Bad decision

[Brenna_]

Hi everyone,

I'm posting on here as I need some help and thoughts on what to do. PLEASE NO rude or Negitive comments.

I did something horrible last year, I rehomed my CAG. After talking with my doctor regarding my horrible headaches , he told me I was allergic to my bird .

" I loved my bird, I got him once he was weaned and had him until he was a yr old. We hung out everyday, I cooked multi times a day for him. He was my baby and we were always together. We sang and danced.

I'm a stay at home mom with 2 boys. So JB basically was never in his cage unless we needed to leave. "

So I found him a great home and rehomed him, however my headaches did not stop, they continued. I became depressed , I lost my best friend.

I started cleaning everything, Still my headaches. We bought a home and started to pack to move out of our rental house to find the house completely covered in MOLD !!

On that note I called the lady I had rehomed JB to and she refused to let me have him back, gave me a spill about home awesome he was and I shouldn't of ever let him go, and I should be greatful he has such a great home. She started sending me pictures of him monthly, driving me nutz ,taunting me as I felt. Finally she got the point and stopped thankfully.

Now I have a empty hole in my heart and I want another bird in my life, since I have discovered what the true cause of my headaches were.

I loved my grey, but I was the only one that could handle him and my kids love animals. My CAG was not noisey, screamed a every other day and just pretty much talked and made noises.

I would like to adopt a bird. But which breed? I would like something thats more outgoing so my kids and can handle, and something that is atleast the size my CAG was or bigger. But I can't handle a bird screaming all day.

 

[QuackQuack]

I feel for you. I had to rehome my CAG because my mom died (bird was going to live with her while I was in college). It was making me very sad this week, as I know I could care for him from now forward having graduated and gotten a home. I know he has a great home and owner and I get to see him online sometimes, but that doesn't change the fact he isn't MY bird anymore. We should feel lucky, though, because many people on this forum have had to rehome birds, but they do not have a clue where they are or if they are alive!

 

[Mare Miller]

I'll leave this one to the experts...

 

[Sulphiria]

How old are your boys?

 

[Brenna_]

Thank you Quauk, so very true !

Let me reword what I first said, I will be the main handler, however I need a bird that is open to also my husband taking care of the bird/ handling when I am not around . My boys are 4 and 6, However they just like to feed treats and also pet. " they will not be handling any bird without myself or my husband by thier side ". My CAG would bite my kids and Husband. If I was leaving I had to cage my CAG as he would not let my husband . So I need a bird that is more more none to be a family bird. Yes I no depending on the bird any breed can be a " family pet " however there are breeds that are more known to be more of a family bird then a one person birdie

Thanks again
Brenna

 

[Mozzie]

Oh I bet you miss your CAG, I am so sorry! But at least you know he has a good home. I am not quite sure what kind to tell you to get. Your boys are pretty young, so you might not want one with too big of a beak. If you want your boys to be involved a lot, I would get a cockatiel (I know this is probably not what you want). However, they are the sweetest little birds you can imagine!! My Grand daughter just got her own, and it rides around all the time on her shoulder and is so tame! It is a lot of fun. It is not noisy at all either. But if you are wanting a larger one, I am not quite sure what to tell you. A lot of the larger ones can be very loud. Maybe another member will have more input. Any way Good Luck!! Parrots are a lot of fun!

 

[Wulfgeist]

I am so sorry for what happened.

 

[PetoftheDay]

I am surprised that the doc told you you were allergic to your bird. Did he do any testing at all?

Too many doctors, particularly GPs, are quick to blame the pet, but without testing, there's no way to know for sure. If they did blood OR skin tests, and you tested allergic to feathered critters, you might have to consider a different kind of pet. But if no allergy tests were done, that is a shame. I'd write to his boss, or even the AMA.

I am allergic to cats, so badly that my allergy doc shook her finger at me and said "Don't you EVER ..." and now doesn't even test for it, as it screws up any of the tests near it. My sister, sadly, is allergic to anything with fur or feathers, so her son had betta fish instead!

 

[Brenna_]

A tiel is defently something I would like to get for my kids/us.


Basically what happened with my doctor is , I was allergic to EVERYTHING when I was younger, food, animal dander, air !! however I grew out of them. I had gotten my CAG begining of summer so windows were always open or window a/c were on. Once fall came we closed our windows and turned on the heat. All the mold started blowing through the vents and I became sick. My doctor had me thinking that when the windows closed and I turned on the heat on it blew the dander from the bird around and was causing the headaches. I didn't place him until late winter/ early spring, as I was hanging on to him as long as I could, hoping I could find another reason for my headaches,, 2 weeks after he left we found the MOLD in the house when we packing. If only I could have held on a little longer. what a mess

 

[Sulphiria]

Id recommend doing what we did. Get a male tiel for the boys and something else that you want. You wont find a bird the size of a cag or bigger that will be guaranteed to want to interact with anyone else. Most birds, especially the bigger, bond to one person (im pretty sure). Our cag tolerates the kids and will take treats from them, and ive heard of other larger birds doing the same. But without getting a bird, doing a trial run and having to rehome the bird, theres just no way to know. And i dont recommend that route to anyone. You *could* search through craigslist or other places for a larger bird and possibly find one who is friendly with children and see how it works out. If he isnt friendly with yours, go buy a tiel. If he is, awesome.

 

[QuackQuack]

I am surprised that the doc told you you were allergic to your bird. Did he do any testing at all?

Too many doctors, particularly GPs, are quick to blame the pet, but without testing, there's no way to know for sure. If they did blood OR skin tests, and you tested allergic to feathered critters, you might have to consider a different kind of pet. But if no allergy tests were done, that is a shame. I'd write to his boss, or even the AMA.

I am allergic to cats, so badly that my allergy doc shook her finger at me and said "Don't you EVER ..." and now doesn't even test for it, as it screws up any of the tests near it. My sister, sadly, is allergic to anything with fur or feathers, so her son had betta fish instead!

Amen on the blaming of the pet! I had a severe asthma attack where I had to hospitalized. They were clueless until someone mentioned I had a dog and then BAM - that was the obvious culprit :roll eyes: ....PUH LEAAAASE....

 

[goalerjones]

in all the conversations with my breeder before we decided on our Hahn's macaw he told us several times to consider a Severe macaw. I would recommend one for your family too.

 

[lene1949]

I have an Alexandrine, Max... I live alone, and very rarely get visitors... When I do, Max is always friendly towards them, and wants to interact... He also loves children, even though my grand kids doesn't visit often, he loves the 6-year old girl, and will fly to her... He has never bitten anyone...

 

[evesta]

I've had doctors tell me I'm allergic to pet dander and I always say, "too bad, I'm not getting rid of my animals." Why is it they always suggest that but never tell us to go live in a bubble because most of us with one allergy have several that can't be avoided. My whole family is allergic to animals, pollen, dust. We'd rather take medication, use filters, get rid of carpets and clean a ton than live without our animals or going out in nature.

 

[lene1949]

My son and his wife and kids came over this afternoon... This is the second time Max has seen them... Max is used to just me (female), but stepped right up on my sons hand, and stayed on his shoulder until they left - about an hour... He was very interested in the girls, but the girls were told to stay back by their mother - good choice, because you never know...

 

[mtdoramike]

First off, the lady was right to have told you "NO WAY" when you contacted her to get your bird back. You called it taunting, but I think she was very sweet to have sent you pictures of how well "her" bird was doing and yes, you should have been greatful that you found him such a great home. She has bonded to your "her" bird

Unfortunately, you really were stuck and had little choice in rehoming your bird.
I feel for you because it would rip my heart out as well to find out that I had to give up my birds only to realize later that it was unnecessay.

Now, since your bird wouldn't allow anyone else to handle him but you and it seems didn't like your children, I would really consider getting something else like a dog that they can also enjoy. The problem that I see here is, a lot of bird species like calm and quiet and slow movement, children are anything but. If you want another bird, get a bird for YOU, not your children because there is that possibility that the bird will not accept your children.

Also, if you can't stand screaming all day " But I can't handle a bird screaming all day" why would you want a bird. They can and do scream often. The longer you have the bird, the more comfortable they become with you and their surrounding and will become more vocal. You could be lucky and get a fairly quiet bird, but there's that possibility and more likely than not you will get a vocal bird because that is what birds do. I have a Senegal, which is supposed to be an apartment bird, yeah right, that is one noisy bird that sometimes could make a preacher cuss. Now, I also have a male Eclectus, which is a lot bigger. But he isn't as noisy as my Senegal, but just LOUDER when he does decide to get vocal, which can be 5 or 6 times a day for a few minutes each time. When he screeches that high pitch screech, it's like someone shoving a screwdriver through your eardrum.

I'm not trying to be mean here and I hope I haven't offended you will my comments. But just being realistic.

 

[solobaby]

i would say go with a green cheek conure - they are huge personalities in little bodies. They are friendly birds that don't normaly bond to one person to the point of hating or not liking everyone else but i must remind you that or though they are know to be all round friendly each bird has its own traits and personality and its important to spend time getting what ever bird you choose used to other people. green cheeks generally love their people - i know my marley loves people , he baisicaly propels himself at me when i get home from school and unlike my indian ringneck he is accepting of the rest of my family. He is also a complete clown who loves to play and snuggle - im sure there are other members with green cheek conure who have stuff to add
jess

 

[Sulphiria]

Regardless ALL birds with a beak, WILL bite or nip at some point. And for a child, all it takes is once and they wont come near the bird again. Not to mention, children lose interest in a pet within a few months and the pet becomes the parents. i kinda like that deal though.

 

[Brenna_]

Thank you everone for your feed back.

Some how everyone is getting off track though. I am wanting a bird for ME " Myself " Which is why I got my CAG to begin with . The whole point is to simply have a bird my husband would be able to handle when I'm not around and my kids could pet.

I have never said I was getting the bird or got it for my children. My children see there parents doing something and they would like to interact.


MIKE ~ Yeap , kinda rude. Like I said before I am wanting a bird for " ME " Birds make noise, REALLY? no way.. I simply do not want a Large Cockatoo or Macaw, this is the screaming I am talking about.

Get your kids a dog?? Really? are you having a bad day or something? Is this what I am supposed to tell 4 and 6 yr old little boys when they see there mother holdiing and petting and bird and they ask if they can pet it. ( GO PET YOUR DOG )

And just for the record we have 3 dogs , 3 cats, and a horse . 3 of them are rescue animals.

 

[Tarkus]

Sometimes in life we are forced to make hard choices that will have a lasting effect on our lives.

It's important to take this experience and use it to grow on. At the time you took the advice of your doctor and rehomed the CAG. You had no other choice at that time. It matters not if the doctor was correct as it doesn't change the present.

It is only the present we can control. The rear window in your car is smaller that the front. That's because you should be looking foward and just glancing back. Life is no different.

So I would lose the "bad decision" now, it's over.

Moving ahead maybe you should take a deep breath as you're running on high emotion right now, nothing wrong with that.

It's impossible to predict what any birds personality will be like or if they will be noisy. I will say that if you want your husband or anyone else to be able to handle a bird then it's important that they work with the bird daily. Enem if that means taking a bite in the beginning. That comes with the terratory.

You did what you had to do and your grey has a good home. You couldn't ask for more .don't beat yourself up over it.

Now it's time to move foward with the experience and wisdom of the past. Think through your choice, give yourself some time and make a thoughtful decision.

I wish you nothing but the best.

Be Big,
Alan