Is it okay to rehome a bird?

[veimar]

I just rehomed Riko, my IRN, and feel a little guilty about that. He went to a very good "big parrot" (Macaws, Amazons, CAG) family who really wanted an IRN, and I never advertised him for rehoming. I didn't really make any money and rather lost. But I gained a good experience in taming and rehabbing an IRN.
I posted here a few month ago when I got little poor Riko from total neglect. I think I did a right thing rescuing him, and he became a tame sweet and funny companion. Extremely smart too! But I just had that creepy feeling that he didn't belong here... He was bored with my other birds and attacked them once in a while. Like a teenager in a kindergarten. I always thought he'd be better in a bigger bird home, and it was sad to watch him just sit in the corner all by himself.
I'm so happy to learn that he's getting along very well with the new owner birds!
I just wonder if those of you who rescue parrots also have to rehome them once in a while? Is that okay? I feel that if there will be an obvious need to help I take a new bird again, but I'm not sure if I'd be able to keep it. But from the other side is it bad if you tame and rehab a bird and then send it to a new loving home?

 

[amjokai]

In my opinion If you feel like he wasn't a good fit for your home, and you know he went to a great home that he is happy you did the right thing.. sometimes it takes a couple tries before the bird finds his forever home... it sounds like you did the right thing by rescuing him and he needed you to love him and make him a good pet before he could find his new home...

 

[RavensGryf]

It's okay. Absolutely . I think it's actually a bit on the naive side if I may say so, for people to think that in EVERY circumstance ALL pets need to be in their "forever home". I can tell you from experience, that sometimes the pet WANTS a different home. They desire an environment that is somehow different than what we have, even though our other pets are happy. After a period of trying to see what it is we can do to make the pet happy, if we just can't, then it is the RESPONSIBLE thing to do in that case. I have done it more than once. It's certainly nothing to brag about, but it does happen. I think almost any long term experienced bird owner will tell you the same, that is not the ideal, it is reality.

 

[amjokai]

and yes, if you rescue a lot you have to rehome or you will end up with a million animals lol.

 

[veimar]

It's okay. Absolutely . I think it's actually a bit on the naive side if I may say so, for people to think that in EVERY circumstance ALL pets need to be in their "forever home". I can tell you from experience, that sometimes the pet WANTS a different home. They desire an environment that is somehow different than what we have, even though our other pets are happy. After a period of trying to see what it is we can do to make the pet happy, if we just can't, then it is the RESPONSIBLE thing to do in that case. I have done it more than once. It's certainly nothing to brag about, but it does happen. I think almost any long term experienced bird owner will tell you the same, that is not the ideal, it is reality.

Thank you so much! That's a relief to hear that... It's exactly what I felt - I really loved him and wanted to stay, but I just felt he would be happy in another home. There was no "bad" reason for rehoming him - I only wanted Riko to be happy in a better environment for him.

 

[SilverSage]

I have rescued 21 birds (mostly budgies) in the last 6 months, and two of them still live with me. Sadly quite a few of the budgies died, but had they lived they would have been rehomed. I sent a co her to a loving home, and due to unforeseen circumstances the man brought him back. The man was heartbroken and begged me to keep the bird, saying the poor little guy deserved better than to be bounced around. I said yes, they all deserve better than that, but he is a great pet and a bad fit for my flock. If I keep every bird I save, even those who would do well with others, soon I will face a bird that badly needs someone to get them out of where they are, and I will have to say "sorry, my nest is full" and leave them there. So I am 100% in favor of saving birds and moving them on to better situations. My little conure now belongs to amjokai and her family, and is thriving.

 

[Kiwibird]

Sounds like you just gave him a safe, caring, loving place to stay until he found his forever home. Just because you save a bird from deplorable conditions doesn't necessarily mean the bird is right for your family or visa versa. I never have due to being renters, but it's something I may consider in the future.

 

[Dopey]

I think it's okay to rehome and I've done it now...three times and I will do it again if I need to. I know the three that I rehomed are in such a better place and two of them are still in the family.

Not everything is a perfect fit. Just don't rehome your family. They need to know they have a forever place.

 

[Birdman666]

In my opinion If you feel like he wasn't a good fit for your home, and you know he went to a great home that he is happy you did the right thing.. sometimes it takes a couple tries before the bird finds his forever home... it sounds like you did the right thing by rescuing him and he needed you to love him and make him a good pet before he could find his new home...

Well said.

I've had to do this once with a bird I dearly loved... who, in the end, was just was too dangerous to keep. He is with his own kind now, the dominant male macaw in a 32 bird outdoor flight, so he has a flock to look after, and he has a mate.

I couldn't give him that, and it's what he needed.

I've lost count of the number I fostered and rehomed, back when I was doing that sort of thing... (26+?!) We had a revolving cast of characters, and then some that weren't going anywhere.

So no, there's nothing wrong with it. In fact, there is a whole light right with it. You should be proud! You did what's best for the bird, and now he's found a forever home and is thriving...

Bad would be keeping a bird in a situation where everyone is miserable and he is unwanted and unahappy, either cuz "he's mine, I paid for him."

Or, "I took on the responsibility so I'm stuck with it. I hate the thing a little more every day, and I hate myself for taking this on."

Both perspectives seem a bit warped to me.

You get a bird because you enjoy and love them. You do the work that goes with it for the same reason.

 

[veimar]

In my opinion If you feel like he wasn't a good fit for your home, and you know he went to a great home that he is happy you did the right thing.. sometimes it takes a couple tries before the bird finds his forever home... it sounds like you did the right thing by rescuing him and he needed you to love him and make him a good pet before he could find his new home...

Well said.

I've had to do this once with a bird I dearly loved... who, in the end, was just was too dangerous to keep. He is with his own kind now, the dominant male macaw in a 32 bird outdoor flight, so he has a flock to look after, and he has a mate.

I couldn't give him that, and it's what he needed.

I've lost count of the number I fostered and rehomed, back when I was doing that sort of thing... (26+?!) We had a revolving cast of characters, and then some that weren't going anywhere.

So no, there's nothing wrong with it. In fact, there is a whole light right with it. You should be proud! You did what's best for the bird, and now he's found a forever home and is thriving...

Bad would be keeping a bird in a situation where everyone is miserable and he is unwanted and unahappy, either cuz "he's mine, I paid for him."

Or, "I took on the responsibility so I'm stuck with it. I hate the thing a little more every day, and I hate myself for taking this on."

Both perspectives seem a bit warped to me.

You get a bird because you enjoy and love them. You do the work that goes with it for the same reason.

Thank you so much! No bird (or any pet) is ever un-loved or un-wanted in my house! It's because I love birds dearly I want to help them so much, and that includes trying to find a perfect home for them. Since I own a house, have plenty of time (I'm not allowed to work) and a little bit experience with taming, I can rehome the birds in so much better shape than they came to me. The thing is that my 5 little fids formed kinda gang, and are all very bonded with us and with each other, so it's becoming difficult to add another one. Probably a small one like a budgie or cockatiel would be okay, but bigger ones would feel like outcasts (especially if they're clipped). I just signed up to foster with a local bird rescue!

 

[goalerjones]

Only if you move with him.