Raja's hatchday!!!

[Dana64]

When you deal with rescues and rehomes, 99% of the time you never get the history on the bird. Such was the case with Raja, until 15 minutes ago.

We rescued Raja on July 16th. We were "assured" she was 17 years old, DNA'd female. She had no band and were told she had "chewed it off" 3 years ago. The owner said she would ask her brother-in-law (the original owner who bought Raja as a baby) for her paperwork, as she was sure he still had it.

This morning I got an email from the "brother-in-law" saying that he still couldn't locate the paperwork but he gave me the name and phone number of Raja's breeder. I called the breeder immediately and met with a brick wall. He kept NO records (what breeder doesn't keep records, ESPECIALLY on such a long-lived creature as a parrot??) and would not talk to me. Total waste of time and felt like I was back at square 1. 15 minutes ago I got another email from the brother-in-law.. he turned his house upside down for me, and found Raja's paperwork!!!! Woo hoo!! I'm so happy I am crying!

He wrote, "She was born Jan 11, 1994 with her eye’s open and her band number is *(#@#*(#_94. The paper also has a record of her daily weight." He is mailing me the documents!!!

I'm so happy... I just had to share!!!!

[Emmilyy]

Congrats! It' exciting isn't it!? I found Cookie's breeder completely by chance a few months ago (emailed band info to see if Cookie came from her, because she was somewhat close to where I got Cookie rehomed) and she was able to tell me her hatchdate, too :)

ahh, Raja's's the same age as me (:

[kellywess]

That is truly truly wonderful. I know how it feels. Its hard when you don't know. You just have to take someones word as to how old they are and that is basically it. For mine (rehomes/rescues), I have always said that their hatchday is the day I brought them home and we just go from there. How truly excited you must be to have this information... finally.

[Dana64]

Originally Posted by kellywess

That is truly truly wonderful. I know how it feels. Its hard when you don't know. You just have to take someones word as to how old they are and that is basically it. For mine (rehomes/rescues), I have always said that their hatchday is the day I brought them home and we just go from there. How truly excited you must be to have this information... finally.

Thanks! We do the same thing for Mackie (day of rescue is his "hatchday"), as we do not have his real hatchday... just his year (on his band). We have Merlin's. And now Raja's. It's like not knowing my own daughter's birthday. My husband didn't really care... he loves Raja regardless. Maybe it's the woman in me... but it was important to me. I feel like Raja is truly ours now... it might sound crazy... but it's true.

[LovelySydney]

Congrats!! So that makes her 15 years old?? Its so fun to know those things, I have all my babies hatch certificates, Oliver has a band, Neko doesnt. Emi is the only one who I really dont know much about.

[Congobongo]

It doesn't matter to me. Once I adopt and they become my loving charge their age does not matter. The love and relationship we have is what does. I don' t need papers to give me love.

[Michelle & Fids]

Very cool!!! Most of mine have the hatchday/anniversary day so I know how excited you are for knowing for sure now.

[Dana64]

Originally Posted by Congobongo

It doesn't matter to me. Once I adopt and they become my loving charge their age does not matter. The love and relationship we have is what does. I don' t need papers to give me love.

I don't NEED papers to give me love, either... but there was a part of me, in Raja's case, that very much wanted that paperwork... because she had NO legband. I was told she chewed it off 3 years ago. They said they kept it, but could not find it and if they did, they would mail it to me. I still do not have it. And while I can not speak for how things are in the States... here in Canada, ALL companions birds are banded... it isn't often they aren't (unless it's a "backyard breeder") ... and when you don't have a banded Macaw, it's cause for concern that you might have a "wild caught" when you consider how old we were told Raja was. And I wanted to know if that was what we were dealing with. I like to have as much history as I can. If Raja had really been a "wild caught", it still wouldn't have mattered... I would still love her just the same... she is an amazingly gentle and sweet girl... but it was important to me know either way...

[Tom Lawless]

I think any information you can get on a bird's history is a good thing. I imagine there are significantly different medical considerations when dealing with a five year old bird as opposed to a twenty five year old bird.

And on a much more superficial level, I wish I knew Annie's hatch date. I thought it was kind of cool to actually know when the two boys entered the world.

[Langston4]

how do you find out where to start to find the birthdate and their breeders