Odd situation - advice is welcome

[Grinder]

Hey everyone. I've come across an odd and almost difficult situation. I'm really on the fence with the following:

A few months ago I contacted someone on Craigslist who had a B&G and a GW macaw with a massive cage for sale. His price point was ridiculous. But I contacted him to see if he was willing to sell his GW only. He said yes - for $1500. It ended there as I could get a weaned GW for a few hundred more. That's what I did. I put a deposit down and have been visiting him for the last month and a half. He comes home around mid July.

Well the original seller I mentioned above texted me two days ago (surprised he kept my #) and said he would sell me B&G, GW and cage for $1500! I really thought about it, but the pics the he texted me show a completely empty cage with only three perches - no toys. The birds show no sign of plucking, but their feathers are not too healthy looking. It's obvious through his answers in the texts that he doesnt know much about their care and that he purchased everything on a whim. The walls behind the cage look like they may be in a garage...

Anyway. I won't lie and make myself look like a hero. I once again asked him if I could somehow get just the GW and cage knowing he would be left with a B&G with no cage. So he dropped his price to $1200 for all three. That was his answer to my request. I did not ask for this. He told me to take all three and just sell the B&G on my own. Craziness...

Again, no deception - I seriously thought about doing just that and realistically I am still thinking about doing just that. We've already agreed to the deal. I pick them up Sunday. No I have not met them - this guy lives a really good distance from me. I told him that as long as everything he told me was true, that we have a deal (hand tame, papers match their ages - 3 years old, and some other items). I was going to sell the B&G since that is what he was going to do, but now I feel like a total jerk for thinking this way.

So now I am thinking I may keep him as well, but I feel like I am doing it out of guilt. If any of you were presented with this situation, what would you do? Feel welcome to be brutally honest. Thanks.

 

[SandyBee]

There is now way to determine that until you meet them.
I would also take the deal and see how the birds are, get them the proper care.
If the birds are not bonded to each other and have no serious medical issues, I would consider selling the B&G if the situation was that it wouldn't work in my home. Also if there is some underlying issue's medical or behavioral I would surrender the B&G to a "GOOD" rescue that could possibly help him.

If I got the birds home and they were bonded or if my situation allowed me to keep both though, I would.

 

[Grenage]

You have Macaw experience, and they guy just wants a sale - it will probably be in far better care with you until a sale comes; I see no moral issues with this, unless as above, the birds are really bonded.

 

[ShellyBorg]

I agree. But make no decisions until you meet and get to know the birds a little. You may fall in love with the B&G and not get along with the GW.

 

[aliray]

It also might happen that after living with them for a while you might not want to part with either one. I wouldn't make plans until I had lived with them in my home for a few months. Once their gone you can't get the bird back but you can always decide what to do at a later date when you are sure it is the right choice for all of you

 

[Tosca]

I say take everything offered by the seller, spend some time with all of the birds and then make a decision. You have been bestowed an unusual opportunity, so go with the flow, and if any of the birds don't work out, pass the favor along to somebody else who you believe will give the bird(s) a great forever home. The birds will be better off elsewhere even if you can't keep them.

 

[Grinder]

Thanks for your input everyone. I will be taking them in with the intentions of keeping them first and seeing how it goes from there.

I have a LOT of toys to buy for them! I think I may have to teach them how to play with them. This will be very interesting.

 

[noblemacaw]

I wish you all the best with your new Macaws. I hope they are healthy enough not to need extensive vet care but under your TLC will become healthy and happy as they are meant to be. Please take lots of pictures for us to see the transformations!!

Good Luck with the travel to go get them. On May 11 we are traveling to Kansas to get a naked Noble macaw name Sir John.

 

[Jtbirds]

Well grinder I would suggest to keep them both for awhile or forever. First you have no idea how bonded they may be and as well who knows you could fall in love with them both... You know I love macaws so if I was you I'd keep both of these wonderful birds if I was in your situations.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I feel bad for the birds.... that guy doesn't seem to care for them as intelligent animals but rather a high price tag.

I hope you give them both a try, and give it at least a year for them to really get to know you. Rather than choose one for the species pic the bird that bonds the best to you.

Are you still going to get a the baby green wing?

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I love being able to have rescues ,rehomed and just weaned. Each has taught me so much .On how to [hopefully] give them a happy life. I start to read this thread and Im almost holding my breath thinking (I hope he helps them] before I get to that part [were you say you do}. My first thought is I dont care on how their being taken care of .I have this idea of no bird left behind if you can help in anyway. I know your going to be a much more positive thing for them. I want to offer advice on expense [you might be already doing this] I pre cook meals for 5 weeks and freeze them [this helps with the expense of good pellets, It lasts longer and I think its better for them.] I also have a Care credit account that the my vet takes .I have it for if its some kind of emergency and it exceeds my savings . Besides big wood toys and safe metel ones .My Macaw enjoys wyffle balls [strung together and by themselves] and their cheap.

 

[Blancaej]

I agree with keeping them both and see how it goes. I have a feeling you will fall in love with both. With proper care and TLC, parrots thrive. I'm sure they both would be great companions. But if it is just too much for you to have so many birds, I would not feel guilty at all about selling one or the other and finding them a great home. You have to do what's best for your situation. Personally, I hope it works out and you can keep them both! Good luck. Can't wait to see pics!

Are you still getting the baby gw?

 

[Grinder]

Are you still going to get a the baby green wing?

Yes, he is still coming home to us in July. We named him Confetti. He is still in the stage where he just wants to eat all the time, but I try to visit at least twice a week. I was told he has started using some of the lower perches. I love watching him grow. my cell phone is full of pics

 

[Featheredsamurai]

That's great your still keeping him

And I agree with Blanca, if so many birds are too much to handle it's alright to find one a new home. Please pick the bird on it's mind and character, rather than the species he was born as.

 

[Turquoise]

That is a very good deal you are getting. Some have said to pick the bird that with the personality you like the best. That is a great reason, but I know why you would be more interested in the GW. I have wanted a GW since I saw my first photo of one many yrs ago. When I bought my 2 Catalinas I was looking for a GW. I love both boys very much & would not part with them just because they are not a GW, but the nagging feeling of wanting a GW was still there. So, on Monday my GW girl will finally fly home after waiting four months since I picked her to wean. (She is almost 8 months old, not 4 months old)

I came across a similar deal on CL recently for a B&G, a scarlet & their cage for $1,500.00 I didn't have the funds for them & I ended up helping the owners re-home them through a FB group page I maintain. One lady wanted the B&G so they offered the scarlet to me for $500.00. I was planning to get her when I got paid & told them if they found another who could get her sooner to go for it. Well the same lady who bought the B&G took the scarlet to give to her friend. I lost out on a good deal, but I was glad to help find them good homes.

I personally feel that once you get them home & settled in, you will know if you want to keep both or need to re-home one. Good luck with them & I look forward to all the pics forthcoming!