I am writing on behalf of my dear friends who are, reluctantly and with enormous sadness, in need of rehoming their 30-year-old African Grey male. They are both in their 80's and, unfortunately, are no longer able to care for him adequately. I have known them for over 20 years, and, for the first 12 years or so, took care of Niki every weekend and when they traveled, so I am very familiar with this funny guy. My housing, health, and financial circumstances mean I am unfortunately unable to take him myself.
Niki is a big talker and singer (Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, Mares Eat Oats, Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo, etc.)! I've attached a video of some of his antics. He, of course, mimics all sorts of noises, from fire engine sirens to water going down the drain. He loves eating off everyone's plate, and has very specific likes (bagel with cream cheese, eggs, tangerine juice, etc). When he's at my house, he loves to tear apart sweet potato, cabbage, artichokes and corn and play with home-made foraging toys. His owners had never had a pet in their lives before getting him, so they have perhaps not provided him with the most healthy diet or enrichment toys. But he is beloved by both and spends the entire day with one or the other of them. He is particularly bonded to the 86-year-old and spends most of the day on her shoulder. Unfortunately her health is declining and she is unable to give him the attention he is used to. He is stressed by the change in their household. He has developed a mild heart condition that requires medication twice a day, but in their current circumstances they are not able to give him his medicine reliably. I am very concerned for his well-being if they are not able to rehome him soon.
My friends are located in Massachusetts. They do NOT want him to go to a rescue facility, but want him to go to a loving, patient family who will be able to understand his anticipated grief upon leaving his beloved family and home of the past 30 years. Despite the fact that (or maybe because of) he has lived with two women for 30 years, he loves men, so I believe he would do well in any household.
This is extremely painful for my friends, so only serious adopters please. I'm sure they will want to meet you and will probably have lots of questions about your setup and experience, and may even want to visit your home to see it. They are, for better or worse, exacting and have high standards. Mostly, they are looking for reassurance that Niki will be loved and cared for.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to any suggestions.
***Moderator edit to add the above mentioned video:
Niki is a big talker and singer (Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, Mares Eat Oats, Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo, etc.)! I've attached a video of some of his antics. He, of course, mimics all sorts of noises, from fire engine sirens to water going down the drain. He loves eating off everyone's plate, and has very specific likes (bagel with cream cheese, eggs, tangerine juice, etc). When he's at my house, he loves to tear apart sweet potato, cabbage, artichokes and corn and play with home-made foraging toys. His owners had never had a pet in their lives before getting him, so they have perhaps not provided him with the most healthy diet or enrichment toys. But he is beloved by both and spends the entire day with one or the other of them. He is particularly bonded to the 86-year-old and spends most of the day on her shoulder. Unfortunately her health is declining and she is unable to give him the attention he is used to. He is stressed by the change in their household. He has developed a mild heart condition that requires medication twice a day, but in their current circumstances they are not able to give him his medicine reliably. I am very concerned for his well-being if they are not able to rehome him soon.
My friends are located in Massachusetts. They do NOT want him to go to a rescue facility, but want him to go to a loving, patient family who will be able to understand his anticipated grief upon leaving his beloved family and home of the past 30 years. Despite the fact that (or maybe because of) he has lived with two women for 30 years, he loves men, so I believe he would do well in any household.
This is extremely painful for my friends, so only serious adopters please. I'm sure they will want to meet you and will probably have lots of questions about your setup and experience, and may even want to visit your home to see it. They are, for better or worse, exacting and have high standards. Mostly, they are looking for reassurance that Niki will be loved and cared for.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to any suggestions.
***Moderator edit to add the above mentioned video:
Last edited by a moderator:
But a lot of people have this idea you can find the strength and will and everything, or that just because you've always wanted one you'll love it enough. But the bigger birds require MUCH more attention and stimulation to be healthy and time is something so few people can find more of in their days. I spend an hour each day with each my GCCs and then they can do whatever they want in the house free-birding it as long as I'm home, but the 3 of them share a bedroom to themselves when I'm not there because they don't just turn off when you leave. The bigger parrots need so much more than that because they're so much more energetic and intelligent. My babies are perpetual toddlers ao theyre always just on the cusp. Big parrots are perpetual 1st-2nd graders so they understand what's going on even if they don't know why.
