Good morning Parronts!
In preparing to potentially bring a feather-baby home, I turn, yet again, to the faithfully helpful and insightful AA community for some input.
A little bit of background on the situation: For those of you who have been advising me the past few weeks on the Sun Conure I was looking to bring home, thank you for all your support and advice.
There has however, been an unexpected development. My partner had not yet met the Sun, and when we went to meet her last night at the rescue, she HATED him on sight. Their energies were chalk and cheese. With me she was sweet, cuddly, docile and loving. With him, she bit, screeched, flew away to escape, bit some more, and worse, showed extreme aggression to him when I was holding her and he came near me. The owner of the rescue could not believe how night and day this birds' sentiments were towards two people, with no apparent provocation.
I was pretty devastated. It was a heartbreaking turn of events. She is a wonderful bird, but I made the decision not to bring her home, as I didn't feel this would be fair on the bird, or my partner at all. We may foster her as a temporary arrangement (to help out the shelter for a few weeks in October), but I don't see how I can justify adopting her when she is so uncomfortable in his presence.
The positive turn of events: Sorry to sidetrack for those who only clicked on this post to offer advice. I knew it would save me a lot of questions later from the lovely individuals who know me already on AA to post the above explanation.
SO. The owner of the rescue had received a Black-Capped Conure only an hour after I had left the rescue the weekend prior, who I had not yet met. She brought him out after our meeting with the Sun, just to explore other options.
This BCC could not have chosen us more profoundly. He cuddled the crud out of both of us, and perched on both our shoulders (he likes the taste of my hair, apparently) quietly and happily while we heard his story.
The BCC named Alex, is 10 years old. He was in his last home for 10 years, but his companion bird died suddenly, so his owners decided to call it a day and get rid of Alex too (cue angry gasps of indignation all round). He was not handled at all for the last 2 years in his previous home, but has remained the sweetest little thing despite this. Literally, the sweetest.
The catch: Alex has a broken wing, from an accident at his breeders' before his last owners bought him. The breeder did nothing (assuming he would just die, and be done with it) .... But the little guy is a fighter, and he thrived, but by the time his owners bought him, his wing had set and "calcified", destined to remain broken for the rest of his life.
So, he is a happy little flightless bird, with a broken, fused little wing, that doesn't cause him any apparent aggravation. His vet visit upon intake at the rescue was flawless, and he has been given a 100% clean bill of health.
My question is this: Can those of you with a disABLEd bird tell me your stories?
We have pretty much decided Alex is going to be our bird, but I wanted to gain some insight into life with a little one in this situation. I want to do everything I can to make the rest of his life happy, and comfortable.
Is this a hindrance on their happiness? Have you noticed an advancement of pain and/or discomfort as they get older?
Anything you can think I need to know as a soon-to-be Mum of this little one is worth its weight in literary gold.
As always AA community, thank you so much in advance for your help!
-Lauren
In preparing to potentially bring a feather-baby home, I turn, yet again, to the faithfully helpful and insightful AA community for some input.
A little bit of background on the situation: For those of you who have been advising me the past few weeks on the Sun Conure I was looking to bring home, thank you for all your support and advice.
There has however, been an unexpected development. My partner had not yet met the Sun, and when we went to meet her last night at the rescue, she HATED him on sight. Their energies were chalk and cheese. With me she was sweet, cuddly, docile and loving. With him, she bit, screeched, flew away to escape, bit some more, and worse, showed extreme aggression to him when I was holding her and he came near me. The owner of the rescue could not believe how night and day this birds' sentiments were towards two people, with no apparent provocation.
I was pretty devastated. It was a heartbreaking turn of events. She is a wonderful bird, but I made the decision not to bring her home, as I didn't feel this would be fair on the bird, or my partner at all. We may foster her as a temporary arrangement (to help out the shelter for a few weeks in October), but I don't see how I can justify adopting her when she is so uncomfortable in his presence.
The positive turn of events: Sorry to sidetrack for those who only clicked on this post to offer advice. I knew it would save me a lot of questions later from the lovely individuals who know me already on AA to post the above explanation.
SO. The owner of the rescue had received a Black-Capped Conure only an hour after I had left the rescue the weekend prior, who I had not yet met. She brought him out after our meeting with the Sun, just to explore other options.
This BCC could not have chosen us more profoundly. He cuddled the crud out of both of us, and perched on both our shoulders (he likes the taste of my hair, apparently) quietly and happily while we heard his story.
The BCC named Alex, is 10 years old. He was in his last home for 10 years, but his companion bird died suddenly, so his owners decided to call it a day and get rid of Alex too (cue angry gasps of indignation all round). He was not handled at all for the last 2 years in his previous home, but has remained the sweetest little thing despite this. Literally, the sweetest.
The catch: Alex has a broken wing, from an accident at his breeders' before his last owners bought him. The breeder did nothing (assuming he would just die, and be done with it) .... But the little guy is a fighter, and he thrived, but by the time his owners bought him, his wing had set and "calcified", destined to remain broken for the rest of his life.
So, he is a happy little flightless bird, with a broken, fused little wing, that doesn't cause him any apparent aggravation. His vet visit upon intake at the rescue was flawless, and he has been given a 100% clean bill of health.
My question is this: Can those of you with a disABLEd bird tell me your stories?
We have pretty much decided Alex is going to be our bird, but I wanted to gain some insight into life with a little one in this situation. I want to do everything I can to make the rest of his life happy, and comfortable.
Is this a hindrance on their happiness? Have you noticed an advancement of pain and/or discomfort as they get older?
Anything you can think I need to know as a soon-to-be Mum of this little one is worth its weight in literary gold.
As always AA community, thank you so much in advance for your help!
-Lauren