This craigslist bird is NOT what I expected... (LONG)

Last night we brought home Babii (baby, but with our own twist, she didn't know her old name, she's probably had too many to recall one). She's the 6 year old moluccan cockatoo who had been previously abandoned for at least three weeks in a parakeet cage. We've worked with plenty of rescue birds, so we knew she'd have issues. We knew it'd take forever and a day to gain an ounce of trust if we were lucky. We knew she'd probably scream non stop for months. But we were totally unprepared.

This poor thing who's been through so much, mistreated and abused, passed around so many times... She took to us instantly. I've never experienced anything like this before. She climbed right out and stepped up with no fuss or biting, not even the "Let's test you now" nips you'd expect from ANY parrot you meet, let alone one who's been through so much. Then she proceeded to fluff up and push her head into my chest with the tiniest, most adorable squeak I've EVER heard in my entire life. She even let my hubby hold her by the wings and body after five minutes. To have been treated so terribly, and trust us, strangers, so entirely... Somehow it absolutely broke my heart.

The many HOURS of the ride home she screamed, poor baby/babii was scared, and when we got her home realized she is for some reason horrified by the tree stand. And perches not covered by sand. And every other long wooden object she's seen, which I can't even bear to imagine the reason for... Well her cage had to be set up, so lacking usual options, I set my pillow on my lap, and she nestled down into it and I tucked her in with the blanket, and all the while that SQUEAK, I have to figure some way to record it and post it, it's so painfully CUTE. Well, She goes to the vet in a few hours and my fingers are more than crossed. I tried to post some pics of her, some of her condition and one of her cuddling with hubby, and him grinning ear to ear, (Georgie's never REALLY taken to him and he's enthralled that babii's a daddy's girl) and yes, I've cut him off from the coffee . I wrote this poem (her detailed story) for her, and for the thousand others like her, in hopes maybe even ONE person thinking of buying a baby will adopt one way or another instead. Granted It's out of 24 hours overloaded with caffine and no sleep, definitely no Shakespeare lol, but I hope the message is clear. ^____________________^

Unknown where she came from,
a breeder or a store
Or how long she suffered
in neglect and cold remorse
when she was left abandoned
and her basic needs ignored

At least three weeks had passed,
but she had no sense of time
for her owners had forsaken her
without water, food, or light
So in the tiny cage she sat
and plucked, no will to fight

When all the feathers she could reach
were gone, her chest picked clean
she'd given up in agony,
nothing left to do but scream
so when the landlord heard her cries
she thought it were a dream

The details of her next five months
are quite unknown to me
I know only she was passed around
as "more work than they expected her to be"

then when a couple took her
She yet hoped for the best
and wondered what she'd done to cause
abandonment by the rest

they were not bad people,
they cared for her indeed
yet they had no knowing
of the things that she would need.

you see, they'd never owned a bird before
and choose a parrot as a first
then blindly taking words as truth
would only make it worse

Four months she lived with them in bliss,
for neither knew much better
than letting her live upon the porch,
regardless of the weather

Seed and seed alone was found
though it was more than she'd had for so long
that she had no way of knowing
how even this was wrong.

the supplements sounded swell in ads
but sold only chemicals and lies
and they knew not the danger
of locking cages with metal bread ties
Truly had they loved her,
yet the bird's lucky to be alive

Times got harder as they do,
and they became stuck in a bind
with passing days they realized
for the bird they had no time

Her nails were long and beak untrimmed
and then it crossed my mind
with all the dues and fees involved
We could buy a baby for this price

Happy, healthy, full of life
no feathers missing from it's chest
after all, so many say
that cute babies are always best

Eyes unclouded by sadness,
always willing to play
friendly with a total trust
hard times had never torn away

Then I looked into the deep black pools
of sad indifference to fate
and she spoke to my heart when she looked in my eyes
and asked how long before I'd throw her away

I knew the length and effort
it could take to gain her trust
and thought of all the things she'd need
knowing a baby would be much less fuss

I wondered if she'd ever
know a "home" could truly be
and after everything she's been through
if she could manage to love me

Something happened, unexplained
and she crept to the edge of the cage
then pressed her head upon the bars
while begging to step up with her leg

In my arms, she became all a fluff
and she leaned into my chest
Perhaps something deeper than words assured
this time was different from the rest

I tried to hide the wetness
dripping from my eyes
I've seen the toll abuse and neglect
take on bodies and mind

For having been through so much,
she'd done more than just survive
somehow through pain and loneliness
she'd kept a bit of her spirit alive
to lay in wait until the day
her forever home arrived

I laugh now because I'd never
have really walked away
truth be told I would pay twice
of what they asked that day

The birds who seem to cost so much,
Well, for themselves they pay
with that perfect baby in the window,
it could never be the same

for they will love you, it is true
and never question trust
but trust you earn, and love you gain
are incomparable to such

the baby who has lived a life
coddled and pain free
will be happy with your love and care
but never know what it means

the one's who's seen the worst of times
will love you all the more
because they know the difference
from the life they've lived before

Some people think them property,
this fact is sad but true
the only thing stuck in their mind
is how much they make from dues

the price tag on a "used bird"
forces so many to turn away
but when you do it's not the seller
but the bird who pays

for the fault is not on them
that they've been treated this way
the only thing they've ever asked
is to finally hear someone say

"come home with me, I'll show you love
keep you safe and feed you well
I know what you have been through
and I'll take you from this ****
I'll teach you that the past is past
and you'll never be alone
no matter the effort or time it takes
I'll prove this is your forever home"

Poor, poor Babii! She is beautiful! Thank you for saving this forgotten soul. I think I mentioned before that I have a rescued abandoned U2. They are truly thankful. Hopefully after the vet visit, good diet and love she will begin to heal both physically and mentally. Remember, you are new to her and she was lonely. It make take a few weeks for her true colors to come out. Maybe try wrapping her wood perches and playstand in vet wrap. She might accept those easier. Please update after the vet visit.

These verses I found extremely true, and these are things that people need to know.

the one's who's seen the worst of times
will love you all the more
because they know the difference
from the life they've lived before

Some people think them property,
this fact is sad but true
the only thing stuck in their mind
is how much they make from dues

the price tag on a "used bird"
forces so many to turn away
but when you do it's not the seller
but the bird who pays

Click to expand...

And this verse, almost made me cry.

Then I looked into the deep black pools
of sad indifference to fate
and she spoke to my heart when she looked in my eyes
and asked how long before I'd throw her away

Click to expand...

Thank you, thank you, thank you. That was beautiful story, and a beautiful poem. I loved every bit of it. Hopefully, since you put so much emotion into it, you can push more people to rescue a bird rather than to by a baby. The bond with a rescued bird could be even stronger than that of a hand-reared bird.

I am speechless and have tears rolling down my face. As you know this is a bird not many people would let into the homes much less their hearts. I second PQ's thankyous. I am praying it works our for everyone most especially the too.

Wow your poem is so beautifully written, it made me cry! Good luck to you and Babii, She is adorable

Must admit, when I saw this loooooooong post, I almost gave it a miss, then I got distracted, by Mishka my AG of course, drifted back to my laptop, and started reading. THEN I could not stop reading it.
It is the most touching love story between a bird and a human.
The poem is so heart warming, tears flowed freely.
Just shows, when given another chance, what can happen. Not saying it's going to be a smooth ride, it rarely is ever with birds.
Given the circumstances from which Babii had encountered previously, she is showing appreciation already
I wish you the many special birdie moments.

Good luck great job and god bless
your a true angel on earth and i have faith babii will reward you

Love love love love the poem

We have waiting lists for handguns.

Maybe we need waiting lists for Cockatoos. I'm not a big government guy, but for the love of God. I wonder what the percentage of cockatoos is that manage to stay with their first owner, and well-taken care of too (not shut up in some bird room and neglected. I suspect it's not even 1 in 10.

I LOVE parrots, and even I know I do not have the time for a Cockatoo. Why can't other people figure that out before they ruin the poor bird's life?

The Cockatoos and Amazons are the birds you see mostly given up and placed in a bird sanctuary if lucky. I should think some of the educational responsibility would lie with the breeder. Don't they care what happens to their babies or is it just a case of $$$$?

I think I already know the answer to my own question.

We were always very selective in selling our reptiles and I would think if you go into a hobby it is for the love of the animals jmho. I am wanting to adopt as opposed to purchase a baby. We have always rescued animals of any specie but had to stop when my youngest grandchild was born with so many allergies. Thankfully reptiles and birds are not on the list.

Hope to find what I am looking for soon.

Aw thank you so much everyone! AND I HAVE GREAT NEWS- Vet said Babii (appears to be, but no blood work results yet,of course) in surprisingly good health now that her nails are trimmed and she will now be eating harrisons. One thing I've never known before though is that a band with a split supposedly means she'd have once been a breeder or wild caught? I've never seen one before her, is that true? I'd love any info on how to trace back her band and learn more of her story! I can't imagine on top of everything else being used as a breeder too. There's just no way she's wild caught, that option just isn't... possible. She really is one of a kind, the vet did EVERYTHING without any restraint, and she didn't bite once. Then we raided the "good" pet store in town and she "did my hair" on the way home. ^_^ Actually, that part was a bit painful, but ever so cute!
Sadly though, the harrisons isn't going too well right off. I'm thinking, amazingly, that maybe she's actually never had pellets before, she throws them like she does her new ball, like it doesn't even register as food at all (at least not YET).
I can't believe how absolutely amazing she is, she's already family. And a COMPLEATE cuddle sponge. I hope everyone who's looking for a new friend, or is adopted by one as is our case, gets as lucky as we are!

So glad the vet check went well and she is doing fine. Quarantine bands are silver, rounded and split. They usually have the state they were shipped to and spent quarantine in. There is a number, that is usually given as to how many birds were banded at that time. I have 2 wildcaught CAGs. She could have been caught as a baby and therefor became bonded to humans well.
Try different types of pellets and give her a choice.

Sounds great!

I tried Harrison's, but my bird didn't seem to take to it (plus it's expensive and doesn't keep well). I then started Roudybush and it seems to be well liked.

Harrisons is the best out there and that is why it cost more money. Storage directions are on the bag. They must be stored in the referigerator and I usually purchase a 5 pound bag of high potency from Phoenix Landing classes for $30. which is less than anywhere else. I keep that extra in the freezer. It took my bird 2 weeks to get the idea that they were food. Your bird must be taught that this cubes are food. You might have to bite the bullet and put one in your mouth. You can also moisten them with fruit juice. You won't be sorry when you see the beautiful feathers and health your bird will get from these pellets and no I am not a salesperson.

A little coating of Peter Pan usually did the trick getting Gandalf to try something he didn't believe was tasty.

yep....the tasting/modeling thing does work....eventually...i should have tried the peanut butter. vet wrap goes a long way towards making those great wooden perches more easily navigated by big feet! amazing story! i hope that your path together is long and joyful!

Omg. You just made me cry with your story (and that is quite a feat!).

Oh poor, poor Babii. I'm so glad she found a wonderful home to always call her own!!!

Gah!! Seriously crying here!!

awesome poem and story....I do not currently own a too, but i did, he was a sulfur and i loved that bird with all my heart...he too was passed around quite a bit, but not in bad shape, i lost him about 10 years ago :-( i JUST last week, adopted a rescue severe macaw, and am so happy that i did....however there was an african grey at the adoption center that made me CRY...he was the sweetest thing...UGH.....anyway, THANK YOU for rescuing, for the poem and for sharing babii's story....

I was at a bird shop this weekend who had a rescued 38-year old Mollucan 'too that was a terrible plucker - nearly 3/4 of it's feathers were gone leaving it naked to the world.

But oh... OH what a lover that bird was. All it wanted to do was curl up beneath your chin and be cuddled close and hugged. She crooned to everyone, accepted skritches and hugs and cuddles from all, and had the most soulful eyes I've ever seen in a bird...

God. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. But she so reminded me of Babii and I now realize why so many people adore 'Toos.