when new parrot owners complain about their birds...

[plax]

I always think they should have purchased one of these instead of ruining a real bird's life:

Perfect Polly | Official Site | Lifelike Bird Gives The Joy Of A Pet Without The Work!

 

[Thingamagigs]

What do you mean, complain about their birds? And why does complaining mean they have ruined a birds life? They might just be letting off steam... or they might have been duped into buying a bird the seller wasn't honest about. Complaining doesn't automatically make someone a bad bird owner.

I just acquired a new bird I was lied to about so the seller could make the sale. She was "flipping" a bird she bought for cheap and pretending she handreared it.
Once paid for, I found out the truth... he has been injured and traumatised and has changed hands far too many times for such a young bird. I feel its very much within my right to complain! That doesn't mean I have ruined my birds life!!!! He's as spoiled as if he didn't have an injured wing, anxiety based behavioural issues, possible PBFD and has cost me a darn fortune due to my heart ruling my head!

 

[Conuregirl]

i dont think plax meant it in that context. it is about the less sincere purchase of a bird. those types of bird owners that do not realize the care for this sensitive pet, and they see it as home decor. they do not realize it takes a lot of effort into training, socializing, and educating themselves on proper bird keeping.

i think plax is also venting in a way and starting a discussion about misguided people. you are definately not one of them! you care about your fids and go through excellent measures for their care.

 

[Kiwibird]

Hehe, reminds me of a toy I had as a kid. The little (I think it was a toucan) would "flap" it's wings and move it's beak when you pressed on it's head and feet could grip your pinky finger. He had a little purple cage too. It was always one of my favorite toys, and my mom probably still has it somewhere in storage!

The one that really gets me is the life-sized B&G macaw I found in a thrift shop a few years back. It worked with fresh batteries and talks/moves. Kiwi loves his buddy lol, probably doesn't even realize it's not a real parrot. I think the "technology" to make realistic "pets" is a great thing. Most kids aren't actually ready for a live animal (of any kind), and once the novelty has worn off, a plastic toy can just be tossed in a drawer (unlike a real animal). Heck, there are some adults who aren't ready for a living creature to be in their care. I personally think anyone who wants a parrot (and has never owned birds before) should have to take a fake one home first. Kind of like those fake babies they give middle school kids, let them experience the noise factor, bite factor, mess factor and continual care/attention needs of a parrot before bringing a real one home. I bet a lot less would end up in shelters if non-dedicated owners experienced the screeching of the species they want for a few days before actually bringing the real deal home.

 

[Aims]

I had a scarlet macaw one. (I can't see the picture, Internet on a go slow, but it was exactly like what Kiwibird described only a scarlet macaw instead of a toucan.)

 

[MaraWentz]

At least they come here looking to give it a better home or looking to fix the problem

 

[plax]

i dont think plax meant it in that context. it is about the less sincere purchase of a bird. those types of bird owners that do not realize the care for this sensitive pet, and they see it as home decor. they do not realize it takes a lot of effort into training, socializing, and educating themselves on proper bird keeping.

i think plax is also venting in a way and starting a discussion about misguided people. you are definately not one of them! you care about your fids and go through excellent measures for their care.

Exactly correct. I was speaking of those who are prone to impulse- or whim-purchasing of companion birds without performing the due research on ownership of the particular species, and then all-too-often giving the birds away (or ultimately killing them before their time). Sadly, there are plenty of such individuals out there.

And, yes, Conuregirl, I was merely venting because this IS a hugely serious problem within our society .

 

[plax]

Most kids aren't actually ready for a live animal (of any kind), and once the novelty has worn off, a plastic toy can just be tossed in a drawer (unlike a real animal). Heck, there are some adults who aren't ready for a living creature to be in their care. I personally think anyone who wants a parrot (and has never owned birds before) should have to take a fake one home first. Kind of like those fake babies they give middle school kids, let them experience the noise factor, bite factor, mess factor and continual care/attention needs of a parrot before bringing a real one home. I bet a lot less would end up in shelters if non-dedicated owners experienced the screeching of the species they want for a few days before actually bringing the real deal home.

Well said, and precisely correct! People who don't investigate the realities of pet ownership for the species they decide to acquire, making
uninformed decisions to acquire the animals as pure novelties, are unfortunately responsible for a large percentage of the abandoned pets in our world . Those are in fact the type of individuals who drive a large portion of the breeding mills, since the collective profit potential from such individuals makes mass-producing animals quite lucrative.

 

[plax]

At least they come here looking to give it a better home or looking to fix the problem

Actually, most of them don't. We see a very small fraction of them here. The greater proportion of birds in rescue facilities are there because of irresponsible, whim-driven people who decided to obtain those birds without first doing appropriate research. In some cases, such individuals even refuse to heed available advice and recommendations before their acquisitions. Throughout my life I've met a number of those individuals in fact.

 

[MaraWentz]

At least they come here looking to give it a better home or looking to fix the problem

Actually, most of them don't. We see a very small fraction of them here. The greater proportion of birds in rescue facilities are there because of irresponsible, whim-driven people who decided to obtain those birds without first doing appropriate research. In some cases, such individuals even refuse to heed available advice and recommendations before their acquisitions. Throughout my life I've met a number of those individuals in fact.

Actually, they do. They wouldn't join if they weren't trying to rehome or get advice. Just because they dont pick your advice or my advice, doesn't mean they're not looking for help.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Plax, I couldn't agree with you more. If, in fact, EVERYONE would do necessary research BEFORE bringing home a parrot (or any other animal for that matter), there wouldn't be NEARLY as many parrots out there that are looking for new homes, or that have behavioral issues or dietary issues.

This also applies to animal shelters. I truly believe they would be a whole lot less crowded if people invested ENOUGH time prior to buying a pet.

 

[SandyBee]

I agree too, too many birds end up in shelters just because the owner didn't prepare/learn enough. The rescue here is just overfull with beautiful birds mostly Amazons and cockatoos.
When we were adopting we spent a lot of time at the rescue meeting the birds and speaking with the adoption director, she also said so many people coming in to adopt the big birds had no clue and was ultimately time consuming having to educate them when they came in as possible adoptive parents. Some she turned away, some left on their own after speaking with her, only about 30% followed through on adoptions.
They had some beautiful Macaws and a grey that they would not advertise on their website due to the high volume of calls they would experience from uneducated want to be owners.


The toy is cute, wonder what Bosley would think LOL

 

[plax]

At least they come here looking to give it a better home or looking to fix the problem

Actually, most of them don't. We see a very small fraction of them here. The greater proportion of birds in rescue facilities are there because of irresponsible, whim-driven people who decided to obtain those birds without first doing appropriate research. In some cases, such individuals even refuse to heed available advice and recommendations before their acquisitions. Throughout my life I've met a number of those individuals in fact.

Actually, they do. They wouldn't join if they weren't trying to rehome or get advice. Just because they dont pick your advice or my advice, doesn't mean they're not looking for help.

My point is that we see a very small fragment here of the total global mass of individuals who have whim-purchased pet birds, then realized they've gotten in over their heads. Such unfortunate birds are too often either given away or end up for sale on craigslist type sites, and in far too many cases are condemned to lives of suffering from malnutrition, disease and neglect. Some of them die long before they should.

I am certainly not speaking against people who make goodhearted efforts to give secondhand birds great homes! In fact I commend those who are willing to give previously owned birds a second chance!!!

 

[MaraWentz]

Okay, I thought you were talking about new members who come here because they're in over their head. I'm assuming you're not talking about new owners on the forum, but rather in general.

 

[Pedro]

I also agree with plax. I am in the industry & let me tell you the amount of hours i spend with idiots trying to explain every last detail only for them to go on some forum or group whinging about the bird because it doesn't live up to their expectations. It's always the birds fault not the idiot that won't take direction or advice. No wonder why i choose very carefully where my babies will live.

By the way great post Plax.