Craigslist for Cockatiels is a bummer

[Aestatis]

I decided that I would like to get another female cockatiel, hopefully one around Candela's age (3), but would consider a baby if I saw the right one and could be sure it was a hen. I have reached out to Candela's rescue, and am considering another local rescue, though they state they wish to adopt out in pairs (their tiels all came in a huge group).

So, besides the very nice local breeder, there is Craigslist. Thank god for the "hide" feature because listings can range from headscratching to sad.

-Birds in flithy cages
-Birds that are half bald from plucking or inbreeding
-Birds that look terrified
-Birds that look ok besides being crammed in a small cage (but don't worry, the poster will sell all 14 for a discount)
-"3 year old birds" that are supposedly male while also looking like a normal grey female (???)
-multiple 2 year old breeding pairs or "ready to breed"
-A small flock that is clearly loved, but is in a cage with bar spacing that must be 1"
-Posts claiming the bird as a "rare' mutation (it's pearl)
-Birds with price/rehoming fee significantly higher than the local reputable breeder

Not that there aren't nice people on there, it just happens that I haven't found a good fit from those yet. Have other people noticed a similar thing with their local craigslist, or do most people go through breeders?

 

[Xoetix]

Yeah, Craigslist is just... Awful for animals in general. I stay away from it as much as I can because it's just icky.

 

[Dartman]

I don't see parrots that often on Craigslist here in Portland but most of the time the birds don't look miserable. I do see a lot of obvious scams trying to sell some really desirable birds for cheap but you have to text them etc. I try not to look either, we have 4 birds here so pretty full for the space and time we have here. I got Lurch from a KiGi ad before eBay took them over and his caretaker was kinda a bird horder but house was warm and things were clean enough for all the birds she had. She gave me a good deal and was thrilled he was going to someone with lots of Pionus experience. She couldn't touch him and I was able to pick him up and put him in the carrier with out getting bit.

 

[Pixiebeak]

It runs the Gambit here. Unfortunately Florida always has lots and lots needing homes, or breeders trying to make money just pushing out babies .

But I've gotten a great bird from Craig list, and helped others find great ones . The not great ones still need a good home for those who can take the challenge

 

[Aestatis]

Just saw another one from a few states over: "Was tame but not anymore, he is ready for breeding" ugh.

It's a good point that even the 'not great ones' deserve a good home. I do worry about getting a bird that might be ill with something contagious (if they look sick) or giving someone money that may be mass breeding or flipping. I suppose if I saw "the one" that would go out the window admittedly.

 

[Pixiebeak]

Unfortunately

Just saw another one from a few states over: "Was tame but not anymore, he is ready for breeding" ugh.

It's a good point that even the 'not great ones' deserve a good home. I do worry about getting a bird that might be ill with something contagious (if they look sick) or giving someone money that may be mass breeding or flipping. I suppose if I saw "the one" that would go out the window admittedly.

Unfortunately the was tame not tame thing is common. People think because they could not , no one else could either. And think people would not be interested in them if not tame, so in an effort to place them someplace think breeders will want.

Unfortunately Craig list and the like are the only options people have to find homes. There are not a lot of great or even not so great parrot rescue out there.

Sure there are flippers , ready and willing to grab parrots up cheap and sell for profit. People thinking they are going to get rich selling babies , then realize the work and expenses and mess and noise and now want to off load. But there are a lot of just regular folks , who got in over their head with a parrot , or life changed and they need to find a home. Mo's still need to get that money back .

Always quarantine and vet check. A lot of the horrors viruses really are more rare, tho we don't want them ! More often is nutritional, behavior plucking, or bacterial or yeast treatable conditions. But if anybody has a ton of birds the risks do go way up !

 

[flyzipper]

I watch Kijiji (similar to Craigslist) for macaws in Ontario and agree it's difficult

I'm curious about their plight overall, the myriad of reasons (real or imagined) people mention as the cause for rehoming, and the methods people attempt to use while scamming, so I continue.

I agree with much of what's been written, and especially this..

Unfortunately the was tame not tame thing is common. People think because they could not , no one else could either.

My Oscar (found on Kijiji) came from a situation where the previous home was convinced he didn't like men.
... so he actually sold Oscar a woman flipper and subsequently jumped through hoops to retrieve him, before finally agreeing to sell to me.

 

[Pixiebeak]

I watch Kijiji (similar to Craigslist) for macaws in Ontario and agree it's difficult

I'm curious about their plight overall, the myriad of reasons (real or imagined) people mention as the cause for rehoming, and the methods people attempt to use while scamming, so I continue.

I agree with much of what's been written, and especially this..

My Oscar (found on Kijiji) came from a situation where the previous home was convinced he didn't like men.
... so he actually sold Oscar a woman flipper and subsequently jumped through hoops to retrieve him, before finally agreeing to sell to me.

So glad you got him!
I mostly think this I hate men I hate women is ridiculous too

 

[flyzipper]

I mostly think this I hate men I hate women is ridiculous too

I often describe that belief as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

[Emma&pico]

So glad you got him!
I mostly think this I hate men I hate women is ridiculous too

There’s a recuse near me that will not home to people who aren’t of the parrots gender preference

 

[Pixiebeak]

There’s a recuse near me that will not home to people who aren’t of the parrots gender preference

This it ridiculous! Can't tell you how Many end up falling for the gender they supposed to hate!!!

 

[Dartman]

Dobby prefers my sister, at first he didn't care and slightly preferred me but then he realized she resembles Mamazon and she makes all the cool food and treats so he has chosen her. He doesn't hate me or anyone else, she is just his true love now. I am walnut provider and security. She gets to provide scritches and play with him. Right now he's ringing his bell and making his sounds but he knows he doesn't come out till everyone is home and done running in and out for the day. If I let him out now he'll just mostly ignore me and roost somewhere to snooze and find things to chew up.

 

[Aestatis]

I figured I would update if I found something, but didn't expect to so soon. In the process of talking to someone about one bird, we ended up taking the hour drive to see another bird the owner had. Since it was pretty certain the owner was a breeder I felt a bit guilty - the bird was a bit older (10 months), and probably not tame, but was that really a rescue?

We get to the person's house and it's a mixed bag. There are tons of breeding pairs in small cages, but they all look happy and quite healthy. It seemed to me that the breeder really loves his birds (he was more than happy to take any babies back, even years later), but they aren't living an ideal life. I wasn't sure if I had any connection to the one I came to see (zero handling), or if I just liked the way she looked, but I decided to get her.

I had forgotten what a totally untame bird was like, but I am excited by the chance to try and build a trusting relationship with one. I'm still not sure if this was really the "right" choice as far as ethics, but what's done is done. I just hope quarantine goes well since it's not the ideal situation due to the style of the cage for the new tiel (can't move to a different floor). So, the new bird is in the living room for now as opposed to the bird room.