Talk me out of it, guys

[Roanoke]

So it was me and Teeko's one year anniversary yesterday. I love him so much and he continues to show me new behaviors.
Just an hour ago I ran into my room, grabbed a book and turned back towards the door quickly (knowing he'd fly after me if I walk slowly)
and just before I shut the door I heard a scratchy little voice yell "Come 'ere!"- a phrase he seems to use only in context.

Anyways, back to the main point of this post. MBS has been rearing it's ugly head as of late and I find myself cruising Craigslist, Petfinder, rescue pages.
Yes yes, adopting birds in need of homes is great and all, but personally I feel that my future may very well not allow a bird the size that I've been looking into.
Being only 16, I have a lot to deal with before I become what we call a 'stable adult'. Graduation & a job, college, moving into my first house, marriage. I know all this and still find myself with an unfulfillable yearning for another featherbaby to take from unsuitable conditions, to spoil, train and spend time with daily for the rest of it's life.
So I'm turning to you delightful folk to convince me not to do it, to take the exciting leap into Large Bird Ownership. It's the last thing I need at this point in my life, but the one thing that gives me a thrill down my spine and into my very soul.
I've been asking myself all the wrong questions these past few weeks, questions that enable me to consider another bird and feel good about it-
There are too many neglected birds out there, wouldn't it be best if you provided a home for at least one?
If parrots are your passion, why deny yourself the chance to feel so much joy, and live while you're young?
Wouldn't it be better to adopt a bird at this point in your life, so there's little chance it outlives you?
As you can see, these are not the questions that should be asked of me.
You guys need to tell me off, right now. Before I end up with an unhappy macaw and even less happy family. Bring up as many good points as you can as to why I should absolutely not get another fid at this age, and for God's sake don't play the enabler!
Thank you all so much for making this forum such a wonderful place. I love you all, and thanks in advance for the replies. I know many of you suffer from MBS and I'm hoping at least some of you can help me prevent it's progression! :41:

 

[Endi]

As someone who just graduated college a few months ago, I can promise you that you're going to have enough on your hands with school alone. College was stressful and busy enough as it was, I can't imagine having a parrot on top of that (or any pet, for that matter)! So I think adding a second would simply overwhelm you. And I assure you you're going to want to have ALL the money you can get your hands on. You will absolutely find yourself picking up a penny off a street grate because "hey, 49 more of these and I can get a dixie cup size coffee from the school vending machine!" So an expensive macaw, plus cage and supplies, is going to hurt financially on top of school.

I don't have any hands on experience with parrots, so you can probably get more parrot-centric advice from others, but I personally think getting another parrot is going to be too expensive and time-consuming if you're planning to go to school. Plus it sounds like you've got a great little companion with you already!

 

[Mimsy01]

I think at your age, keep researching and thinking on your dream birds. But I think waiting a couple years would be in your best interest. Once you at least have a year or two in college than you are better able to judge if you can have another bird. Different people have different circumstances. You may get lucky with housing and such, you may not. Some of colleges seem to be ok with a single pet, but I don't think any allow more than that if you are on campus. How big of bird lovers are your parents and how much do they want to share ownership is also a question. If they would love another bird in the house and are willing to possibly be the primary caretaker while you are in college, well thats a different story altogether, then you just need to talk with them about it.

Anyways those are my thoughts on it.

 

[itchyfeet]

Lol been there!
Still there now really. And I've done the marriage make babies own the home thing. But there is a high chance of great unpredictability next year and so I need to reign it in. Now, every time I think how much I want another parrot, I firstly youtube ringnecks to see everything that I could be teaching mine in the time I'd give to another, and then I spend money I could have spent on a new bird, on mine. So whenever I want another parrot, Henry wins with more time and a toy.

 

[Flboy]

Wow, you are mature beyond your years!

 

[rosembers]

I totally understand your feelings! I think you would do a great job sharing your passion in volunteering with a parrot rescue in your area, or sponsoring a parrot in foster/shelter care. That will give you a "fix" and also help out so much for SO MANY parrots in need of love and care. How wonderful it would be for someone like you to share your knowledge and experience with birds in need at a rescue! Best wishes.

 

[MonicaMc]

Got my first bird, a budgie, when I was 12 years old. At 13 (well, closer to my 14th birthday), I got my first cockatiel, and a month later, my first conure. By the time I was 18, I had two conures, a budgie flock, a cockatiel flock and a bourke parakeet.


The majority of my birds have been rehomes. Word of mouth, friends of the family, friends of friends, a couple from bird forums and one through my bird club.



My birds have taken up a lot of my time and because of them I couldn't (or rather, wouldn't) become roommates with friends (they would often say "I don't mind birds", but really, thinking about living with birds vs actually living with them are two entirely different things!) and it does make going on vacation a little more difficult as you have to make sure that you have someone who can watch over them while you are away. I even left one of my ex's because he got an apartment without me. (among other reasons) I could have lived with him, but I couldn't have my birds there. (no room and roommate he chose over me smokes...)


So there's a lot of things I've had to consider, while also thinking about my flock. Do I regret having them? Not at all!

 

[Roanoke]

Thanks for the responses, guys! I really appreciate all of your advice, you have no idea how much. I think it's helping my MBS- I'm not feeling it much today! Let's hope this continues.

 

[angie_robyn]

Yes you do sound mature beyond your years. College may be a couple of years away but that's not long in the lifetime of a large bird. You would need to think about whether your parents could look after him if you can't take him with you. How far away your college may be and if it will be reasonable for you to visit him regularly. I agree with the suggestion of volunteering for a rescue. I want to tell you to go for it, but I know I shouldn't.

 

[Dinosrawr]

Being from Canada and things being a tad different here, I can't 100% vouch for what it would be like for you. But I can share my experiences that I faced then and face now. I have two degrees that I completed in 6 years, and every year except for the last 2 I have moved. I lived on campus for two years where pets were not allowed, and thank god because those walls were paper thin. My third year I lived in a condo where I could hear everything on my floor and above me, and I know a parrot would do poorly there. Then I lived in a house where I was in the basement that had mold and the landlord would do nothing about it - if I had Avery then, she likely would've have had extreme respiratory problems. There were also bad bug problems. I was essentially slum lorded.

None of the above conditions were safe enough or parrot-proof.

Currently I rent out a basement suite owned by my boyfriend's parents. I'm fortunate in that regard, but we would like to move out in the next two to three years. Problem is most places won't rent to bird owners in the city here. Plus I can't live in an apartment with poor sound proofing because my birds do scream and they can scream often. My only "realistic" option is to become a home owner... but I can't afford that. Plus if I rent to someone, I have to make sure they're okay with birds and the noise they make. It also limits the houses I can look at - I likely can't own a townhouse, a detached condo, or live in housing too close to another home without fear of sound complaints.

I would love to own a macaw, but having my two birds already is difficult at the moment. I have to limit the time I go out because my birds need 4 hours out. I have to budget monthly because they need fresh food, toys, and vet check ups (and I have my own needs, too!).
I always have to ensure someone can look after my birds who I can safely trust to handle them outside of the cage when I go on my vacations.

I can't imagine owning a macaw right now, and they're a dream species of mine. More than anything. I watch videos every other night, look at photos, and have a list of talented breeders. I've priced out what it would cost to get a macaw initially, as well as what I would want to purchase tool-wise so I can make my own toys for them with 2x4's. I've done a LOT of research into them, and because of that I know I can't have one anytime soon. I'm 24. So while I completely understand the desire to have a macaw, you're 100% right that you may end up with a hugely unhappy bird that you can't meet the needs of.

Let's even simplify it further - are you ready to adopt a 2 year old child right now? Would you consider yourself financially stable enough to keep a toddler in your home? Is your lifestyle stable enough to consider being a full-time parent? If not, chances are a macaw would be too much to handle right now. While macaws aren't children, they have many needs that can be difficult for the average person to successfully meet.

I think in the future you will make a wonderful macaw parront, and your current conure is very fortunate to be in your care. But I'd wait until you have more control over your life before investing into a big bird lifestyle.

 

[Minimaker]

I'm currently talking to a couple who are considering rehoming their one and only bird because they just found out they are expecting twins. It's an agonizing decision for them, one they are really struggling to come to grips with because they are emotionally invested in the bird. Talk has gone on for weeks because they think they need to give him up because time for him will be extremely limited for awhile, but their hearts are hurting from it. I've just urged them to reconsider giving him up because it may not be the best move for their family after all. They may be able to make it work. It won't be easy, but nothing ever is. I can tell they love him, and I can tell he loves them. I don't think it's best for either of them to be apart, but ultimately the decision is theirs.

The point is you have no idea at your young age what the future holds. So many changes are in store for you, life will twist and turn in ways you can't foresee. It would be much better for your bird or any future ones if you wait, and when it happens it will be all the sweeter for having waited. At least this way you will know your future partner is on board to deal with a large demanding and messy bird. The big ones live a long time, and they need stability. My goffins is dealing with the effects of several rehomes and he's a mess emotionally from it. I can see why other people couldn't handle him, I really can. But what I can say for myself is that I am no quitter and I made this commitment to care for him and will honor it. His problems from past homes are evident every day. What really gets me is if I had got this bird from a baby would he be the mess he is today? I highly doubt it. His issues are the same that happen with every rehomed bird-they bond to people and losing them breaks their heart. So please be patient and get another bird at the right time in your life. You don't want to be the cause of this sort of thing happening if you can help it.

 

[Kalel]

This is a very informative post! So, what would be considered sufficient time for having a macaw? If someone were home most of the day and the macaw was not left alone, I'm sure that would be helpful, but how about out of cage and direct interaction time? 4 hrs? 5 hrs? 8 hrs? Just curious how much time these beautiful birds actually need. Thanks!

 

[Birdman666]

This is a very informative post! So, what would be considered sufficient time for having a macaw? If someone were home most of the day and the macaw was not left alone, I'm sure that would be helpful, but how about out of cage and direct interaction time? 4 hrs? 5 hrs? 8 hrs? Just curious how much time these beautiful birds actually need. Thanks!

Four hours a day is considered minimum...

Macs tend to be high maintenance.

 

[Kalel]

Thank you! I can only imagine! My sun conure, I feel needs 4 hours a day minimum and there are days he is out all day long. I actually feel bad when I ONLY have him out for 4 hours. Thanks again