I decided to post this on Craigslist

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
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Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
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11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
after reviewing all the birds for sale or trade ads. Hopefully it will make people think a little before that knee jerk purchase.

This is food for thought for those who want or are getting a bird for Xmas. First off, no matter where you intend to get your bird whether it be from a bird show, pet shop, private sale, adoption, craigslist, ebay classifieds or from a breeder. These are things to consider:

1. check the eyes, if they aren't bright and cheery, walk away.
2. check the tail vent and if it isn't clean, walk away.
3. check the nostrils for discharge. If there is discharge, walk away.
4. Unless you are an experienced bird handler, ASK THE SELLER to handle the bird in front of you. If they refuse or don't want to take the bird out of it's cage, don't walk away, RUN. This is a sure sign that the bird has been cage bound and IS NOT HAND TAME.
5. Don't look at price as being the determining factor here. Yes, you might find a cheaper bird that isn't quite tame and you have this thought that Oh, I will tame him. It's not if you will get bit, but it's how often and how hard. Smaller birds beaks can puncture skin easily and big birds beaks can break bones.
6. Rescue centers, craigslist & ebay classifieds are full of reckless, knee jerk impulse buys because people failed to do their research and ask the right questions and know what they are getting into before jumping in head first into the shallow end of the pool.
7. Birds no matter how small ARE NOISY, so if you live in an apartment or have close neighbors, this needs to be considered or you will find yourself evicted or cited for noise violations.

Lastly, I'M NOT A BREEDER, but I would highly recommend first time bird buyers to visit their local breeder and get a hand raised bird. It will be a much more enjoyable experience. Yes, it will cost you more money, but think of the bird FIRST and the money second because if cost is a factor to you, then you don't need to get a bird because they are expensive to own and to keep. Vet bills can run into the hundreds of dollars and that's just for a checkup. Food bills can range from $50.00 a month for small birds and as high as $200.00-$300.00 a month for large birds. Now for large birds like Macaws and Cockatoo's, toys can range $30.00-$50.00 per toy and the sad thing is, the toy might only last a day or two. They are chewers and will destroy toys in minutes.

Happy Holidays
 

YNAMomma

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Sep 18, 2011
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Minnesota, USA
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Ianto-10yr old M. YN-Amazon,
Toshiko - 10yr old F. YN-Amazon (Mated pair)
Yeah i wish more people would realize these things. There is a lady on our local craigslist who has been posting for a month about her cockatiels for sale, saying they are only a year old and very sweet but she needs to find them a new home because she is moving and she is asking only a small rehoming fee of 100dollars a cockatiel without cage...She didnt understand me when i asked her about hand tame and about how that was not a rehoming fee. So i just gave up and hung up.
 

roxynoodle

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Dec 1, 2011
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Yes, most of what I see on CL are not rehoming fees, but sale fees. And they don't seem to realize no one is going to overpay for their older, untamed and problem birds when they could just get a baby from a breeder for the same money.

I wish all people would do the research before getting a pet of any kind so they know what to expect before they buy it.

If you don't want to spend a lot of time with it, a bird is not the right pet. If you don't like noise or messes, a bird is not the right pet. If you aren't secure in your housing status, many things are not good pets.

A couple months ago I put an ad on CL asking to adopt a bird. I mentioned that I wanted an older bird as I'm no spring chicken myself anymore. I also mentioned I could afford housing, toys, food, perches and vet care, but I am on disability and rehoming fees needed to be inline with my income. I can't tell you how many people emailed me offering their bird for $1000 or more. Most of them did not have appropriate cages. I guess for most people it's all about the money they spent, not in finding an appropriate home.

I was very lucky to find Pete, my newly adopted amazon. His owner just wanted the right new owner, not money. He is a wonderful bird and a great addition to my flock.

There is, by the way, a wonderful adoption center in Iowa. He just wants to match up the right birds with the right owners, and doesn't even charge a fee. I very much wanted to go there, but 2-3 trips that far were too hard for me to do with needing petsitters while I was gone. http://mikeoso.homestead.com/rescue.html
 
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mtdoramike

mtdoramike

Supporting Member
Jan 18, 2011
3,987
Media
4
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Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
Parrots
11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
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That's a wonderful story roxy, I wish more people who tire of their pets would think of the animal rather than their investment.
 

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