Warning, rant... I feel like the rescue didn't even consider us

Right now I feel frustrated. I'll give you the whole history.
I grew up with cockatiels, and when I moved out on my own I eventually bought my own cockatiel. I also had a budgie, but only had it a year before it got out a open bathroom window.
The cockatiel was a huge part of my life. He was flighted, and one day when I put him in the yard my youngest daughter went out and gave him a cracker and didn't close the cage door.
I hate thinking about that day. Anyways, I out his cage away and didn't want to think about another bird for a long time, but I knew I would eventually get another bird.
Fast forward many years to recently....
A man came into my work with a cuckatoo on his shoulder and I began asking him about her, and he let me take her a play with her while he shopped. He told me about the rescue he is a part of and I gave him my number and told him to pass it on. I was very excited and started to research birds, but I didn't hear from anyone and a after 3 months gave up that I would hear from them. Then one day I went into my local pet store and he was there again! He invited me over to meet his family and flock, and since then I have gone over about once a week. It's now been 2 and a half months since that first day at his house, and I have gone to 2 of the rescue groups meetings. They allowed me to meet a paired set of amazons. But after contemplating them my family and I decided we wanted a single parrot, and I told the administrator that we are hoping for an amazon that has had a history of being handled at some point. I think, as a first large parrot, we would get very intimidated by a very aggressive bird, and it would eventually not work for us.
Now I say as a first parrot, because I think we need experience and time to learn these beings. I don't think my family could handle one that hates us and life in general for the first bird.
But after I told the lady this she said "well, your going to be waiting a long time" and I haven't heard about anything since. That was just over three weeks ago now. I feel like she has disregarded me, and that my only option to own a parrot is to now buy one.
Now the idea of getting a baby bird is appealing because it won't have been abused, neglected, or experienced the heart break of being passed through homes.
However making the difference in such an understanding, animal, that I compare to human worth and brilliance..... Maybe the first parrot won't be a rescue after all, but I do want the next to be.
Is it stupid of me to hope for an *unhomed* bird with still some trust?
I understand many come around, and for the next bird I don't mind giving the time and patience. But as a first bird... I know the rest of my family would become resentful and untrusting of ANY birds if the first was hateful, like some birds I have met.
I keep hearing there are **so many forgotten birds** and that I can rescue a loving bird, or is it just ** the worst** that end up in the rescue? I don't want to contribute to a problem, if there are other options.
I have a friend that his brother breeds birds. I can meet his birds and buy from him.... But still, I'm afraid I am being a terrible person by thinking of purchasing from him.
There are no other bird rescues on Vancouver island. I haven't left this rock in 15 years, and don't want to to go get a bird. So island only birds for us....
I'm frustrated with what the woman said at the end of our conversation. What do I do?
I'm not finding many birds for sale on kijiji or Craigslist. I don't know how else to source birds out.

What's wrong with CL ? They often are great birds, and you can (if its a good seller) handle the bird a bit.

I'd say go for a baby. I'd hate for my first big parrot to be trying to kill me, lol. Then, as you learn how to train them, handle, etc. get a rescue bird.

Nothing is wrong with craigslist, there just none on there on the island!

If you can get to the main land you may want to look up Grey Haven Bird Rescue...if not they might have links to other rescues around Van Island on their website etc.

I don't plan on going to the mainland.... It cost to much for ferry for me to want to take them! I have looked on their website. They want you to come and spend time with any bird you want to adopt. Which makes sense. Tons of birds decide to hate someone for no reason at all! It's too large a risk! And I have a fiancé that won't travel (we have a farm and he hates leaving because of all the what ifs) so island only birds...

Ah, I see.

Than why not a baby? It could be your 'teaching bird' and once you're comfortable get a rescue.
Win win

Many birds are in rescues because their owners couldn't handle them! They are problem birds... they need a special someone to look after them!

Likewise, many well loved birds end up in rescue, too! I'm not going to say it's bad to buy from a breeder, because if you really want a young parrot, then get one! But if you really want to provide a great home to an older adult, then stick with that! It just might be harder to find the perfect bird for your family when you have to weed through so many adult birds with issues.



Charlie, my mitred conure, is the tamest bird I've adopted! He didn't come through a rescue, but rather a member of another forum. I swing him around on my arm, I can lay him on his back and gently toss him in the air, I trim his beak using a dremel (not that he likes it... but he puts up with it!). People ask me how I trained him to lay on his back as I toss him in the air. Truth is, I didn't! He already knew how to lay on his back and when I was visiting him in his foster home, he wanted nothing to do with me! His foster mum finally got tired of him avoiding me and plunked him down in my hand upside down! And there he laid! And there I had a bird in my hand that wanted nothing to do with me but likewise, he "couldn't move". What am I supposed to do? And then I started tossing him in the air! I didn't know what else I *COULD* do or that he'd accept, and he just laid there! Got him home and he's been glued to me ever since!

I was *extremely* attempted to take home a one legged cockatiel. Oh my gosh, this bird is *SO* sweet! And I have a hand raised cockatiel! I didn't know any bird could get sweeter than her! Even though this tiel only has one leg, he's just a pile of feathers! He loves scritches and he doesn't care from whom he gets them! Don't know anything about his history but people who met him and interacted with him.... their hearts melted! It took a while, but he has since found a home with someone who adores him! (well, everyone previously adored him, but none of them and myself needed any more cockatiels!)

Jayde is my newest girl, and she's also very sweet, very social and cute! But she also bites.... and I couldn't handle her for the first few weeks... Scritches yes, but couldn't take her away from the cage! Three and a half months, she's finally decided that hands and arms are ok, no need to bite them! Four months, it's ok to make a mad dash down the front of my shirt because I am "obviously" starving her to death and she needs to eat *RIGHT NOW*!!!! There's no waiting to put her food back into her cage, she needs to eat it now! LOL Four and a half months, we're starting to see that it's ok to wander away from me... she's usually on me or on her cage so for her to explore any areas beyond those two is pretty big!

Still need to work on step up from inside the cage and from my shoulder... will step up from her cage door, side of the cage or cage top no problems - just inside the cage she wont. Oh, and she bites people she hasn't warmed up to enough to allow them to *really* interact with her. She's a work in progress! She's not aggressive (per-say - minus biting other people... working on socializing her more), but I easily could have made her that way if I didn't work with her in a manner that would be best for her.

that's disappointing about the rescue. Parrot lovers can be very judgmental sometimes, maybe you scared them a little. A parrots temperament may fluctuate throughout the year, or even time of day. I suggest calling back and explaining what you mean, it seems the person may have misunderstood what you were asking.

I adopted both of my birds, and neither were through rescues. Sometimes you just have to wait until that one special bird appears. Also, nothing wrong with wanting a young weaned bird the first time. Raising a baby bird, especially once they reach puberty and get unpredictable, will be a great experience to help you one day work with a rescue who needs a lot of work.

Not all rescues are the same. Some have personal fosters while others have a facility. I have heard that some say they are the only ones that can take care of a bird, will not consider you if you live too far. You can explain to them why you think a large parrot that is somewhat tame and has trust towards people is the best fit for your family. However, maybe you need to accept you may have to move on. You can look on craigslist or go see some baby birds from a breeder. Not to be blunt but how many people would give a tame bird to a rescue even when they are deathly sick? Most people that have a tame bird that they spend time with everyday would rather that bird go to a bird person that can take care of the bird rather them being in a rescue cages up around screaming plucking birds. You could give them a chance by saying you would adopt a sweet bird that has plucking issues (only if you feel you can help the bird). I will also going to tell you a large parrot is different then a budgie or cockatiel. The first two birds I had as a child were a budgie and cockatiel but I can tell you when I had Clover the Green Cheek conure (till she passed away ) she was different then a budgie and cockatiel and required more care. Captain Jack requires alot of care from me. From one on one attention from me cooking and cutting up fruits and veggies for him etc ). Captain Jack is not a large bird (though in my experience conures and mini macaws do not view themselves as small birds). If you are uncertain on a species of bird you would like then maybe research and try to see a bunch of baby birds.
When I was first looking around for a bird my mom found a phone number to a foster in our state. The lady I talked to sure was trying to push a galah after hearing I had birds for some years. But I knew I would rather have a conure and did not feel at that time I could help that galah.

I quickly learned not to fall in love with birds at the local rescue.
They seem to give birds to inexperienced people and turn down experienced people.
They also have a rule of only 3 parrots per household and well..thats not exactly practical. I have 25 birds.

Yet they will have 15, 20 or more birds themselves....

Thank You for your kind words and encouragement.
We are still looking for parrots on our own. The local breeder comes home next week, and I plan on meeting him and his birds. But I still like the idea of giving one a home that truly needs one.

Last night I actually came across this ad: http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/Blue-Fronted-Amazons_14598270

Aggressive it says.... That, on one hand makes me want to keep looking.... But what if we can make some sort of change for one of these birds?

The lady in charge of the rescue, I haven't heard a peep from since. I attended the last meeting, though.
I am still visiting my bird friend. He seems to be trying to keep her aware I am looking. But I have given up on them. I know they have birds in foster. But haven't offered for me to meet any, so screw it. I know their are birds out there that need homes. I will find one, or will purchase a baby. Whichever comes our way.
I'm not worried. We can wait for the right one to come along.

LiL Caity413, you have given some good advice. How is Stevie? Do you think he was a bird that did not get enough attention from the breeder? I was a little surprised about your story and now think I got lucky with Captain Jack.

You know one of the things I worry about the most is meeting the bird and feeling like I have to make a decision right away. I live pretty far away from any other towns, and my schedule doesn't stay open for a lot of travelling. Plus I am a home bug. I don't like going away to often. This is also a reason I am interested in getting a bird again. But it is also something that makes me nervous. Plus how many people looking to get rid of (aka sell) will hold a bird for you so you can come back in a week to visit it again.
At least with the breeder he is local
I had a dream we bought two birds from him, last night. One was the WF and we got it first. It was so cute and cuddly. Didn't talk but was oh so adorable. Then we got a YN and it was loud, hilarious, not cuddly, but such a great companion.
The dream made me reconsider the WF again....
On with the journey. The waiting is really hard. Especially after so long. It's kind of discouraging at times.. But I'm holding on and I keep telling myself when one comes along, maybe it will be the right one. It will be more discouraging if the next bird we meet hates us

I would get a baby if I were you. Rehomed birds sometimes tend to be more aggressive and will be harder to train. Since this will be your first large bird, it may be quite intimidating.

LiL_Caity413 said:

Abigal7 said:

LiL Caity413, you have given some good advice. How is Stevie? Do you think he was a bird that did not get enough attention from the breeder? I was a little surprised about your story and now think I got lucky with Captain Jack.

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I think Stevie has the personality like an autistic child (I would know) and he was funny about being touched as a baby. I found video of him as a baby from the photographer that took their pictures a year ago. I probably sound like a total stalker but my only aim is to understand him so I can help him. After raising some babies from my budgies I absolutely notice these personality types. My feeling is that she was just too impatient and grabby with him when he didn't want to comply. I think that because she didn't really have any control over him when I went to get him, and the beak grabbing etc I explained before already. When I asked Stevie to step up, he would bite his foot and the perch while shrieking, so definitely was anticipating something he didn't want.

The odds of a baby being that way can be low when you don't have large clutches. I think she just didn't know how to deal with it and forced him to have interactions so that he would remain "tame". He is doing okay. I had a really difficult training session with him today. I was pretty upset. He kept flying from his stand to attack me, even though he had good food there that he waited for all day (he only has pellets in the daytime and I save the fruit and stuff for basic taming) yet he still kept coming after me. I put him back and just felt so sad. I don't want to do anything drastic. I started video taping all my training sessions so that I can see exactly what happens and make a plan based on that.

I kept thinking that maybe he needed something super exciting, like a big new toy. I kept trying to reinforce him to stay in one place and be content by using target training to get him back to the stand when he came after me, and leaving him nuts there for staying. He just gets too full and STILL comes after me. I am so glad I didn't do anything crazy because when I came back home with the new toy just now, I put it in his cage and he really really loved it. It was like he was saying "thank you, I'm sorry" because he leaned in for me to pet him. Then he grabbed my finger with his foot and held my hand while he played with his new toy. Totally different attitude than a few hours ago.

The slow going and moments of hurt can really test even an experienced person. But I have continued being consistent with my gentle approach and I pay attention to my intuition; that maybe he would need something new and exciting to captivate his attention rather than food. I hadn't given him a new toy in a while, only made toys with wood pieces that he has seen and torn apart a million times already. Moments like just now where he "held my hand" and seemed thankful for the way I don't retaliate against him make it so.....deeply meaningful. However I still would never wish this on my worst enemy because it is freaking hard!!

How's your little hahns doing? I'm really glad he was taking to you well and even going in a harness! Its getting seriously cold outside now, but I bet that was nice while the weather lasted.

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I do wonder how many clutches of baby birds she has at a time. I seen your latest videos of Stevie and he seems to like you a lot. He seemed focused on you in the video of him talking. Captain Jack has been doing well. Since the weather has gotten bad he has not had a chance to go outside in his harness. He sometimes does get fearful of news things. He was afraid of the camera for a little while. He does sometimes chirp like a baby bird when I give him stitches (as if begging). His vet visit went well. I seen some interesting behaviors and after telling my vet about them she think he is begging (as if for food). For example he will bob his head and make a weird noise. He will sometimes start bumping his beak on my shoulder. He has not been aggressive though. I put him back in his cage so he can go eat. He has gained weight since I got him. When he first came home my scale had him at 124 grams and now he weighs between 128-130 grams. He of course likes to play and explores every inch of his cage. I have him in this prevue cage Prevue Pet Select Series 36 X 24 X 66 Portable Bird Cage 3154 by Prevue Pet for $419.97 : Rural King. Captain Jack has made some flying attempts but does not really attempt it that much. He of course has taken to talking. He can say step up, What, Yeah and Come Here.

Jumpingtadpoles said:

You know one of the things I worry about the most is meeting the bird and feeling like I have to make a decision right away. I live pretty far away from any other towns, and my schedule doesn't stay open for a lot of travelling. Plus I am a home bug. I don't like going away to often. This is also a reason I am interested in getting a bird again. But it is also something that makes me nervous. Plus how many people looking to get rid of (aka sell) will hold a bird for you so you can come back in a week to visit it again.
At least with the breeder he is local
I had a dream we bought two birds from him, last night. One was the WF and we got it first. It was so cute and cuddly. Didn't talk but was oh so adorable. Then we got a YN and it was loud, hilarious, not cuddly, but such a great companion.
The dream made me reconsider the WF again....
On with the journey. The waiting is really hard. Especially after so long. It's kind of discouraging at times.. But I'm holding on and I keep telling myself when one comes along, maybe it will be the right one. It will be more discouraging if the next bird we meet hates us

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You seem to have a positive attitude but do not get discouraged. A local breeder gives you a chance to see which birds like you and your family. I got lucky with Captain Jack since I had to have him shipped to me. When I was in Middle school my mom bought a green cheek conure from a breeder. I ended up being the only one that could handle him. He would bite anyone else and he would bite hard. He did bite me at first (I put him back in his cage when he did that because that is what the breeder told us to do). Anyways, I do not think he would bite out of fear since he never attempted to get away from anyone nor made any noise that showed he was scared. I vaguely remember when I first saw him and the breeder sat him down on the floor he ran towards us as if he was going to charge us.