Here we go again...

[itchyfeet]

I've always wanted a grey. I admire their personality traits, their colour, their intellect, their mannerisms.....I've just always loved them.

I've always loved ringneck's too - and don't get me wrong, I adore Henry and always will. He's here to stay. When we decided to add a parrot to our family last time, it was a toss between an IRN and an AG, the IRN winning purely on size factor, as hubby is still adjusting to the bigger parrots. As I leaned towards the IRN for this reason, Henry was up for adoption.

Well.


Now there's a grey available too. He's 4, and supposedly for sale due to work commitments. The photos depict a bird of fine feather and great health, out of his cage. Hubby's okay with us meeting him.

Here's the thing. This might the 5th grey that's caught my eye over the last 13yrs. That's right....13 years of research, dreaming and planning. I keep chickening out.

So I'm well versed in how sensitive they can be, and what can go wrong. And I'm sure that's going to happen to my bird.

We own our own home. Our marriage is stable. Our children, ages 5 & 6, can handle a sulphur-crested and rose-breasted 'too under supervision, and when I was sick recently in bed, the 6yr old was able to either do all the work for Henry, or instruct Dad on 'exactly how Mum does it'. I'm working from home. I used to be an early childhood teacher (Pre K in the states? 0-5yrs), and am now retraining, from home, in educational psychology. I'm blessed to be in a position that bar some great catastrophe, I won't have to return to work full time ever.

Logically - we've built ourselves up to a point in life where I should be jumping at it! But I've over researched, and over thought...and over everythinged - and now I can't figure out if I'm being reasonable or over the top.

What if this bird is the one bird too much and it costs Henry?
What if this bird and hubby really can't bond?
What if this bird ....oh I don't know. But what if I make a mistake...?

 

[Flboy]

Absolutely, over the top, over thought, fully ready, over your head! Go for it! Sometimes even water catches fire!
Huh? No such thing as the perfect plan! Even hiding in bed all day will get you!
I am beginning to think I am replying to my own situations and not yours, but the beauty of the anonymity of a forum!
Kidding aside, go for the baby! They all poop!

 

[Aquila]

My birds weren't exactly planned, besides my first one. But they're all rescues, though my grey came from an excellent home, just poor reception to the family after the owner got married.

I browsed Craigslist till I saw birds I liked, and I jumped on it. I never regretted any of them. I always wanted an African grey, and I fell in love with him instantly. Sometimes like children, birds happen. If you can, meet with them, see if you have that spark! There's always birds around to adopt, too many sometimes, and I'd take them all if I could.

More often than not, the bird chooses you, so don't worry!

 

[Puck]

It sounds like you are very prepared and have certainly thought this through. I saw go for your dream!

 

[Mariar]

Do it! Do it! Do it!