Rehoming

[LoriBabies]

I need some honest opinions please.

I love my two lorikeets, I really do. But I know they definitely don't get enough time out of their cage around my busy life and it's not fair on them.

A family friend has mentioned she'd love to take them, she adores birds, has a few and they're very well looked after, cared for and played with, not to mention they spend most of their time with run of the house out of cages.

I feel like its a good idea but it breaks my heart to part with them..... I know they'd be happier there. They're treated well here and loved but I can't give them what she can -time.

So, honest thoughts on rehoming. I feel like I'm giving up on my babies.....

 

[MomtoPercy]

Wow, that is a tough one! I understand your pain in parting with them but if you truly feel they'd be better off (time and attention wise) at a new home, you are actually giving them a gift of love.

I can't tell you what to do because this is such an emotional issue but I think if you let the needs of your birds lead your decision, you will be on the right track.

Good luck and ((hugs)).

 

[GaryBV]

Hi Lori - I think you should do what you think is right for you and for them but I see that you have two of them, and my experience with two birds is that they bond with each other and really don't care how much time you spend with them as their focus is on each other. It could be the situation is different at your house, and you know your time constraints better than anybody else, but if you are taking good care of them, and giving them a good diet, and giving them some time, then I don't think you need feel guilty about keeping them, but if you think it best to rehome them to a relative, then don't feel guilty about that either - ultimately what is best for the birds is what is best.

 

[LoriBabies]

Thank you so much for your responses, sorry it's taken me so long, damn real life lol.

I still haven't made a decision as to what I'm going to do, though at least your responses helped to slightly alleviate the awful guilt feeling associated with this whole ordeal.

Gary, your comment about them bonding, that was the intention when I purchased Zazu, that they'd be 'bestest buddies' and that just hasn't happened, providing their humans aren't around they tolerate each other (though don't seem to play or interact really) but as soon as we are in sight, it's bullying and general grumpiness (no actual fighting but still unpleasant), so it seems they rely on humans for interaction and fun.

Ugh such a difficult decision, if only we didn't fall so totally in love with these little feathered buggers lol.

 

[strudel]

But I know they definitely don't get enough time out of their cage around my busy life and it's not fair on them.

How much is not enough, why is that (can you change it? have playtime and then do whatever else?) will it change? They are only young, as I understand it, they'll need quite a bit of attention while they are growing up. I'd try to look at it as objectively as you can to figure out whether you really aren't giving them "enough". As Gary said, you might just be feeling like you aren't doing enough but I think we can all feel a bit inadequate when we get information online from devotees who seem to be doing so much better than us.

 

[GaryBV]

Hi again Lori - I did want to say that if you are confident your friend would provide a great home for the birds, then that really could be the best of both worlds for you - a place where they are happy, and you would get to see them whenever you wanted, at a friends house where you could gift them treats or toys, etc. The 2nd biggest problem in rehoming is you rarely can be sure they will get the proper level of care and proper diet, but in this case, that problem is really solved already (the 1st biggest problem is coming to the decision to rehome). Under the cirumstances if you are confident of their new home, then you don't need to feel guilty about it. I think lorikeets are strikingly beautiful, and I see that in Tassie they are being considered pests!