Would like to find a parrot that needs a good home

[Lindylou277]

Susan, I don't think anyone thinks you are a "flipper". At least not me ... I think people are just being honest about what to expect. Some of us didn't do our homework the way you are doing yours and they got a rude awakening. I recommend that you look at the recent post by JerseyWendy about "mac mess". She shows the real deal about the mess that birds can be. If you are not going to get a macaw then you won't be in for what she has each morning but it gives a good idea about what goes on inside in winter. VERY informative. Since you asked I think people are just giving you the straight talk about what it is like. This is a group of really experienced people and they are just telling you like it is. ;-) Linda

 

[weco]

Susan, I'm a contractor & construction consultant & would be willing to give you some modification pointers to fix your back porch so you could use it for a bird or two. As it is, you will not be able to let any parrot use the porch if it can get close enough to the treated wood to chew it.....both the treatments currently used and the treatment materials previously used on woods are toxic to companion birds. The hardware cloth you mentioned, is a zinc based material, however, if it is regularly neutralized, it can be used.

If you are interested, send me a private message & I'll send you my e-mail address that you can send me some pics of the porch as it is now...I think you mentioned you already had some hardware cloth already up.

 

[SusanSingleton]

Good deal! Thanks for posting. No bird rescues for hundreds of miles nearest is either Louisville or Nashville. too far for me to volunteer. Good idea though!

I don't really know what kind of parrot will come my way, so don't know how to prepare for that. I am just reading up every day here and see what happens!

Maybe I will get lucky and find a parrot this spring that needs a home. My squirrels will be in the cages until maybe March. I still have some winter time inside squirrel loving to get.

My dog died after 12 years, so I am kinda lonesome with just squirrels to keep me company out here in the country!

I never leave home, so I might as well just get a milk cow and be done with it! haha

Farmers never take a vacation too much livestock! Since I'm stuck already here taking care of squirrels.... heehee

 

[noblemacaw]

Hi Susan,

I think with your diligence and willingness to learn you would make a wonderful parrot person. It also sounds like you are pretty isolated with connecting locally with other parrot owners and rescues.

This suggestion is going to sort of blow but looking into local adds for people wanting to give up their parrots might be a start to finding a parrot in need. After taking in parrots that need homes to be able to reach out and get help for problems is going to be hard for you also. What about vet care? Do you have a vet that specializes in avian care? If not researching to find one will be necessary and hopefully will not be too far away from you.

Being able to go to parrot rescue and experiencing the birds is the best way to find a good match but since you are so far away that could be an issue with finding a good match. I personally have debated working with parrot rescue out of state to see if I can find a parrot to adopt but most rescue want to adopt out within a certain mile radius.

When you find a avian vet close enough to you get to know them and let the clinic know you are willing to take unwanted parrots and parrots that need homes. One never knows what comes across the avian vets doors. I have even told my vet I am willing to take one more parrot that needs a home. She knows me well and knows the type personalities that would do well here with me. My vet also knows my capabilities with problems.

I think it is awesome that you are willing to take in parrots in need. They can be a huge challenge and if you are up for being able to meet those challenges I do hope you can find a way to adopt some parrots.

 

[SusanSingleton]

not sure what everyone means by finding the parrot that fits me best?

I like them all, and I would be willing to take in whatever comes along.

It is more important to save a parrot and adapt to it's needs for me. I am pretty flexible.

No parrot vets around here anywhere close I doubt it. I would have to go to nashville probably for check ups every year.

 

[SusanSingleton]

no one likes my pet squirrel picture? awww....

 

[aliray]

Sorry I missed it but just went hunting for the picture that is and I love it. Always loved squirils, chipmonks and small critters. My daughter has two sugar gliders, Bella and Gizmo. When I first moved to Fla almost 5 years ago I thought we had a lot of juvenial squirles. having come from Mass they all looked half grown and kind of scrawney but I guess they don't need to get as big here because they have a constant supply of food all year round

 

[henpecked]

Most of the larger parrots mate for life and don't take well to strangers. It would help your relationship with a new bird to find a parrot who "likes" you. Letting the parrot pick you is the key . Don't think that because you want to be a good "parront" that a parrot will recognize that and instantly accept you. I have Amazons ,the green birds, i do keep them outside as breeders(here in Fla) and also keep my pets out on the porch during part of the day. However pet amazons who are bonded to their human would rather be with their human mate 24/7 and outside is not the best place to keep them. Thanks for taking the time to research parrots and hope you can find one in your area. Keep asking questions and read some of the older threads here in the forum.

 

[Doves1]

I got really lucky in finding my rescue, he just sort of came to me Contacting pet rescue services, pet stores, veterinarians and searching online are some good ways to go

 

[SusanSingleton]

I thought they might like to fly around on the porch. I was gonna hang out with them... it's a nice porch.... lol.

wasn't planning on throwing them out there to live alone on a porch. i LIKE birds, was hoping to find one that would take up with me.

BUT since taking in strays is not a pick and choose moment... not sure how letting a parrot pick me would work out?

Do I just say.. nah... that parrot needs a home, but it doesn't like me... so I will just let it die or be homeless or something?

I don't think I would turn away any poor bird that needed me.

Today I had a realization my outside woodpecker sure does look like a macaw in the face. and I had BLUEBIRDS eating mealworms for the first time, so happy about that too.

 

[henpecked]

I wouldn't get a amazon just because i had the space on the porch, i guess that was my point. I rehome/ rescue amazons. I have loads of empty cages but know my limits and i'm in no hurry to fill them. I know of many folks with the best intentions but a agressive amazon will test your limits. Most zons in rescue /rehome have had sevral homes because of behavior issues like biting and screaming. I doubt you could transfer a zon from your outside aviary to insde without it being a traumatic ordeal for everyone involved. Then you'd be on here asking what to do. The answer? it's too late and should have found a bird you could work with, one who'd picked you. I just didn't want to see you fall into the cycle of rehoming again because you got in over your head. I would advise that a older amazon is not a good choice for a person's first large parrot.I'm in no way implying that you couldn't do it but most folks can't. Letting a bird pick you will only make sense after you've made a bad decision. I think if you took a pole of peoples who have rehomed large parrots ,you'd find this to be true. Something that waves a "red flag" when i read your response. " the road to ruin is paved with the best intentions". I don't mean to sound negative , but when you come to a forum and ask , don't be offended by the experienced people who offer advice. This sort of thing may very well be right up your alley ,but i've seen it fail 90% of the time. Would the bird have been better off in rescue until the right person came along? IMO yes. I spend years fixing amazons to be rehomed, do they get to go with the first person who shows a desire to have one?? NO. If the bird picks you, no problem , your much easier to tame than a zon. Good luck, i do hope it works out, loads of zons needing a good home, but there's a reason why. Large parrots like amazons are not like any animal you've dealt with in the past. Maybe raising an autistic child who will never leave your side would prepare you , but like me and every other first time parrot owner, you've no idea of what it's like. Good and Bad. I'd listen to the folks who've been there. I've lived with my pet amazon for more than forty years. Trust me, don't take the first bird you meet, look for one who picks you. YOU CAN"T SAVE THEM ALL , pick your battles and give yourself the chance to win.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Expect to get bitten. A lot. The smaller parrot species aren't strong enough to break a human finger, so that's a plus. With patience and love you can tame a parrot. It may take months or years, though depending on the particular parrot and what has happened to it. You will need to spend hours working with your bird on a daily basis. Also, birds hide illness very well. If your parrot is sleeping more than usual, is fluffed up or having nasal discharge; it will need a vet visit immediately. Also, you'll need a parrot first aid kit for situations like broken blood feathers. Once you have your parrot, you will have to be aware of products that can kill your bird such as kitchen & bathroom cleaners, bleach, aerosol sprays, burning candles and many others. You will need to replace Teflon cookware with a safe substitute like ceramic cookware. It is expensive to have a parrot, even the smaller ones.
If after reading all this you still want a parrot, I would read up on the differing characteristics of the smaller parrot species and start there.

 

[WharfRat]

Henpecked hit the nail on the head there, which is what I was trying to say in my earlier post. A Amazon or Macaw with "issues" could end up be a real handful for you. It would be no different if you came into my house and tried to handle any of mine. It wouldn't be a pretty sight and you would most definitely get hurt, possibly badly. (I don't "socialize" my birds outside of my immediate family). My son can walk thru the house at any time with any of the birds loose and they leave him alone, I don't doubt for a minute that they would protect him with a stranger around. You really want to get one that likes you for the best outcome.

 

[SusanSingleton]

oH good! That is good advice from all THANKS.

I guess I am just too soft hearted. I think I would be the type to take in some stray bird and then come here and PESTER ya'll to death !!!

I am really partial to those Sun Conures. Do you think that might be good? I have been reading up on them, the green parrots (different kinds here online), macaws and african greys. I like the african grey because they are so smart, but they are not as pretty as the green ones (Green is my favorite color, and I wear a lot of tie dye, I must have been a peacock in a past life maybe? hehee)

Now I have been to places like zoos and stuff... are the reactions of those birds pretty typical?

OK here is a good story/example of birds acting like this to me wherever I go....

One time I am down in New Orleans and visit some aquarium/zoo place, can't remember the name....

They had an aviary with big macaws in it. There was an attendant in the aviary and I could just walk inside.

So I go in and start my bird charming routine, talking to the macaws, asking them to come and see me.

The attendant said "Those birds are not coming down to you lady, quit wasting your time. They are not tame birds. They were seized in a importation scam and brought here."

Well they were so pretty, that I kept talking to them, and they started down to see me.

I held up my hand fingers tucked under for a step up and a big blue was just fixing to come to me.

The attendant freaked out at that point and yelled for the bird to stop. The sudden noise made the macaw step back and the attendant made me step away, citing bit off fingers, yadda yadda, you know the routine.

But every where I go all my life, the birds will come to me and I have held macaws from zoos (A whole flock of red macaws in Evansville IN zoo visit), and every bird I have ever

seen will come to me and likes me????

I never force myself on the birds, and yes I have been nipped a time or two.

nothing major, but I don't risk my fingers in these situations much.

I make them get off if they try to climb my arm to sit on my shoulder as I don't know them well enough to risk a lip or eye bite!!

I even picked up a full grown red tailed hawk one time that had an injured leg, and it let me take it home. I wrapped it up in a jacket and talked to it.

I couldn't let that hawk die so I felt I had to help it.

I like birds.

I have some rare birds here, but have failed to get pics of them yet, I have bought a kayak to scour the creeks for them this spring and try to get some pictures.

Also there are no bird rescues around my area to go in and pick and choose from.

I felt I would be lucky to get online here and maybe find a bird that needed help. Otherwise, since I live so far from rescues and they want home visits, I doubt it would be feasible with me so far away.

That is why I decided to get to know ya'll so you maybe would help if you see a suitable bird sometime in the future.

My squirrels are still in the bird cages, probably until next April. I am in no big hurry.

But I am scared to try to take in a mean biting Macaw... of course it has been my experience you only find out they are mean when you get home from someone's house.. hahahahahahah


again THANKS for all the help these are reallly really good suggestions.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Susan, I really want a Cockatoo and have wanted one since I was about 9 yrs old. I've had budgies and Cockatiels prior to my Green Cheeked Conure. Green Cheeks have a big parrot personality in a little body. They are beautiful, intelligent and love to play. They have a short fuse, though and will bite you if they feel provoked. I take my Trixie out daily for 2 hours or more. On my days off, she is out for half a day or longer. Green cheeks enjoy toys, especially foraging toys. You have to have good latches because they can open cage doors quite easily.
Anyhow, once I'd had Trixie for 6 months I knew that I was ready for another parrot. I was really wanting a Moluccan Cockatoo. My second choice was an Umbrella. After reading more and talking to breeders of the larger parrots, I decided that I wasn't ready at this time in my life to provide a great home to a large parrot. First, I work nights. I'm gone 8-10 hours a night for 4 nights a week. The "too" would probably be screaming for affection and attention during those hours, keeping my kids and husband up. Secondly, I know that a large parrot can seriously injure my kids, so the timing isn't right. Thirdly, it wouldn't be fair to the bird. A Cockatoo needs lots and lots of attention and time and my bird would probably wind up feather plucking from the stress. I also considered the Amazons, but I want a cuddle bunny. I could care less about the talking ability.
After speaking with a local bird breeder (of large and small parrots), I decided on a Sun Conure as my 2nd bird. I will have to wait until my kids are grown and I'm retired to get my Moluccan and be able to provide for it, in the most loving and proper way. Even then, I may not be able to afford it. Vet bills, especially if it's the weekend and it's an emergency vet visit can start at $100 (locally) the minute you walk in the door. Unfortunately, that's not even accounting for anything else the vet may need to do or if the parrot needs to stay for a few nights, needs antibiotics, oxygen or breathing treatments.
My baby Sun Conure is being weaned by the breeder. He/She hatched mid December. I've bought the pelleted food and the seeds ($100) that this baby will be on and getting my Green Cheek acclimated to this diet. Next week, I will be spending a good $500-$600 on a very large parrot cage, perches and toys for him. Once he's home, he will go for a vet visit and I will have to keep my birds quarantined from each other for a while.
Other things to consider are cage cleaning products that are non-toxic to birds and having fresh fruits and veggies daily for your parrot. I clean Trixie's cage with Grapefruit Seed Extract diluted in water and place a drop in her water dish daily to keep her healthy. She enjoys baby spinach daily and she also likes strawberries, blueberries and blackberries and carrots. That bird eats better than I do!
Sun conures are beautiful and LOUD. It may be more of a fit for you. They're not great talkers, but if that's not a priority for you, then that's okay too. Read more about them. Best of luck.

 

[noblemacaw]

I think it is important to remind that you are not close to an avian vet. How are you to deal with medical emergencies of a bird should one arise? Each bird needs at the very lease a once a year well bird check up and every six months when they get older or if they have medical issues.

I know people skip vet visits for the dogs and cats, skipping the shots and once a year visits but with a parrot they need to be seen once a year, blood drawn for CBC, so that the numbers are known and if there is a change the problem can be caught early enough for treatment.

I don't doubt that you would establish a close enough relationship to "know" your bird well enough to see changes but with parrots some changes might be noticed too late. It is expensive to have parrots and if you are up for all the costs and have established a relationship with an avian vet why not acquire some parrot friends for you to enjoy.

 

[SusanSingleton]

I give up! lol


Ya'll talked me out of it.

 

[SusanSingleton]

Let's see, I have 3 squirrels currntly, they eat avocado, blueberries, squash, and other expensive foods from produce every day.

I spend $20 a pound on squirrel food that is hand baked and sent from Florida every month, they eat 3 pounds.

Then there has been cages, toys, and vet bills.

Let's see, I have been told not to get a Macaw, not to get a green parrot, not to get a Sun Conure, and no big parrot is safe with me either.

I don't have a vet living in the house, but guess what? I am engaged to a vet.

So looking for a adoption is not an issue of not being able to afford to buy a parrot, but rather a choice to adopt rather than buy because I wanted to give a parrot that was homeless a home.

I am sure there are better, more experienced homes out there than mine.

Ya'll just keep going on and on about how I don't need a parrot, can't take care of a parrot, etc.

Do you realize how you come off to a new bird person?

I have told in post that I have a good rapport with WILD MACAWS in the past. WILD ONES BABY!!!!

I have taken care of FULL GROWN RED TAILED HAWK THAT WANTED TO EAT ME, WITH CLAWS AND A SHARP BEAK!!!!

I like that people are trying to help, but the overall message that I am getting is that I don't need a parrot, just because I don't have one already?

Not all posters have had negative things to say, but I am 50 years old with a Bachelor of SCIENCE degree! Surely I can figure out how to take care of a parrot with yalls help?

I wasn't planning on getting a parrot and then not starting a thread immediately! I am sure I would need help.

Just because there is not a bird vet in my back yard, people are concerned?

Hey I have a car, I would get in the car and go to the vet........

ya'll are bumming me out. No macaw! No Sun Conure, they are loud! No Green Parrots! You don't know what you are doing!

If I decide to take in a parrot, I am gonna keep it forever till one of us dies. I am not a fair weather friend. I know there is a responsibility to getting a parrot.

Perhaps I should just go to Walmart and buy a parakeet? Do ya'll think I could handle that? I am sure someone is gonna post soon that parakeets are beyond my capabilities.

sigh...... I just wanted to help a bird, any bird that needs help.

 

[ConureCrazy]

Susan, we're not telling you not to get that certain species of parrot, just trying to tell you the downsides of having one to prepare you. Parrots may look pretty, but that does not mean they're easy to take care of (which I know you know now). Also, 'green parrots' (Amazons! ), macaws, sun conures, and the like all vary VASTLY from each other. Just want to prepare you!

Also:

Is the vet you are engaged to a board certified avian vet?

Is the mesh cloth on your porch zinc free?

And if you want the bird to be housed in the flight cages you need a rather small bird. If not, you'll have to put them in your homemade aviary, and buy a bigger cage to put them in at night and in winter. Or you can buy it the bigger cage and leave it out of the aviary....

 

[SusanSingleton]

I was gonna leave Polly Parrot out except at nite to sleep, and let it hang out with me all day long..........

Then if Polly wants to fly, we can go sit on the porch.....

Nope vet is not avian certified that I am engaged to...

Mesh on porch is galvanized... dunno if that is zinc or what.