Adopting birds?

So I always get my birds from breeders or a high quality pet store.

Lately I've been thinking about going to my local humane society and adopting a bird from them.

I was hoping to get some advice on how to approach a bird from a rescue and what to look for?

I've heard about the "bird picking you but.." I don't know.

I know I really want a cockatiel more than anything else.

Any advice for me?

Good on ya for wanting to adopt , and good on ya for having a Brotogeris ( My Maxie was a yellow wing - great little bird).

Porter is a white wing, I researched the species for a year and spent two years finding him xD

Sadly, I have written a fairly detailed response, but technology failed. Anyway - short and sweet:

You have too be able to Love Unconditionally!: The majority of adopted or rehomed parrots have little reason to trust you. After all, nearly every Human prior to you, dumped them for some weak reason. So, their love needs to be earned!

You have too accept that Its Never The Fault of The Parrot and Always The Fault of the Human: Accepting this fact, will allow you to quickly determine what you are doing wrong and correct it!

You have too accept the fact that Time Lines are Trash: The time your Parrot will needed is the new Time Line.

"if' you are so very lucky as to have a Parrot that you really wanted select you, it rarely happens that way, congrats!: More commonly, the parrot that was not even on your list will and most likely select you. However, if you are not open to that, you will likely miss its interest anyway.

Major Point: "If' you are willing to LOVE without conditions, except them for who they are, can continue to love regardless of whether its two months or four years and always be committed to providing them with a FOREVER HOME - The Love They Will Provide Is With Out Measure!

Specific Concerns:

Blinks... That's not really the kind of information I was after
I've owned parrots for years.

I already know all that e.e

I was looking more for information on who to adopt from.
Ideas on what to look for in an adopted bird...

I've rehabilitated birds before I'm not new to taming down a bird.
Gaining trust is easy.

Making sure I get the right bird for me is not.

I have... Rescued or rather had birds dumped on me by people before.

Charlie my sisters hand macaw is one such example
He didn't like me from the get go... But I took care of his every need for six months before he fell in love with my sister.

She took him after I had hand tamed and made a truce of sorts with him.

Then a peach fronted conure called pep...
He was abused neglected and then his owners "let his go"
He landed in my yard and my cat nearly got him.

I knew him from next door took him to the vet got his wing bandaged up... And he fell in love with my mom after I had him for a year.

I'm hoping this time I adopt a bird... He will actually bond with me xD
No matter have much time and love I spent on the other two I WAS not the person for them.

Even Porter my white wing prefers my husband.
I've never had much luck in that department.

I don't love my birds any less.

But it would be nice to have a feather baby that actually wants to be with me...
And doesn't just see me as second best xD

Good to know, but that would make you a fairly rare bird considering that the average is may have heard, but little more! So, congrats on your knowledge base and welcome to the rare bird society!

As a World Wide Group, the Humane Society targets mostly Dogs and Cats as their base. The next part is Farm Animals, commonly manuals. Nothing against them, only pointing to their acknowledged main involvements. To that end, when Parrots come into their 'system' they move them quickly to a Specialist in which they have a working relationship. In other words, in and out very quickly! So, you can provide your name, but what comes in, is what your will get, rarely a question much beyond are you interested. Once again, not part of their system, so quickly move them to a Specialist!

Most Avian Vets in your area are going to have either a working relationship or knowledge of Adopting and/or Rehoming individuals in their area. So, ask your Vet as part of your next visit. If you have a Parrot Club in your area, JOIN! They will also be a good source since most of those individuals are also members. Once again, JOIN! Parrot Fairs in your area are either attended by or individuals at the Fairs can place you in contact with them. With care, check the INTERNET for Adopting / Rehoming Individuals in your area. Since, you have a relationship with good Pet Stores, remember that many of their adult Parrots are likely there for Rehoming!

We take in end of life Amazons. The majority come to us without our selection, with the exception of their being an Amazon. So, I am not really into any concern regarding whether the Amazon is 'right' for me. Since, we are only Amazons, I do understand being species specific, but beyond that...

First, ask yourself if you are Species Specific? The next, are you sub-species specific? This will give you a base regarding your discussions with Adopting / Rehoming individuals, since the good ones will be more interested in place a Parrot with a home that is Species Specific and have a history with that parrot family. If you are interested in a Species that is outside of your history, this group is not as likely to see you as a good home. The failure rate goes near vertical when there is limited to no history with that parrot family.

So, at this point you should have a base in place and should be able to find a source that has a couple or more of what you are looking and that you have a history of caring for.

Letting the Parrot Select You: Well, it is nearly that easy, you only need to be very open to that happening.

This is my .02 about birds "picking" you. I'm not a big believer in it. I'll tell you why. Our first grey, who has since passed away loved my wife and only my wife and tolerated me. He would let me hold him, but that was as far as it went. Well one day, when he was about 12 he decided our son was his one and only. Nothing had changed as far as his treatment goes and our son doesn't even like birds to begin with. He would still chase him all over the house yelling, Ken! Ken! Even to the point of banging his beak on Ken's bedroom door.

Our current grey, once again, loves my wife. He was a rescue so he had no reason to love either one of us, but he's decided she's the one for him even though I spend a lot more time with him and am the one to feed him.

Anyone who has seen even one picture of our BTM Zoe knows she's a snuggle muffin. She loves me, but if my wife is home she will always go straight for her and pinch me if I try to take her from my wife. I am Zoe's main care taker. I am the one that spends the 4 hours a night with her. I'm the one that feeds her and showers with her and plays with her and yet, she still will choose my wife over me if given the choice.

I don't know what goes on in parrot brains to make them pick someone, but I personally don't think there's anything you can do about it. You just love them as they come, just like human children.

Oh well xD
I was hoping that there were some hints on that when you spent time over a long period with a bird before taking them home.

I've seen some wonderful stories here but that is the way it is I suppose xD.
My babies are my babies, he'll half my family thinks I'm crazy for spending thousands of dollars a year on my little daffy and her allergies.

I'll keep moving slowly before getting another bird.
Maybe I'll get lucky and find a bird at my local rescue that does enjoy being around me
Until then I'll bide my time.

There is no rush really.

You never know. The magic one might suddenly pop up. I know it's happened for others.


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Honestly, I think that sometimes it really is just luck. When I got my rescue Ekkie, I only had the opportunity to see her twice before I picked her up. She was very hesitant to step-up, and that was only outside of her cage. Gloves or a towel were used to actually get her out of her cage. When I was at the rescue interacting with her for the first time, I had to let her lunge at my hand a few times before she would even consider stepping-up off of a stand. It was luck if you could get two fingers on her chest once before she bit.

When I finally got her home, she was a completely different bird. Within a day, she was stepping up onto my bare hand without even a nip. Within a month, I was doing virtually anything with her. Flipping her on her back, lifting up and touching under her wings, covering her head with my hand. A completely different bird.

I think a lot of her issue was that the rescue was just too hectic for her. Ekkies tend to be birds that like a calm environment, so she never settled down in a place with other loud birds, and different people in and out all the time. Although, it makes it much easier to take her different places now, since she isn't terrified of new people, she just doesn't want them in her house all the time.

My point here is, you may not know when you go see a bird in a rescue situation if they are the right bird for you. Some birds are not comfortable enough to go to anyone, and you may not know what they are truly like until you get them in a more stable environment. I don't think she picked me in anyway at the rescue, but I am definitely her person now.

I've been talking about getting a new bird for a good four years now. Back even when I was new to this forum.

I've just never found the right fit.

Porter is an amazing little guy goofy and quirky.. Willing to go to just about anyone.

But I worked with him day in and day out to get him that way.

If I could get another broto I would but they are so hard to find...
Waiting does seem to be in my best interests still.

So, this was all just fishing around? Well, at least / possibly someone else gathered information regarding Adopting / Rehoming a forever Parrot.

SailBoat said:

So, this was all just fishing around? Well, at least / possibly someone else gathered information regarding Adopting / Rehoming a forever Parrot.

Click to expand...

Eye rolling


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Both my conure (1-ish at the time of rehoming) and my pionus (8 at the time) were/are rehomes. Both were afraid of me when I went to visit them the first time but warmed up to us within a very short period of time once they were home with us. There was no way of telling if they would connect or not, I knew I was OK spending time working with and training them. With the Pi, I could see how the bird was with her owner - stepped up when asked, calm (with him - fire alarm for us!) and liked to be on him. I thought that I could work with her and she has been great. I think you just have to be willing to put in the time and be open. I'm not sure there's anything you can look for. Our conure, for example, looked fine when we picked him up but got very sick within a week or so after he came home with us (we think because his old cage was moldy) and started to chew his feathers after that and did so on and off his whole life. He was still a super great bird and we had a blast with him. I am pro-rehome/rescue. There are a lot of animals in need of a new home, not all of them are abused but even those that have had a very difficult life can turn around quickly or, with time, become excellent companions. Some are owned by people who have loved and cared for the bird and due to circumstances (age, illness, moving) they have to give them up. Both my birds were found through ads. Its great that you are considering this route!

I must say the Idea of adopting birds is really nice.

SailBoat said:

So, this was all just fishing around? Well, at least / possibly someone else gathered information regarding Adopting / Rehoming a forever Parrot.

Click to expand...

I don't consider it fishing around for someone to open a discussion, and when or if they are planning on using the information shouldn't matter. All questions and discussions are welcome here

Jugoya, I know you will find a bird who picks you, it took me 3 years to find one who prefers me over my Hubby

Thanks guys.
I've always come here for advice SINCE getting Porter.

Charlie was.. tossed at me and even Pip was too. Back then I knew nothing about the fid world... or what I was getting involved with. I've always had budgies... back then it was Quay Quay... who passed just before I got my Broto.

Heck it took me three years to get Porter... I'm in no rush to find the perfect bird to bond with me. Sometimes its better to wait and make sure you have everything you need for such a commitment. Fishing around is GOOD when you are after a feather baby that will live fifteen to thirty years or MORE.

It also seems there are very few birds to rehome in Shreveport.... birds are not a common pet here.

Advice is my way of deciding. There are so many more people more knowledgeable than me, with stories I love to here and these conversations bring them about and I learn and grow with each one. Fishing can give me a choice... and a chance to figure out what in the meantime should happen.

Also... Daffy just had an episode... its another round of Sack mites. Still have the treatment xD


Here we go again!

Thank you everyone as usual for the help.. and the understanding.

Where else could I go? This place is filled with amazing people.

jugoya said:

Oh well xD
I was hoping that there were some hints on that when you spent time over a long period with a bird before taking them home.

I've seen some wonderful stories here but that is the way it is I suppose xD.
My babies are my babies, he'll half my family thinks I'm crazy for spending thousands of dollars a year on my little daffy and her allergies.

I'll keep moving slowly before getting another bird.
Maybe I'll get lucky and find a bird at my local rescue that does enjoy being around me
Until then I'll bide my time.

There is no rush really.

Click to expand...

Sounds like a good plan. If the right bird comes along it was ment to be adopt it. No need to rush fate.