I am working with a woman who rescued an African Grey from a rough situation about a year ago. I would like to be the parrot’s permanent home. The question I could really use some help on is would it be a good or bad idea to have the rescuer visit her on a regular basis? I would be fine with this arrangement but we’re both concerned about whether or not it might stress out the parrot. We want to do what’s best for her.

I’m a 15 and got my goffin cockatoo at 11, he’s been a great joy to have. But I’m getting busier with sports and my parents are growing older and in all honesty we are growing tired of having to care for him. When we got P, he had some feathers plucked and his plucking got better and worse throughout the years. But now, his cheeks and neck is bare most likely due to him not getting enough nutrition. I hate to see him like this because it’s a reminder of me not doing enough to keep him happy and healthy. My parents are nurses and alternate work, working 12 hour shifts 3x a week meaning when I’m at school the parent who is relaxing at home or is out of the house meaning our bird isn’t getting the attention he needs. I have to do better to give P what he needs but I don’t know if our lifestyle fits with having a bird anymore. Rehoming him will make me sad and it will be even worse for P since he had a previous owner and then was put in a bird shop. I’m conflicted, please help :(

What do I have to do to adopt a parrot

I’m very sad right now as I type this. I came home from university for the summer to find that my family has been seriously neglecting parakeet care. Since then I’ve been trying to make it up to her, and I’ve been begging my parents to do better for her. They keep dismissing my concerns. I haven’t resorted to giving them “the real talk” (telling them straight-up that this is abusive and they don’t get to treat the bird like that) yet, as my relationship with them is precarious and I’m terrified of my mom’s rage at that kind of accusation. I don’t think I can take her back to campus with me, so I have begun to consider if she should be rehomed. Thank you for this article. My heart is broken but at least I know what to do now if my parents don’t radically change.

I had to re-home my albino ringneck parrot, Coco. I cried so much on that day. 4 days later, I receive a message from his new family that he has passed away! I’m pretty sure he was grieving our separation and I feel bad about that.

I have an umbrella cockatoo that I’ve had 22 years we took them from a family that just couldn’t take care of them he is the closest thing to me I love him with all my heart but I’m going to be 80 soon and I’m afraid that I won’t be able to let him go when I know I have to I’m going to try to have the scale that wants him just spend some time with them and let him get used to her I know I’m going to be crushed and I hope he won’t be crushed

I’ve honestly come close so many times to rehoming my female cockatiel. I’ve had her around 5 years and I still can’t tame her. She is still terrified of me, everyone in the house and my budgie. It’s like I’ve taken a wild bird from outside and brought it into my house and put it in a cage. That’s the way she acts. She does get time out of her cage. But she always seems to be on high alert. Is never relaxed.

I’ve had a Catalina Macaw for twenty years. I hand fed him as a baby. He was an amazing companion bird! He slept on a perch in my bedroom with me. We played like crazy. We love getting into the shower! He lives next to my Goffins Cockatoo. On one day I couldn’t get him back into his cage and we had to leave. If I left him out I’m always afraid that he’ll figure out how to open the Goffins cage and hurt him… not to mention that he’d probably eat the room!! I had to towel him. Whenever I took him to the vet for a check up or grooming I would leave the room so he wouldn’t associate the toweling with me. From that day a few years ago on he became an absolute danger. He will hurt us if given an opportunity. He’s injured me countless times. I cannot handle him… at all. I can’t get into his cage to hand toys or change out his perches. I cannot play or entertain him. There is no enrichment in his life. And it’s just a crying shame for such an intelligent animal. I’m looking into re- homing him to a rescue. However it’s heartbreaking, knowing that we’re his humans and he will miss us. I’m at my end. I will try almost anything, ie… intense training! Anything. Thanks for giving me a place to voice my concerns Eric

. Y bird who always os on me clinges to me has recently started biting me i mean really biting me I am heart broke and hurt ye acts crazy wh3n Dave is in the rook wanting t9 only touch Dave if I get near Dave I’m talking 5 ft away he Flys at me and bites me But when we Re alone he’s my l9vable bird again help what can o do

@Ruth Dumont I can understand how you’re feeling. I donated my 2 parakeets today; hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’ve struggled with mental illness for years and it’s been worse the past year with being in and out of hospitals and all the medication changes. My parakeets were with me through it all. But when I got worse I wouldn’t spend time with them or clean the cages as often. Medication started making me irritable so I couldn’t bear to hear their loud chirping. I tried once last May to give them up but I couldn’t do it and told myself I would take care of them but nothing changed. I still couldn’t give them the attention or care they deserved. So i finally gave them up today and it’s so painful to do so when you think you could’ve done more, but I couldn’t. I mentally and physically couldn’t and that’s a painful thing to live with. I just hope they find a loving family.

@Ruth Dumont This was a heart-breaking read. You did what was best; I recently had to give up my birds due to a separation and my chronic health conditions. I couldn’t wash their big cages anymore either. But you gave them to someone they know and have a positive relationship with. You did a wonderful thing for them. But please if you want to visit them, visit them. It would mean the world and you shouldn’t be punishing yourself like this. Please spend your last years being happy, not beating yourself up. Big hugs and much love from this internet random person.

I have two pineapple conures who I deeply love. I am in my 60s, so I worry about their care if something were to happen to me. I have since set up a pet trust for them, researched bird sanctuaries I think could care for them properly, and then made arrangements with them for future care. I have no children, so my babies are considered my kids. They will inherit most of my money and will hopefully be cared for should they outlive me. I recommend anyone who has a long-lived pet bird considered getting a pet trust for peace of mind.

I’m heartbroken. I’m 71 years old with heart failure. I had 3 African Greys…all in separate cages. I had a pacemaker inserted and my prognosis was poor at the time. I miss them so much . I gave them to my pet groomer as she adores birds. I felt I needed to get them to a new home rather than wait til I die and Lord knows where they would end up, I’m still grief stricken!! I have not asked to go see them as I feel I could not handle it plus I feel it would not be in their best interest to see me. I’m still living and feel I should have waited. I’m heartbroken, and I pray that they are happy. I’m sorry now I gave them up as I do not believe in people who “dump” their pets and that is what I feel like. I loved them so much, but the thoughts of dying and not certain where they would go was so worrisome to me. Now. I feel like I should have kept them, and pray they would up in a nice place after my passing. I can not get over the quilt and I miss them so so much. I could not wash those big cages any longer and it was felt that I had A short time left on earth. Now my birds are gone and I’m grief stricken. I only wanted to do what is best for them. I feel awful and has thrown my depression into a deep depression. I hate myself for doing that, but felt that was in the best interest of my birds, and I needed to get them situated before I died. I feel horrible, but deep down, the fear of not getting them into a good home before I passed was making my anxiety. I know that they are in a good home although I never hear from the new owner. We had a falling out. I’m heartbroken and almost wish my heart failure would do me in so that I don’t have to grieve anymore. Can anyone help me feel better about this? Please folks. No cruel comments. My heart is broken enough. Ruth

Trying to find an acceptable plan b for our two 20 and 30 year old Timnehs. We are nearing 70. What is to become of them when we are gone? No, there are no family members interested.

I have adopted 20 yr male Senegal who doesn’t like me. Bites one day. Then kisses. I’m scared of him. Bites and hangs on. 8 months. Now. He is out of cage all the time. I feed him good. I am about ready to give up. I can sell him and make money. Nobody will give him freedom like he has here. He is so schizophrenic.

I purchased 2 baby love birds not realizing they were male and female.I can’t take them out of their cage they bite and can’t be handled.They have payed eggs twice now and I have no knowledge of how to handle this.I have other children in home and I don’t like keeping birds in a cage.It was suggested that I split them up but I don’t have the heart to do this,so my decision is to re home them I need someone to take them with a better knowledge of how to handle them

I have a Re-homed Black Headed Caique that grew up as a baby with it’s First Owner for about 3 years , a girl age 16. All went well until the Girl went off to college out of town as a Freshman and the caique was left in the care of her Parents. Caique’s, especially Black Headed Caiques, are very demanding for attention, attached to the girl as its mate. Upon return of the girl from school from Semester Break, the Clique attacked the girl, bite her face many times, deep cuts and was promptly brought back to the original pet store for finding a home. Now I got this guy and he fell in love with me, but as this Black headed Caique reach 4 years, the hormone rage symptoms came into play, biting and attacks. I had to put up with this for 6 months and almost did the same, than goodness I put up with the little guy. I found that bring was triggered by the bird seeing certain colors like black, gloves, household brooms which I can guess were used to contain the bird when the girl was off to college. The way I got this was the help was by another caique owner, he suggested I get a small hand puppet to put on my right hand and a sock on left hand. The bird after a few months learned that biting the glove or sock did not get the usually attention and slowly came back to normal. Te caique thought the Puppet was another person and the sock was another. Over time I removed the sock to re-introduced my hand and got the Caique to accept it ( 2 -3months). Next I would remove the Puppet only when away from the cage. Putting and taking the bird out of it’s cage with the Puppet. If the bird got bitty, it took aggression only out on Puppet. Over time the bird now trusts me and I can hold her with both bare hands and she loves it. In fact, the Second Person the Caique is attached to is the Puppet, as I would play with the Caique with the Small Parrot Puppet that was on my right hand and still do this today. The Caique will not bite me any more and we are all one big happy family, me, the Parrot Hand Puppet. Seems the Caique’s temperament is now back to Normal and I can even take her in and out of the cage with bare hands and no biting. I still use the Puppet to take her out so if she gets into a bad mood, the aggression is toward the Parrot Puppet rather than my bare hand. Caiques are very Smart, but one needs to be very patient with them. I am know a very happy Caique owner and learned a lot from Chet Womack’s DVD about the behavior of Parrots. I know have the best black Headed Caique that loves me, so be patient, you have to understand tram by neglect, punishment for biting can affect these birds and it takes a lot of energy to sometimes get a Re-homed bird back to a being a Happy rather than a frustrated bird. Chet Womack’s tips to me were real life savers to get my Baby Caique back to me.

I agree & love most of this article except how you say with dogs or domesticated animals it’s not as a difficult transition to give them a new home. All animals are different birds, dogs, & every other creature….. I’ve seen dogs do great & no problems moving into a new environment. While I’ve seen some i was terrified they wouldn’t eat or barely move bc of how sad they were from the loss of a best friend. That’s why as people we need to make sure this is what we want & unless extreme circumstances should we not just give up on these animals which is why I always strongly suggest they make sure they have researched & are strongly positive they want to take on the responsibility of a living creature. Great article but I’ve seen some birds that were just soo happy to get away from previous owners that their new home made them sweet & happy as well as I’ve seen other animals have a hard time. Always think before you get a new animal & make sure you are willing/wanting to do all responsibilities they entail because it’s not fare to the animal…. You can really mess them up, it doesn’t depend if you were a great “caretaker” or a bad one, no matter what it will effect any animals life being said if you know you aren’t taking proper care of an animal you have a moral obligation to let someone else before it’s too late & they become sick or even worse ….. possibly die…… it’s are responsibility to make the right choices as well as educate people thinking of adding a new member to the family. All animals have feelings & seldom get the choice as “pets” ro choose their owes but we can try to make as much of a positive difference as possible

Where do you go and how do you find a home for a 30something B&G when you are of the age that you know he will out live you? If I wait till I die, then he will just be placed somewhere and I won’t have the choice of selecting a home for him.

Patience. understanding and a little imagination + your tips ! This is the key for success when the bird is problematic.! Thank you for sharing, I’m going to use some of your advices!

Get another Senegal for a friend. I just re-homed my African Brown Head (similar to a Senegal) for the same reason. I could not make him happy, no matter what I did. He went to a girl with two Senegals and they are now extremely happy together. Human companionship alone was not enough. He was miserable and so was I!!

I have a African grey called TJ I have had him for two years six months at first when I got him he was aggressive when I was cleaning his cage and would bite you after a lot of perseverance he stopped being aggressive and has settled down, the woman I bought him of said he was a woman’s bird it took time to get him to trust me but it was worth it. The only thing that worries me is I am 68 years old and my wife is also 68 and I have read that African greys can live to about 70 years of age so he will probably out live the both of us. I will never part with him but the problem is what will happen to him no that what worries me.

Our “Whiskey” was at the Melbourne Avian Rescue in Melbourne, Fl. We had checked plastic with three different organizations before arriving for our introduction to “Whiskey” who was hiding beneath a sheet of heavy plastic that was providing shade for another parrot, I looked at him and he looked back at me and when I held my arm up, he came out and slowly stepped up. I talked softly to him as we walked around the large tropical garden. My wife and I spent about an hour with Whiskey" Before we returned him to a perch. We talked with the owner of the rescue for about an hour and she asked if we had ever owned a parrot or had we read any books on the care and challenges of the various birds and of course, our answer was “no” to most of her questions. She advised us to study the subject and she would give us a week to get back to her and return the numerous papers regarding our home and be sure that his cage was adequate, which included a visit to our home to see where he would be located and to determine our ability to care for “Whiskey” I had fallen in love with a little white feathered bird. Two weeks later, “Whiskey” was riding in a small travel cage to our home but before we got out sight of the rescue, he said “I’m Whiskey and I love you” I could no more re-home my “Whiskey” than I could get rid of my son. We’ve faced many challenges but with each one “Whiskey” burrowed a little deeper into our hearts over the past three years. He has his forever home and we’re part of his flock. Whiskey had been in at least four families before he joined ours. He was called a “biter” and that was a sure ticket back to the rescue. When he feel threatened by strangers or someone teasing him, he’ll flare his tail feathers, raise his crown and hunch down to attack mode. But his record of bites in our home have been very few and very light, more of a pinch. He will get into scream mode and we give him a toy or peanuts in the shell, which he doesn’t like and will stop and toss them out of his food bowl, forgetting his screaming. He loves to have his head petted and stroked. A parrot wants to be an active part of the family, not an ornament on a perch.

Where do we find this “training” that is talked about? My 18 year old cockatoo is soooo hormonal that she clings to me like velcro. I have changed out her toys but she doesn’t care. When she is out all she wants to do is her little “hormonal dance” on me. She is an egg layer. I’m trying again to limit her light, I put her in another room at night in a cage to be sure she gets enough sleep. She attacks my husband. I know she thinks I am her mate. I’m so frustrated that I have thought of finding a new home, but after reading this, I don’t want to cause her trauma. I try to make 1.5 hours every evening for her for ‘our time’, then she goes to bed. What should I be doing? What type of training should I try? The vet did recommend some holistic meds to settle her hormones. Waiting for them to come. Please help.

I have been struggling with this decision myself for the last month or so. I took in a rescue Umbrella Cockatoo almost 2 years ago. He is 18 now. I convinced myself that he came from a bad situation and just needed time. The story I had received from the previous owner was that Licorice had bonded with the female of the house and she had passed away from Cancer. His constant screaming for her annoyed the husband and Licorice was locked in a dark closet in an attempt to stop the screaming. He plucked himself almost bald by the time I adopted him. Over the past 2 years, he has gained some feathers back and bonded with myself, but now we have what seems to be an anxiety disorder. If I leave the room, out of sight at all, the screaming starts. I have tried talking to him through the door of his room. He settles for a bit but if he hears me walk away or hears my voice any where in the house, the screaming starts again. My spouse has said he does not scream while I am at work. He wanders around the house looking for me, makes a few noises and goes back to playing with his toys. He is also good once it is dark outside and settles in his cage for the night nicely as long as I cannot be heard in the house, first sign of daylight, he starts screaming for me again. I am battling with the decision whether it is me who is the bad influence for him with too much attention when I am home or if this is a condition we will not get on top of…Any ideas from anyone would be greatly appreciated, as I love him dearly and do not want to look at the option of giving him up but also feel that it cant be healthy for him to be this connected and require my 24 hour attention.