Why take on a second hand bird when you can buy a cuddly tame baby?

This is the question to ask yourself before taking on either, as both are complex creatures and will require a committed owner for many years ahead.

How do you decide which to choose?

Firstly let’s talk about the cuddly tame bird that’s offered for sale in the local paper, on the internet or in the local pet shop.  Many baby birds are bought each year on impulse, just because you have seen a parrot sitting on someones shoulder or talking well, does not mean that you will buy one ready made that way!!!  You will need to spend time training your bird to do these things.

There is nothing wrong with taking on a baby bird, but ask yourself what kind of parrot do I want?

Decide if you want a bird that

• talks well
• is a colourful bird
• some birds are more playful than others
• some birds are very noisy and could get on your nerves or that of your neighbours
• birds can be destructive
• choose wisely in the first place so as not to end up wanting to give away your bird

Get further advice, talk to other parrot owners or research on the internet.

 

Now onto the previously owned bird.

The number of birds requiring a new home grows larger every day as people want to get rid of their birds for a variety of reasons.

Centres have been set up around the country for re-homing.  Some such as the Parrot Sanctuary at Friskney, do not re-home once they have received a bird, the sanctuary will be the birds home for the rest of its life.

** Monetary donations to the sanctuary are always needed **

Safehaven is another type of sanctuary.  They will re-home a bird to you, you become foster parents but they retain the ownership of the bird.

People hate to hear of abandoned pets and want to give them a new home.  With parrots in particular, there is a myth that the bird will not bond with a new owner.  With first hand experience I know this not to be the case, (I am the new mum of Rocky). I look on myself as the new care giver and that eventually we will reach a mutual understanding.

As birds live in flocks they generally mate for life, so if a death happened they would just attach themselves to another mate, which is no different to you taking on someone elses bird.  It is true that the bird will have emotional and/or behavioural problems, but these can be addressed at a later stage.

Some questions to consider asking about its past are

• is the bird second hand or third or even more!
• try to find out its approximate age and sex
• where it came from
• what were his/her likes and dislikes
• was it a social bird, did it like children and other pets
• did it bite
• did it scream
• did its previous owner die

 

The answers to these questions will give you a clue to the reasons why the owner is getting rid of the bird.  In my experience, apart from the death of the owner, the usual reason for getting rid of a bird is because of bad behaviour.  To know as much about the bird as you can will ultimately help you to cope with the responsibility of being the new owner

Screaming, biting, feather plucking, bad behaviour can all be dealt with at a later stage when the bird has settled into its new home. 

So you have made the decision to take on and give a bird a new home.  Don’t expect to change things overnight, you need to have time and patience and

REMEMBER:

• always work on the bird’s terms
• work to discover the likes and dislikes
• watch the body language
• keep to a routine

Parrots in general are highly intelligent creatures, the more time spent with them either as a baby or as a second hand bird will bring great rewards.

Lynda Wesson
Chairlady

January 2009

Information given as a guide to promote awareness when becoming a parrot owner.