Foster to Adopt?

[villa_heather]

Do a lot of shelters let you foster a parrot and work with him/her and eventually adopt him/her? How do I go about fostering a parrot? I would appreciate any help.

 

[GinaF]

Fostering a bird is an excellent way of determining if you and the bird are a good fit!

My recommendation would be to contact your local avian rescue organization and apply to be a foster parront. Many of these groups are scrambling for foster homes, as space is at a premium! They would definitely appreciate the help and most will not only allow you to adopt once they see the bird is working out, but encourage you to do so.

But please do A LOT of research on any species you'll be taking in. Every bird is different and there will be some hurdles to overcome. While rescue can be rewarding, it is also a challenge.

 

[villa_heather]

Gina, I appreciate your help I have never went about fostering an animal before. When I worked at Petsmart for three years usually customers just dropped off their animals and I took them home and found places for them. So I am definitely new to this whole fostering and animal shelter experience.

 

[villa_heather]

I have contacted three rescues asking if they need me to foster one of their parrots and told them my background knowledge of birds and my experience. I really hope they contact me back and allow me to foster I would LOVE it.

 

[GinaF]

My recommendation would be to start with a smaller bird.

Macaws are great bluffers but there are times they're not bluffing. They can produce a pretty crushing bite that can shatter your confidence in handling them. The key to parrots and being bitten (and you WILL get bitten) is to not take it personally. Blue just chomped into my hand pretty hard and slightly broke the skin. She doesn't hate me, she's just having a bad day and I ignored her warning. If I would have backed off when she told me to, I wouldn't have gotten bit. So essentially, it was my fault.

Walking new foster parronts through how to deal with problems was tough. You're going to have your patience tested. You're going to have your feelings hurt but you're also going to have some of the most rewarding moments when you witness a breakthrough. The people on this forum, I've come to find out, are not only very knowledgeable but helpful as well.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

It makes me very happy to hear that you want to foster and adopt a bird from a rescue. There are sooooo many birds that are waiting for good homes. The suggestion above to start with a smaller bird is perfect. Also, I would say to NOT be afraid of a bird that doesn't look "perfect' unless you feel uncomfortable looking at a bird that may have permanently missing feathers here and there. Some of these past pluckers are sweet and tame and loving. They may have had a period in past where the plucking cause the feathers to never regrow in some spots, but it doesn't mean they necessarily pluck now. And, other than looks, the bird could be perfectly healthy and fun and loving.

 

[villa_heather]

I understand all of that, I have trained obedience to dogs for three years so I understand to read the body language and be patient when working with animals. I have work with a few different types of birds before one being African Greys. I have done a lot of research about Macaws and also purchase a few books.

 

[torrap]

I am fostering right now with hopes to adopt.
The best way is to become a volunteer at your local rescue or sanctuary, this way you get to know the place and what is even more important the birds.
It's always the best if a bird picks you instead of you picking the bird. You can help your local rescue and socialize with all the birds they have there. One or few may like you...
Also some rescue places are softening their policies if you volunteer for them...