It has been quite a while since I have done a flock update. Lots of things have changed in my flock. A while back I had shared with everyone that Maui was starting to pluck. My vet really felt it had something to do with the mixed species in my flock. We had a health exam, nothing. Added moisture to the bird room and more baths. Small improvement, but started picking again. About that time Hilda (Male BFA), Wiser (Mitred Conure), and Brutus (Male Lilac Crown Amazon), really started some very aggressive behaviour. Hilda would start it and the others basically joined in. I got attacked several times by Hilda, once requiring several stitches to my head. Than Hilda started attacking the other birds. It got so bad, that I basically could not even let him out of his cage. Brutus also started attacking me and Wiser. I took them all in for vet consults. Nothing! During this time frame, Maui started plucking and ended up completely naked on her chest, neck and tops of both wings. My vet came over observed my flock and suggested that I remove Hilda, Wiser and Brutus from the flock on a temporary basis. Well I did that. I boarded them for a month. The difference was amazing. Maui quit picking completely. Was more vocal and interactive with me and the other birds. I was completely torn as to what to do. My remaining flock birds, Taco (female BFA), Sunny (SC), Peachie (LB), Zach (Tiel), and Big Bird (NC), all were calmer also and now not afraid to come out of their cages. I was no longer stressed about being with the birds in the birdroom, or worrying about being attacked. I had a long talk with my vet, and I came to conclusion that I would have to downsize my flock. This decision killed me, that is why I have been quiet for quite a while. I did find fantastic homes (with the help of my vet) for Hilda, Wiser and Brutus. They are doing very well. Wiser and Brutus went to the same home together and Hilda went to one of the other vets that is in the same practice with my vet. They are thriving and Hilda comes to the office all the time, so I can visit him there. Hilda especially is blossoming being an only bird. Aggression is gone completely. This has been a hard year for me, but me and the flock survived. Maui is still fully feathered and everyone one else is doing fantastic. Peachie is blossoming and become quite a little character. She likes to run around in the rafters in the birdroom. The only way I can get her down is to get out an oven mitt. She loves oven mitts, obviously considers them her nest. I just hold it up in the air and she comes flying down. Now getting it back from her once I put her in her cage is another story all together My door is definately closed to more flock members, as I learned the hard way and with a lot of heartache and guilt, that I cannot help them all. I am very very lucky that it turned out well. Hope you all will not think less of me.

I agree with Carol. You did good, Bev!!!

Yup. What Carol said.



Also guilty. You can't teach these things. You just have to go through them and learn the hard way. As long as their all happy in the end it's a win win for everyone.

Thanks guys! This was one of the very very hardest things I have had to go through. And yes, you really don't realize that it is a double-edged sword. You try to help them all, and can end up creating a detrimental environment for your existing birds. I really really did not realize the impact of having multiple species all together. If I had the room to keep them seperate it would not have been an issue. I also think that the aggressive behaviour from my male amazons would have lessened or even stopped. But unfortunately I was not able to provide what was needed. I was lucky that I was able to find them good homes. But this has taught me a very very valuable lesson and also made me realize even more than before, that these beautiul creatures should not be pets. We take them out of their natural habitat and try and force them to adapt to ours. Sometimes we are successful, but the times we are not can be tragic. I have so much respect for the rescues, especially the ones that do provide the seperate and natural environments for these birds. Janet, you are an angel

Wow, Beverly, here you are going through all this and still offering me support and encouragement with my situation!! I really feel for you--you definitely did the right thing for your flock and its dynamics. It must have been so hard to let go--but you considered your birds' needs above your own--you are so strong!! I'm not sure I could have done it.

I, too have profound respect for the difficult work of rescues. If I won the lotto, I'd help the bird rescues first--no doubt about it. I still fret and worry about what will happen to my flock when my time comes.

Hugs,
Taryne

Bev, that is very sweet, but Matt is the master mind behind Project Perry. My contribute is very minute compared to all the good that the organization does. I am very proud to be a part of Project Perry and am in awe at what Matt has accomplished over the past few years.

Bev,

My heart goes out to you. I know it was difficult decision, but you absolutely did the right thing. It took me years to realize that there are thousands of birds out there that I cannot take in and save from bad situations. I have been offered so many birds, and sometimes I wonder whatever happened to them. I try my best to take care of our flock of 5, and I know that I have my hands full and could not give another bird the attention and care it would need. I feel OK with knowing that I can donate to bird rescues some times, and help them out financially when I can. It is not perfect, but we can only do so much.

(((hugs to you and your flock))))

You did do the right thing... It took courage too! My flock is capped at 5 (was 4 but I gave in with an old man, long term foster!).
I just spent time on the project perry site~ WOW!!! I sent money once but never knew just how awesome it is ;-)
Do they have Toos Janet? An aviary for them also? I love the Grey's set up!!!!

Thanks again guys. It has been a real eye opener for me. Actually our family is going through so many issues right now. It just brings to light how life can change so quick. As you all know my Dad passed away in March and now my husbands father is not doing well. He just went to see him over the weekend. They live in Nevada. My husband will have to be going out there more often, which is a 600 mile round trip for us. We are also having to go out to my moms at least once a week or more, and that is a 100 mile round trip. All of this takes away time from our flock and other animals. Luckily we have our daughter who still lives with us and she has been helping tremendously. She helps feed our flock for us. But she is not able to take them out for play time etc. My neighbor used to help me out with this, as the birds loved her. She watched my birds for me and I watched her dogs when she traveled for business. Unfortunately since I rehomed some of my birds, she no longer talks to me. I am devastated by this. I have been very reluctant to talk about the change in my flock because of her reaction. You have no idea how important and special all your words of support have meant to me. Especially now when we are going through so much. We will be trying to convince my inlaws to move back to California in the near future. That way we can be near them to help them out, etc. Hubs and I have even talked about taking an early retirement, but with today's economy that is not financially possible. We will make it, one way or another, but there are tough times ahead. Luckily hubs has a lot of time on the books at work, so he can take the time off to travel to Nevada, and I can hold down the fort at home. Anyway, enough whining from me. Sorry about that!!! Other than LIFE, we are doing well Take care:)

Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you, Beverly. Seems like when it rains it pours and floods and landslides. Just like some of the many reasons I'm not able to get on here as much any more. My only prayer any more is just for peace and happiness. Hugs to you.

Thanks Lori. I too wish for some peace in our lives. Take care and I will be thinking of you also.

oh ((bev))
I'm sorry for the reaction of your neighbour - it's so easy to be judgemental when life is good ... and so hard for some people to wear other people's shoes sometimes too - hopefully she'll come to an understanding and you'll be able to forgive her her reaction

I'm so sad you are going through all this ... what a tough thing to deal with - in so many different directions ...
hang in there and stay strong (and when you aren't strong don't be afraid to come and vent and cry in here too - we have big shoulders!)

Thanks Andrea. I know I am strong enough to get through this. Sometimes life just gets you down. I know you have been through a lot also in the past few years, and I sometimes wonder how we manage. But they say we are not given more than we can handle. I certainly hope that is true. As far as my neighbor, well I am heartbroken, but do not see any resolution in the near future. I have reached out to her and she has made it very very clear that she wants nothing to do with me. I can take a hint, so I will let it go I truly believe that for every rock in our paths, there is a rainbow around a corner. I just have to find that corner.

sometimes letting go is the bet...

in terms of loss my last two years have been STAGGERING- I'm down to 6 living blood relations and one is slipping away as I type ... our animal population has been decimated as well (the joys of palliative long term fostering sometimes) however my life is blessed at the moment in many many ways for which I am truly grateful

hang in there

Bev. I admire your decision to rehome your birds a great deal. We all know how much you love your birdies and you obviously made this decision for the well being of all the birdies in your flock. I know how hard it must have been. I get sick to my stomach thinking of having to rehome some of the birds in my flock, but I hope I can be as loving and objective as you have been should I ever have to face a decision like this. It's great you had such great support from your vet, and it sounds like everybirdy has benefitted. Congrats!

As for your neighbor, maybe she just doesn't understand and is being judgemental. Although, it sounds like she loved the birdies as well and may be going through her own mourning process that makes it hard to understand your decision. Hopefully, she will understand better over time.

Laura O,

Long time no see! So happy to hear from you. It was a very difficult decision, and just brought home to me how difficult it is to have these magnificent creatures as pets. I too am hoping with time, my neighbor will come around. But you never know. By the way, Peachie is doing very well. Although the little stinker chewed the wiring in the birdroom. We thought we had blocked it all off, but she managed to get through the wire barrier Hubs was not a happy camper. He had to re-do all the wiring. She completely chewed it to the point you could not even recognize the wires. Luckily she did not electrocute herself We discovered it when I was using the shopvac in the birdroom. Peachie was on the top of her cage playing. All of a sudden the shop vac and half the power in the birdroom went out. I looked around and Peachie was nowhere to be seen. I finally saw her up in the rafters behind the wire. She was just sitting there watching me. The wires are way over in a corner, all barricaded by more wire. I thought we had blown a fuse, went to look. No fuse was fine. Came back in the birdroom and power went back on. Peachie by that time was back down and in her cage. I called hubs and he said it was probably a power surge or something. Well next morning, hubs checked and the bare wires were right up against the wood rafters. We were very lucky our house did not catch fire. And again, how did Miss Peachie escape harm???? I had a long talk with her. I don't think she paid a bit of attention Hubs was mad, but the very next day he was giving her goodies and sweet talking her. You cannot stay mad at a Lovebird for very long This weekend we are going to see if we can board off that area completely. Until than, Miss Peachie is banned to her cage