Adoption-how to assess problems?

[strudel]

Ok, so I'm a huge sucker for taking in pets in need of a home and I browse the classifieds for something to do....

When you see a bird looking for a new home, is it possible to assess whether obvious problems are something that can be improved by coming into a home where they get better attention than they are getting, or is it a bit of a lottery as to whether their issue is an intractable problem or not?

For example, I saw a bird online that seems to have been plucking (assuming it hasn't got beak and feather or mites or something that can be tested for). It's got a small hunk out on its breast and the feathers around its neck are all manky looking. It seems obvious from the ad that the bird is stuck in its cage and not getting attention.

Is there a way of assessing whether taking in someone like that would improve their life? Obviously, any medical infectious agents would have to be assessed and ruled out by the vet, but what about behavioural issues?

If a bored and lonely bird is brought into a home where they've got people around all day and other birds to interact with, is it likely that boredom-related behaviours like plucking would improve, or is it a lottery as to whether they would "come good"? IS plucking boredom-related or is there more to it? Is taking in a bird displaying problems something that should be left to people with more bird experience than I have?

 

[RavensGryf]

There are so many reasons for plucking. One of my avian vets (the one who for decades has seen "birds only") tells me that boredom is NOT a very common reason for plucking, despite popular belief.

Of course there are certain species which are more inclined to pluck behaviorally, and some the opposite such as Poicephalus who are generally speaking, more resistant to plucking for behavioral reasons.

This vet says MOST plucking is a medical issue in some way. Some easily fixable, some not so much.

As far as you adopting and knowing whether you would be able to improve the situation or not... I don't see how you could know before hand. Then you have the individual personality on top of that. If the bird doesn't click with you, it might make you think you're doing something wrong when you're not. If you want to adopt, you'll just have to go into it being aware that there might be more problems than you expected, and maybe lots of $$$.

 

[strudel]

This vet says MOST plucking is a medical issue in some way.

Now, that's interesting, my first suspicion would be mites, but otherwise I thought it was behavioural/stress related.

 

[RavensGryf]

Just some of the medical causes could be hormones, heavy metal toxicity, dietary allergy, hypothyroidism, giardia, something irritating the skin, etc.

Copied from Wikipedia:
Approximately 50% of parrots exhibiting feather damaging behaviour have been diagnosed as having inflammatory skin disease based on paired skin and feather biopsies.

 

[veimar]

It's VERY hard to tell like this... You never know for sure. I adopted, basically rescued 7 birds (only one from a pet store, all others from CL), so I have some experience. The weirdest, but most important thing for me when I think about it is - trust your guts. I want to rescue ALL the birds, but when I see an ad or a pick of the bird I have an instant feeling about it - most of the time something inside me tells "NO", and very seldom "go for it!". I dunno why, but so far it all worked out. with Riko, the IRN I rehomed (BTW, he is doing great!) my first common sense reaction was "oh no, please someone else!", and I kept skipping that ad, but a very clear feeling inside told me that I needed to call that lady and get him out of misery. I waited for two weeks before I called... and next day we took him home...
The second thing is - the bird MUST be healthy at least by a visual examination. I'm okay if the bird is not tame at all, but must be active, playful, have nice feathers and no any visual signs of illness. I usually took birds from multiple bird owners so I saw all of them and they all looked fine and heathy including the one I was adopting. I won't take a plucker (unless it's a too) or a self-mutilator.
And the third, very important thing as well is the OWNER! If you have a bad feeling about the owner that he/she is not honest with you, it's a red flag. I always ask many questions, chat, exchange texts/emails, and try to bring the contact to a personal level. I'm in touch with a few people I adopted the birds from, but one was a total jerk, and I only took my tiel because I wanted to rescue him.
If you have enough money for the vet you could try, but you never know what other problems might hide behind that plucking...
It never hurts to email/call the person who is offering the bird - maybe he/she wouldn't even respond, or the bird is adopted out already.

 

[strudel]

trust your guts.

Yes, I do, it's when it gets into actual problems that I feel I don't know enough about birds to know what I'd be getting into. (I think I know about dogs and cats to assess when I could "fix it" or deal with it if it can't be fixed, but I'm newer to birds and I know there's a lot I don't know.)

I have an instant feeling about it

Yes, sometimes the ads seem "wrong", sometimes they seem "legit".

I won't take a plucker (unless it's a too)

This is a cockatoo.

is the OWNER!.....
It never hurts to email/call the person who is offering the bird - maybe he/she wouldn't even respond, or the bird is adopted out already.

I don't know how in demand particular types are, but these people have put a very high price on the bird. Either that's what they go for (I have no idea), they are delusional, or (which is what I'm thinking) they don't want to dump the bird or have it grabbed by "flippers" but really want it to go to a better situation (which is what they say). I suppose it could be because they don't want to spend money for treatment, but speaking to them could suss out "what's what".

I think the answer to my question has been given by Ravensgryf. A thorough vet assessment is the way to go. That then boils down to how much it costs and whether the owners looking to rehome are prepared to pay or contribute.....