Your Cockatiel Ain’t FurReal

Think you want a pet bird? Well, think about this! Birds can be noisy, messy, destructive, moody and expensive, and can live for a very long time – the larger species for 100 years or more. They have dander, which can cause allergies. Many birds require a special diet and/or need to be kept in a controlled environment. Single birds can become lonely. On the other hand, mixing breeds can be dangerous; some birds will attack and kill smaller feathered creatures. Your bird may even attack you if it’s bored, stressed or frightened.

Quite simply, birds require considerably more than a cage and some seed and if you’re not prepared to spend the time it takes to research and then provide your pet’s needs, I suggest you get a FurReal.

On the other hand, there are many species of bird that are beautiful, intelligent, funny and that will make absolutely wonderful companions. And there are simply thousands and thousands of feathered friends awaiting forever homes at adoption centers around the country.

The fine-looking fellow above is one of the lucky residents of The Oasis Sanctuary, a Rescue and Retirement facility for exotic birds. Thanks to Oasis for allowing Beau to participate in this article and for the wonderful work they do.

Many of these creatures have been severely neglected and abused. There are ghastly stories of birds that have been burned with cigarettes, smacked, thrown against the wall, been teased and tortured in unmentionable ways. Some creatures have been so confined and neglected that they have pulled out their feathers or chewed themselves to the bone. Others are physically suffering from being fed the wrong foods or housed with the wrong bedding. Then there are those who appear physically fine but are emotionally damaged.

The point I’m making here is that while I encourage adoption, don’t just answer an ad in the paper or on Craigslist. Go to a reputable organization (there are many listed online) where they’ll be able to match you with a bird that best suits your lifestyle and can offer information on everything from cages to diet to supplements to exercise and activities, and your potential costs, which can run very high. Your bird will also have had a thorough medical check and the shelter will have evaluated its temperament.

“I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.” ~ Charles Lindbergh, Interview shortly before his death, 1974, US aviator (1902 – 1974)

And think long and hard before getting a bird for your kids. Birds are fragile; they break easily; they are not toys! So unless your child is a paragon of patience, gentility and reliability, or you plan to oversee every moment of your pet’s care – don’t get a bird!

Seriously, if you have any doubt about caring for such an exotic, intelligent, wonderful creature, just go FurReal -

Also take a look at:

Transforming a Traumatized Bird into a Playful Parakeet

Polly Wants A Home

Adopting A Macaw – Is It Right For You?

http://the-oasis.org/index.php

http://featheredfriendsforever.org/

http://fosterparrots.com/

Polly Wants A Home

Many people have often dreamed of having a large pet bird, thinking how cool it would be to have a feathered friend to ride around on your shoulder and perform neat tricks. Large birds are quite expensive though, so many times when people decide to make this dream a reality, they look for large birds that are available for adoption.

While this is a noble and thoughtful idea, it can often lead to people getting a bird that has severe behavioral or health issues, that the new owner may not be able to adequately handle. Many of the large birds that are available for adoption are birds that have been rescued from their previous home, and these rescued birds often come with a great deal of emotional baggage.

Possible Behavioral Issues with Rescued and Adopted Large Birds

Each bird has their own personality, and large birds are prone to have even more personality than a small bird breed. Added to that, large birds such as Macaws, Amazons, African Grays and Cockatoos are very intelligent birds. This intelligence can often cause a problem for new owners if the bird has been abused and neglected in their previous home environment.

Large birds can easily remember things. If they have been abused by a male, they tend to hold a grudge towards males. Likewise if they have been abused by a female. If they have been poked at by little fingers, they remember those little fingers and can be aggravated by just the site of a hand. Unfortunately for those hands, large birds have very powerful beaks, and can easily cause severe injury to a hand that is stuck in their cage.

Many large birds that have been abused and mistreated also have the propensity to be extremely loud. And not just a little loud. Loud to the point that your neighbors three blocks over will be able to hear their screams! This often stems from their previous owners constantly yelling and screaming at them, or not giving them enough attention.

Possible Health Issues with Rescued and Adopted Large Birds

There are also a number of health issues that can come along with your adopted and rescued large birds. Large birds require a specific diet in order for them to maintain proper health. Often times, people get these birds and do not realize the extent of this diet, and the bird is forced to subsist on nothing more than a seed diet. This is not healthy for the bird, and can lead to a number of health conditions that you as the new owner will be forced to deal with. Additionally, you as the new owner will also have to make sure that you have the means and abilities to feed your new adopted bird their proper diet to make sure that they are getting the nutrients that they need.

Some large birds that have been abused and neglected may also have problems with their feathers, skin, beak and nails. If the bird has been  neglected, they can have beaks that are too long and will require trimming, nails that require trimming, and if they have not been given access to bathing materials, can have skin and feather parasites such as mites. If the bird was neglected and not given proper mental stimulation, or has been stressed excessively, it could also have started feather plucking, which can also lead to a number of health related problems.

All large birds will require a lot of attention and care, and birds that have been rescued and placed for adoption will more than likely require even more care on top of that. Before you adopt or rescue a large breed bird, you should make certain that you know exactly what you are getting into, and thoroughly evaluate whether you will be able to give the bird exactly what it needs.

A Second Chance at Love for Little Critters

Rescue groups and animal shelters are brimming with adoptable small animals – ranging from rabbits and ferrets to birds and guinea pigs – all waiting for a second chance at love. When one small animal or bird is adopted, a space opens for another neglected or abused animal to get his second chance at love. Many of those same pets will come with their own unique set of challenges because of previous abuse or neglect.

While the individual stories of rescued animals can be heartbreaking, that’s not a good enough reason to run out and adopt a pet. Nor should you adopt from a shelter or rescue simply because the costs are lower than purchasing a pet from a breeder.

Before you decide to adopt a rescued pet, there are several questions you should ask yourself:

1.    What are the needs of the type of pet you want to adopt? A house rabbit, for example, is a lot more high maintenance and requires much more time and attention than a hamster. Parrots are like toddlers who need a lot of time and attention. How much time will you have to devote to the care of a rescued pet?

2.    Is the animal right for your family? Some small pets, such as hamsters and rabbits, are nocturnal, which means they will be most active during the nighttime hours.

3.    What is the average life expectancy of the breed you are considering? Hamsters have an average lifespan of a few years; house rabbits can live up to 12 years; and some parrots can live 100+ years or more.

4.    What is the cost of caring for the animal? Take into consideration the cost of food, litter, and bedding, where appropriate. Don’t forget your pet will also need toys to keep him occupied when you’re not home.

5.    Is there a specialized vet in your neighborhood? If so, what is the cost for a typical visit? If there is an avian or exotic vet in your area, is someone available during non-business hours in the case of an emergency? If not, where is the closest emergency vet who has experience caring for exotics or birds?

6.    Rescued pets often have ongoing veterinary needs and emotional problems. Can you afford the cost of the required veterinary upkeep? Can you cope with the emotional and behavioral issues?

7.    Are you ready for the commitment of adopting a rescued animal?

It’s important to give serious consideration to these questions before you decide what type of rescued small animal, bird, or reptile to adopt. If you’re still not sure that adopting a rescue is right for you and for your family, considering doing one of two things: First, you can sign up as a foster “parent”. This will allow you to get a sense of what it takes to care for the critter, without the long-term implications.

Second, you might want to volunteer with your local animal shelter or rescue, so you can gain experience working with and caring for a rescued pet. It will also allow you to determine if you want to undertake such a commitment.