,Donna

A little MBS going on huh?5 isn't a bad number why stop at 5? Oops sorry look who your talking to! Let me be for real.Quarantine.Quarantine.Be aware that you can not house those Macaws if you take them both in the same room with your Grey-Chicken-Dee or the Cockatoo due to that lung thing that the Macaws are prone to.Sorry I know the name of it but having a brain freeze.I had a problem with just a Cockatiel.I will find the write up.

Good luck if you take them both.

One question do you know what her other birds were?

Marcia

[Lessadalinar]

I've read that some people have housed Macaws and Cockatoos in the same room. Are they doing something special with purifiers or just got lucky?

[Sashagirl]

Here is what I found

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Respiratory Diseases in Macaws - Pulmonary Hypersensitivity Syndrome

Within the last year I kept a single Cockatiel in the room with my large Macaws with a air purifier and my Avian Vet examined my oldest Macaw and noticed some irregular breathing.Luckily it turned out to be nothing.It's just something to be aware of that a Cockatiel would make such a difference.

Marcia

[Lessadalinar]

I agree

[kellywess]

Makes me grateful that we have two REALLY good air purifiers!

[brilliantfeathers]

Frequent baths can keep dust down too..

My B&G is in the same room as my grey...no problems thus far. I also know Macawlover has 2 macaws in the same room as her grey..again no problems. Not all macaws will have the breathing troubles..but it is important to know that they CAN!

I think the choice to adopt both is up to you 100%, your amount of time available and the amount of space you have to house them. Your funds for food, toys, treats..etc.

[Sashagirl]

Well you know I'm not one to do like the Jones's do.I know what happened in my house with one of my Macaw's was real.I spoke to a qualified Avian Vet who I trust with my parrots and she has nothing to gain by lying to me about my bird's health.I think I'm more apt to listen to her who has my parrots health interest at heart.I showed and told what I know.Now anyone who chooses not to listen I did my part.

Marcia