Might be adopting a large bird from CL soon

[Screech]

I've been snooping around CL posts looking for macaws in need of a (new/good/re)home and I've come upon a few posts. So now I come to the issue of their high "rehoming" fee. Would it be too unreasonable to expect to come down $100 - 200* from their original fee of any from $800 - 2200?

Could anyone share their experiences in this?

**I should have proof read that a little bit before posting. Basically looking to find out just what the intention of the seller is, whether it is to recover costs or what else there is.

I'll updated this thread if something exciting happens

 

[LiL_Caity413]

 

[Screech]

I'm pretty much just getting a feel for things at this point. So I'm trying to figure out what is outrageous and what isn't. Most of what I see are birds that don't come with cages and look like they need *correction: more quality time.

Money isn't entirely an issue, just risk.

 

[Screech]

Thanks Lil_Caity!

This is a great starting point! My wife and I will be visiting some birds and people soon I'm not thinking anything will happen this month, but perhaps in one or two months.

 

[nyspy]

It's a tough call. When I look for rehabs, I look on CL and find the birds that are the most neglected. The more neglected they are, the more my heartstrings are pulled.

Every once in a while, there's a bird that just needs saving. At that point, I've emotionally and financially committed to the bird in my heart. I can't bear to leave them in the environment.

The CL fees are all over the place, but at least in Florida, here's what I've experienced [not all of the rehabs I've done, but the most memorable ones]:

Macaw: $650 asking / $550 paid (Pretty Birdy)
Macaw: $500 asking / $300 paid (Duke)
Grey: $600 asking / $400 paid (Rescue / Rehab / Nasty biter)
Cockatoo: $900 asking / 700 paid (Plucked clean)
Conure: $400 asking / $350 paid (Biter)

It all depends on what you're looking for. I find the best way to deal with a CL ad is to gauge the seller based on their level of desperation to get rid of birdy, how much they've neglected birdy, and their financial situation. (It's not hard to figure out).

For me, it's about the bird. I've told people a couple of times I would call the police due to the way they've treated the bird. Once you have a picture on your cell phone, the evidence is in hand. Those people will usually give up the bird for fear of getting arrested. Others will try to negotiate, and some are just looking to feed their drug habit.

I've never paid asking price EVER.

It really depends on what the deal is with the bird, but if birdy is driving the owner nuts and they're one that just got in over their head, they're easier to deal with.

I've also found that most macaws that are screamers when I visit them tend to be the most quiet ones when I get them home. Maybe they just realized they were saved.

For me, it's easy to work the "bite" and "aggression" out of a bird, but then again, I'm just used to being bitten and know when to give a bird time and space..

Don't get turned off by an aggressive bird or even a loud one. Definitely don't get turned off by a plucked bird or one that is obviously very abused. Those are the ones that need saving the most.

I have no love for CL people. I think the majority of them are the dregs of society. You just have to understand the mentality and if you do, you'll always figure a way to get the bird for less than what they're asking.

Good Luck!

Also, if you're open to transporting / picking up birdy, Florida seems to be full of neglected macaws.

 

[GaryBV]

Hi nyspy - I think the prices in Florida might be lower than most other states because I think parrot ownership is easier there considering the weather and the mild winters - I bet there are more breeders there than most other states. I do know that the prices you listed are near unheard in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, ours are substantailly higher.

 

[Screech]

Also, if you're open to transporting / picking up birdy, Florida seems to be full of neglected macaws.

So the site that was mentioned just a couple days ago, hoobly, has stats for states with most hits in the search engine:

Keyword: Macaw
Florida 110
Michigan 90
Ohio 66
...

Keyword: African Grey
Florida 83
Ohio 58
Michigan 48
Pennsylvania 47
...

Keyword: conure
Florida 151
Michigan 90
Pennsylvania 86
...

This isn't necessarily CL, but it seems Florida is just exploding with unwanted birds
Unfortunately Florida is a considerable distance from California, so it makes to be a challenging trip, unless there was a crowd of people looking to also be a good homes I could carpool with.

It's kind of sad how under/mis-appreciated birds in general are. I get super excited to show anyone my budgies, but after one finger perch or trick/showoff session almost everyone looses interest. And I don't think it's limited to small birds, I was at a Christmas party and there was a scarlet keeping a lookout and not one single person mentioned her!

 

[nyspy]

I definitely do agree with you that the prices are much lower in Florida. There are just so many birds down her it's ridiculous.

 

[Screech]

Transportation

Still in the thinking ahead: What is the best way to transport a macaw?

 

[JerseyWendy]

I use Vari Kennels for all my fids. It's easy enough to stick a perch in there and some food and water dishes.

Petmate Dog Crates | Shop at DogHouses.com

 

[Abigal7]

I will be blunt I got Clover (a green cheek conure from craigslist) and she was healthy. I do not now about your neck of the woods nyspy. However, in my state (which is a red state) I would be afraid of getting a large parrot off of craigslist. I seen fully feather macaws, Amazons, and toos being rehomed but I fear they are probably what you call demon birds and are usually rehomed because they are aggressive. I never respond to a add with no pictures. I personally never felt I needed to rescue a bird off craigslist (and I am not about to start). To be honest I rather respond to someone that has cared and spent time with their bird but must sadly rehome it due to circumstances out of their control. I have to agree with Lil Caity 413 it is insulting to ask them to come down in price if the bird comes with a cage or is healthy and tame. To be honest a lot of the craigslist adds with large parrots (in my state) flat out say do not waste their time. I get the impression either a aggressive bird gets sold or they stay in the cage or they get a vet to just euthanize the bird. Like it or not a lot of parrot rescues have put that advice out in public.

 

[Lis]

I found both of my Mac's on CL. My situation is VERY unusual. I got Duke and Pepper for free. In fact Duke's owner drove him from South Bend, all the way to Indianapolis with his cage & 2 small play stands. His was unique, her husband had a stroke so her life had to focus on him. She wanted him to find the right person, before he wasn't getting the attention he needed. Pepper, I'm not sure why they agreed to give him to me. I had talked to them a little prior to finding Duke, when I said I decided to get Duke, a couple of weeks went by and they asked me if I could plz take him. I said my husband wouldn't let me buy a 2nd Mac when I already had one. They finally said just take him. I feel pretty blessed and like they were just meant to be

 

[nyspy]

Yeah, in Florida, it's pretty ugly with abuse of birds. Being that Miami is a major port from south america, a lot of illegal birds get trafficked through here.. (as does square grouper).

I normally get the birds that are massively aggressive. It's never been a problem for me.. Maybe I'm just lucky or brave.. (or a little of both), but I still have all my fingers and toes. My right forearm is a different story. It looks like I've been through a barbed wire fence.

Once I get them home into my environment, it normally takes a week or so before I can handle the bird with them willingly seeking out my attention.

My birds have been abused (Pretty Birdy and Duke), but they're making significant progress.

Pretty Birdy is a little nippy and will only allow my daughter and I to handle him. I can pretty much do anything with him, but he is VERY jealous and possessive of me.

Duke turned into a mush mac in about a week. He's still very skittish around others, the TV, and still working on getting parrot legs, but last night, I came home from dinner to find him on the other side of the living room just "chilling out" on the couch.

I am constantly discovering something new about them every day.

2 Days ago, Duke was on my chair and started screeching for my attention, which led Pretty Birdy to start screaming, only to have Duke completely get quiet and all of a sudden, I hear him say very loudly, "Shut up!" which Pretty Birdy did immediately. Entertaining definitely.

Another interesting tidbit.. My cell phone rang and Pretty Birdy just said, "Hello???" in a woman's voice. It was surreal and definitely funny, because he had never done that in the few months I've had him.

 

[Abigal7]

I looked at the Florida section of craigslist and boy if you wanted a macaw there is a wide selection to pick from. In Kansas if you see any tame bird on craigslist you best jump on it before someone else does. I noticed tonight on craigslist some large birds with potential. There are pictures of large birds with ten to twelve year old kids. In Lawrence they posted a picture of a Amazon perched on a twelve year on boys shoulders. However, this add got my attention with it's blunt honesty Crazy Mean Nasty Miligold Macaw

 

[RockysMom]

wow they really make him sound mean

 

[nyspy]

He's actually a very good rehome candidate. I bet he's just misunderstood. That pretty much described pretty birdy to a tee. It took 2 days before he was able to be handled by me. (Pretty Birdy).

Other things that make macaws aggressive (birds in general): Loud noises, TV / Radio constantly on in the house, malnutrition, people constantly harrassing the bird to talk, chasing him around his cage and of course, his cage.. I rehab birds without using a cage and they ALWAYS end up being quite wonderful within a week or so. It's just patience, understanding and continual love. It just sounds like the owners have no big bird experience and did everything wrong from day one. If a bird doesn't respect your authority, it will never work out.

 

[nyspy]

If you show fear of a bird, it will immediately establish dominance in the flock. Come to think of it, Duke pulled that BS when I went to pick him up. It lasted all of but 40 min. before he realized I wasn't buying into his crap. Now, he's the biggest mush mac!

 

[nyspy]

I just reached out to the owners and offered to help them turn his bird into a mush mac if they're willing to work with him. They sound like they want him to be a companion bird, but just have no experience.

 

[Sc0tt]

As far as Hoobly goes I used it when I bought my Bengal Kitten and met a really great breeder that was registered with TICA (International Cat Administration).

It is a pot for backyard breeders and such though so just like CL make sure you do your research/investigate the owners first.

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

I just reached out to the owners and offered to help them turn his bird into a mush mac if they're willing to work with him. They sound like they want him to be a companion bird, but just have no experience.

Military Macaws tend to be a challenge too from what I hear, and this bird is part Military Macaw. The bird sounds wicked smart, I'll say that much. At least he looks healthy and cared for. I hope they decide to give him another chance and use proper advice.