When to say no?

It's really past my bedtime again, and I just can't sleep. My breeder friend called me today about a pair of Mollucan cockatoos she wants me to take. I just can't decide. I know their fate is fairly shaky if I don't, but I am not sure if I have the room. Time doesn't scare me (I spend 16.5 hours a day awake and at least supervising birdie playtime, cleaning, or working with birds... I have time. I would have to dig out some more aviary panels and so on... The biggest problem may be in figuring our how to keep them away from the other toos once their out of quarantine. My umbrellas and goffins hate being able to see other cockatoos and so I have to keep them separate. I can put them in an outdoor aviary in the beginning.

My biggest problem seems to be lack of motivation to deal with more toos. I am a little worn out at the moment from pourin myself into Gus and Gabby, and I need a break from rehabbing toos at the moment. No bird takes more out of me than a too, and with Gus and Gabby I spent a lot of time wondering if I could even help them. Don't get me wrong I love working with toos, but in the past 10 months I have rehabbed and rehomed about 14 toos. They are all doing great in their homes (I help owners deal with their bird issues all the time), I just fear that I may be heading for a bit of burnout. I have 4 bird beak long term re alignments I am doing for a few people, I got a guy with a severe macaw that I am working with so he can again handle his own bird, I am still trying to figure out what to do with Miko now that he's tame and ready for a new home, I am facing finding a home for a red lored amazon that got dumped here, and now I am facing Mollucans... I know a feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment because I am leaving town for 5 days soon and I have so much to do before then, but the real question for me is whether I can honestly take another couple of head cases at the moment??? Will I feel different when I get back from South Carolina??? Maybe I should sleep lol! What do you guys think? Would you push yourself just a bit further if a bird needed you?

What's weird is that I am not a rescue... I started dealing with occasional problem birds simply because I believe a good breeder should clean up after bad breeder otherwise the world winds up full of birds poorly matched to their owners and improperly weaned and socialized nut job birds bouncing from home to home. So, I used what I learned breeding birds to try and help less fortunate birds, and normally it isn't so bad... this years been rough because of flooding... lots of displaced pets (I am fostering 2 dogs and a horse for a couple of people that have been evacuated from their homes)....

Holy cow, all I did was help a bird here and there... then people just called with birds they wanted me to take... I would be really suspicious of any rescue askig for birds... In fact there is a member on this forum that I knew personally, and despite the legal systems constant attempts to catch him he just keeps on moving around whenever he gets in trouble. In fact I was tracking what had become of a bird he stole when I found this forum.

hand on heart?? how would you feel if you turned the birds away??

yes you need me time! and i do hope you charge for all this!

Don't you think you're helping enough birds for now? If you drive yourself to burnout you'll end up struggling with those you have, making it worse for all involved. Maybe try and find someone nearby who can take them on, instead of you doing it yourself?

Youre doing a great job with those you have and you're so worn from it all anyways, I'd vote against adding those extra two unless they're likely to die etc without you.

You really do need to learn to say "NO". It's one thing to have a big heart, but it's also another to put yourself in an overwhelming position because you feel obligated. Now, if you took in the birds to re-hab them and get them re-socialized in order to re-home them is one thing. But by looking at your list of animals that you currently have, I'm not seeing how you would be able to handle more animals and give them the quality of care and attention that they really deserve.

It;s very easy to let a hobby, turn into a passion and then let it overwhelm you. There was a few nstories in the news lately about pet horders that I think started out with good intentions, but allowed their passion for pets or birds in general get way out of hand.

I applaud you for taking on the resposibility that you already have. I only have one pet, an 18 month old Senegal and she runs me ragged most of the time and I spend most of my day with her. I was thinking of getting a second bird. But I'm not sure I can handle second bird and still give Tiki the quality time that she has become accustomed to.

When you go away for the week, who helps take care of the birds? Could you see if there are any other bird owners in the area who would be willing to commit to 30 minutes/1 hour per day until you found homes for the ones you are currently looking to rehome? 2-4 people could really take a load off. Not an easy decision to make when you are faced with the choice of real birds in front of you and not just an idea. Best wishes, whatever the decision.

I agree with everyone here, you should say not for your own sake and the birds you already have. There are other people that can deal with the big guys. If your heart and body need a break/rest then by all means please do not feel guilty. The birds will know it and not respond to you.

Wow how do you handle all those birds you have now ? I would say unless these birds will die w/o you then you should probably say no and tell the person you would be glad to help her find someone else to take care of them and re home them .I mean I love my birds but I know my limit is 3 yes 3 all quakers , I for one will not take another one in unless it is going to die without me and then I would have to make that determination . Well anyway have a wonderful trip to south carolina and see you when you get back and keep us updated .

In life I have usually found that the answers in the question.... meaning if I have to ask then the answer is no.


As far as how I keep up????? Well, most people go to work and then come home to play with their bird(s).... I wake up and birds are my work day... It took a few years but I taught myself that my work day had to end like a normal persons would and then I use that time to play with birds. My birds wake up at 5:30am, and go to sleep at 10pm. Lots of time to do things and still play rockband

Remember that I do breed birds, so many of my birds don't require large quantity of one on one. I do take everyone out for a physical assessment and to get weights on them a couple times a week. But for example my Timneh greys HATE human contact (in fact feeding them can be quite difficult). As far hoarding goes... I always worry that if I don't draw clear lines then I could end up like the crazy people down the road with 22 dogs and 7 goats living IN their house. So I usually limit myself to 4 birds being rehabbed at any given time sometimes it's as simple as changinf diet and having them vetted. I don't charge rehoming fees, I just do my best to find a good match for the bird. Speaking of which if any of you are relatively close by and interested in a male red lored amazon let me know.

To answer the other question, I have two people I pay to watch the farm and birds when I'm away. One does the birds, the other does all the farm animals. These people visit me pretty often just to help me on occasion, but the truth is I never want so many birds that I can't care for them myself.

The most needy birds at my house are Moe, Sarah, Gus, Gabby, CJ, Pepper, and Miko. Everyone else is pretty easy to please.

reading this I can only feel your pain, I spent only 8 hours a day at the shelter, I did what I could, (they dubbed me slow because I did extra cleaning for each of the 120 animals housed there) After two years of not being able to "save them all" I got burnt out.

Dont turn yourself into a shelter.

I left that job with Deep depression, gullstones and other personal issues due to stress. You need more people to help you, your understaffed. Its going to get the better of you. (I am only now recovering from the stress and Ive only been off the job a week)

Its gallent, and I am happy that there is Someone out there besides the few people who are payed by the state to try and help the birds and animals out there.

Thankyou. Thankyou, for rescuing birds and finding them homes. But you need to take alittle less on your plate, otherwise your going to get burnt out and what then? Please, take a step back and breath. the birds need you.