Need some advice about fostering

[Terry57]

A few days ago, my daughter Britty called me, and said that a friend of a friend has cancer, and has to go to Calgary for his treatments which will last for 6 months. His wife is going to be with him, and they cannot bring their birds with them. Calgary is 3 hours from here. So Britty asked me if I would consider taking care of their 2 birds while they were gone. I said I would need to know what kind of birds, and wanted to speak with the people directly. For some reason I had it in my head that it would be 2 budgies or cockatiels, and that would not be an issue at all.
I just found out that it is a CAG and a Scarlet macaw.
Britty is getting my phone number to them so we can chat about it, and there would have to be a contract in place to protect us and them as well. They are willing to pay for a vet check before they come for my peace of mind, and will also pay all their expenses while the birds are here.

I truly want to help these folks keep their birds, but I have never had a grey, and I was afraid of our Harlequin macaw we had several years ago. Space is also an issue, but I can make something work for 6 months, I think.

Any advice???

 

[JerseyWendy]

That's a tough one, Terry. IF you have the room and the extra time, I'd consider it perhaps.

You should ask them a boat load of questions, AND draw up a contract, too.

Some questions I would ask:
How old are the birds?
How long have you had them?
Any health issues in the past, if so, what type?
What foods do they eat?
What is their current routine like?
Are they socialized, how are they around strangers?
Are they flighted?
How much time do they get out of their cages every day?
How is their plumage?
How often do they get bathed, and how?
Do they interact WITH each other?
(There are more, but those are the ones I can currently think of)

In the contract, make sure you are not to be held liable for anything if something happens while they are in your care. At the same time, please think about what YOU would do IF Scarlet takes a chunk out of you and you need to go to the hospital. :54: I know..that's worst case scenario, but you just never know.

Also address that SHOULD either of them start plucking while in your care, you are not to be held responsible.

Greys "can" stress quite easily, and you never know just what may cause them to start ripping out their feathers. I'm pretty sure the same goes for Scarlets, they can be a bit head strong and nervous.

 

[Terry57]

Those are all wonderful points, Wendy, and I will make a list using them to ask them about, and also to add to the contract. I am sure they will feel safer with a contract as well ensuring that they will get their birds back when they can have them again.
I see a lot of research in my future before making a decision

 

[JerseyWendy]

I just thought of something else.

Make sure and you discuss veterinary costs IF (heaven forbid) the bird(s) get(s) sick.

Also, what would happen if - under unforeseen circumstances - YOU could no longer care for them?

 

[Terry57]

Good idea...I already have the vet bills on my list, but hadn't thought about something that would prevent me from taking care of them
Britty is giving her friend my number tonight or tomorrow and I will hopefully hear something from the actual owners soon.

 

[Anansi]

Wow. I think Wendy covered pretty much... everything! I'd only add that I think you should keep them in a separate room from your parrots if at all possible, even if their vet check comes back 100% clean. I say this because you don't know their scarlet macaw, and a big mac can do a lot of damage in an appallingly short period of time. Best to protect your fids against even the possibility of anything happening.

Not to mention that, on the other polar extreme, the possibility exists that they could actually become bonded to your flock. And that would be yet another cause of stress for them once it was time to go home.

Tell you what, though. Those people couldn't find a better home for their birds, temporary or otherwise, than yours.

 

[getwozzy]

When would you start fostering them? Is there any time (or is it even a possibility) for you to go to their house for visits so you and the birds can get to know each other??

How well-socialized are these birds?

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I would look at it like this . It would be a great experience . If you need to maneuver them around [im sure you can get them to step up on a stick]. Though Greys and Macaws can be hard . You have Zons [and they can be at the top of the hard list] Who knows they might surprise you

 

[Terry57]

When would you start fostering them? Is there any time (or is it even a possibility) for you to go to their house for visits so you and the birds can get to know each other??

How well-socialized are these birds?

I don'y know anything else about them yet...I would insist on going to their house first to see how they get along with us for sure. Sometimes up here it takes awhile to get in for treatment, so it could be a couple of months away, and it could be next week. I am hoping to hear from the people soon. And I think we will put them in a different room from my guys. So I wonder which room I lose this time?lol

It does sound like an adventure!

 

[thekarens]

Spare rooms are overrated....maybe even living rooms, etc too

 

[Terry57]

Spare rooms are overrated....maybe even living rooms, etc too

I know, right? We only have the kitchen, our bedroom, and the media room that don't have birds in them now..lol. I think we will have to go ahead and move Ki & Cally out of the spare bedroom, and them into it if they come. No company for awhile who wants to sleep over

 

[Anansi]

You know, all this time I'd just assumed Ki and Cally had already been moved out of the spare bedroom and into the big bird room. Wow, that should prove interesting.

 

[Terry57]

You know, all this time I'd just assumed Ki and Cally had already been moved out of the spare bedroom and into the big bird room. Wow, that should prove interesting.

No, I had decided to go with a long quarantine since they looked so rough, but they are looking better now and it is probably time. I had wanted to do 3 months, which is May 1. Holy cow, I can't believe they have been here that long!