Giving up - Moluccan needs a home

[therealex]

Hi all,

Four years ago, my wife responded to a Craigs List ad. She came home with a very cute, young (maybe 4 or 5) female Moluccan. Plus, a huge cage and tons of toys. "Peaches" had (and still has) a bald spot on her chest from pulling out her feathers.

I tried to be a good sport about this - after all, we had two cats, a six foot iguana that ran around the house, six finches, and a wonderful dog.

It's not working.

My wife is unable to give Peaches the constant attention she needs and deserves. I am also unable to do so. She is in a sunny front room, the cats "visit" her, we spend some time with her, but her shrieking for attention is ruining our home life. We've tried the methods I've read about: rewarding good behavior, ignoring bad, other methods I've seen. The real problem is we cannot provide the proper home for this bird, and it is unfair to all of us.

I apologize for re-posting something I'm sure has been posted here before, but I can't find the proper search terms to find previous posts. I'm looking for information on how best to find a new home for her. I would try Craigs List, but look how it worked out for us! The previous owner claimed she was going to France and couldn't take Peaches - I think she just wanted to get rid of her and found a suitable sucker.

I forgot to mention - her first owners (we got her from her second owner) were a couple who apparently fought a lot. When Peaches gets angry, she curses a blue streak! Other than that, she's pretty sweet.

I appreciate any advice on how best to place her. We cannot keep her, it is just too much.

 

[MikeyTN]

Where you located at? They're known to have emotional issues and need someone firm to deal with them.

 

[mtdoramike]

First off, Craigslist is a great place to find birds and to post birds for adoption or sale. You also have Ebay classifieds as well as local papers. The forums here is also a great place to list your bird. Believe me, I know where you are coming from. It's hard with Cockatoo's since they are high strung and needy birds especially second and third hand birds which were spoiled by their previous owners. Cockatoo's are not for everyone.

If it were me looking to find one of my birds a new home, I would do the following:

1. Post an Ad on Craigslist and or Ebay classifieds. None of my birds would ever be for sale for neither money marbles or chaulk so the ad would be listed as (FREE) but with stipulations.

2. Phone interview, references from their vet and or neighbors, Home inspection to see where they are located, how and where they intend to keep your bird and see how they interact with your bird upon initial visit. I would also recommend a short contract drafted up to indicate that if for any reason they have to relinquish the bird within the first year, they must contact you first. (this eliminates bird flippers)

Yes, you will have a lot of responses on your ad if listed for free, but if you post in your ad the amount of hoops the new owner will be required to jump through, you will be surprised at how many will drop out even for a free bird. The remaining few would be your cream of the crop to pick through and come up with a wonderful home.

I would target homes that have Cockatoo's already to at least big bird experience.

 

[sonja]

I would not do free, but instead, so you don't "profit" from re-homing your bird, have the adopter make a donation to a local bird rescue. Nothing outrageous, maybe $150 or so, but it weeds out the "free to good home" scavengers. And, as Mike said, screen the heck out of them. My requirements would be: must own their own single family home, must have previous SUCCESSFUL large cockatoo experience, as well as some of the things Mike listed.

Or, better yet, contact rescues and see if they have room. Unfortunately, rescues are overwhelmed with large cockatoos for just the reasons you mention, but if you can get her into a LEGITIMATE one, it will be good for her future.

 

[osnyder]

I have one bird I adopted through this forum, and another through a rescue. If you want to wait and screen yourself, you could use the forums here. If you really want to have her out of the house sooner, check into surrendering her to a good rescue. Both ways would be perfectly responsible on your part.

I agree that CL can work, as can ebay classifieds, but it could be more work as far as screening all the respondents. And with people's tendency to get into cockatoo ownership when not prepared, and looking for a "bargain," I'd personally do it other ways.

Four years is a very long time to wait for something to work and put effort into, so hats off to you.

 

[KatherineI]

It would definitely help if we knew your location, as then some of us could steer you in the direction of a local rescue (if that's what you would prefer) or even to have someone within a reasonable driving distance from here on the forum adopt the bird. All previous suggestions are good ones.

 

[MarciaLove]

I will take him/her if you are in GA

 

[Kiwibird]

First, I commend you for realizing you are in over your head, and caring enough for Peaches well-being to find her a home that can provide the care she needs. You are doing the right thing. I would personally strongly suggest against posting another ad on craigslist, as she is more likely to end up in the same situation she is now again than to truly find a forever home. I think you owe it to her to locate an avian shelter or sanctuary willing to take her. Avian shelters/sanctuaries are able to provide both short term care and have rigid adoption screenings to ensure she finds a forever home with someone prepared and experienced enough to take her. No offense, but you do not sound experienced enough with birds to weed out individuals who contact you on craigslist who are inexperienced or unable to provide proper care. Best of luck, and really, try to keep Peaches best interest at heart when you give her up.

 

[sonja]

MarciaLove- what happened with the cockatoo you were getting in your other thread?

 

[MarciaLove]

the female found a home and the lady with the male said he seems very distressed she said she thinks he needs a friend cause he has been with another bird all his life so I would still like to take him but ifs shes right I think he might need a friend. I most likely will be getting though.

 

[sodakat]

Moluccan's Sanctuary in Washington State. Here is their contact page: Contact Us

 

[therealex]

It would definitely help if we knew your location, as then some of us could steer you in the direction of a local rescue (if that's what you would prefer) or even to have someone within a reasonable driving distance from here on the forum adopt the bird. All previous suggestions are good ones.

We live in the Long Island (western Suffolk County) area. I really appreciate all of the thoughtful responses!