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Post by biteybird on Jul 25, 2015 5:11:42 GMT -5
Hi Siobhan, I missed this thread until now. Sorry to read about your situation with Rocky. But, as Jan has said, it will be best for all of you. All of us know how hard this must be for you.
We are again going through a rough patch with Bonnie biting my hubby, but certainly it would be nowhere near as bad as what you've described. I really hope things don't get to the same point for us. I can certainly relate to the emotional roller coaster you must be riding and will be thinking of you on Sunday.
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Post by easttex on Jul 25, 2015 7:50:12 GMT -5
After being hand-raised, as Rocky no doubt was, he may not be all that happy with limited human contact. What I hope for him is that he gets adopted by someone who can make him essentially a full time job, at least for a while. I don't believe that any hand raised bird is actually hopeless. Their needs can exceed our resources in time or patience or emotions, for sure. I think Rocky has good potential if he's placed in the right home with the right expertise. I'm afraid there are too many cockatoos and not enough homes like that, but maybe Rocky will find one. I dont have your schedule or commitments, Siobhan, and I know I couldn't devote the time and attention Rocky needs, either. I'm sure everyone else will be happy to get you back.  |
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Post by siobhan on Jul 25, 2015 10:22:44 GMT -5
I've been in almost constant contact with a parrot expert and we did everything she suggested. I did exhaustive research on every site I could find. We read a book about cockatoos from Petsmart. Bill thinks Rocky is trying to get rid of him so he can have me to himself.
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Post by aaron on Jul 25, 2015 10:45:15 GMT -5
I agree with Jan... I think you're making the right decision. You've put forth so much effort and it's really commendable that you made it this long with the challenges he's presented. I wish all the best for Rocky and hope he can find a peaceful and happy life with your friend's friends. Sounds like there is a lot of potential there... and another 'too, which could be pretty helpful.
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Post by easttex on Jul 25, 2015 11:17:36 GMT -5
I've been in almost constant contact with a parrot expert and we did everything she suggested. I did exhaustive research on every site I could find. We read a book about cockatoos from Petsmart. Bill thinks Rocky is trying to get rid of him so he can have me to himself. That would be my guess, too, that he views your husband as a rival. If you think I meant to criticize your efforts, please don't. I think you did everything that you could. In saying I don't think he's hopeless, I mean in another situation he could probably learn better behavior. Another situation might mean a single-person household, with him as a single bird even. |
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Post by siobhan on Jul 25, 2015 13:36:08 GMT -5
Oh, I know. I was just listing the things we've done and tried. And since we can't take him to the rescue until Sunday evening, that means he has to sit there with us until then, and every minute that passes makes the prospect of giving him up even harder to contemplate. He's being exceptionally good today, and when I opened his cage to change his paper, he leaned out and wanted to step up, so I picked him up (against my better judgment; I'm trying to emotionally separate and it's not working), he leaned against me for a cuddle and sighed and closed his eyes. I held him and petted him for a long time and he never moved, just laid his head against me and held perfectly still.
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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 25, 2015 13:46:22 GMT -5
I'm so sorry, Siobhan. We're both "giving up" this weekend. I'm at the vet right now, waiting for Zach to get on his lunch break, and then putting Pico down.  |
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Post by easttex on Jul 25, 2015 13:57:33 GMT -5
You'd have be a stronger person than I am to stand up to that kind of snuggling and sighing. Tough weekend for you and Dani.
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Post by siobhan on Jul 25, 2015 14:03:36 GMT -5
It's at times like this that I am reminded of how important it is, for me at least, to have more than one critter in my care at any given time. When you lose one, like Dani, or have to say good-bye for another reason, like we're going to have to do, having others who demand your attention and time and care can help distract you and get you through it.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 25, 2015 18:09:02 GMT -5
Oh boy, well I am going to give some tough love and I know other will disagree strongly with what I have to say (esp. Easttex). I spent 12 years in wildlife rehab - I sat on a committee that made decisions on wildlife. No matter if a bird has been handraised or not, if it is in captivity it is still possible for it to revert to its wild (and natural) behaviour. We were lucky that we had a huge area in the country where we sent the handraised cockatoos. There were other wild but injured cockatoos in this area. They taught the handraised birds how to live in the wild and guess what, all birds were released when they were ready to go. You cannot put an animal that is already attacking humans with just one person. If it sees that person as a mate, it will make the human's life unbearable because of the demands it will make. Also, cockatoos can live up to 100 years in captivity. Siobhan, you tried everything you could - it is what it is - the best thing for this bird is to put it with its own kind with limited human contact. It is only seeking human contact now because it has nothing else. I am sorry if this post has offended anyone but the worst thing I ever saw was a cockatoo in a tiny little cage - he couldn't even spread his wings - and was chained to the perch and there was not one damn thing that I could do about it, therefore, I am slightly sensitive about the welfare of these birds.
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Post by easttex on Jul 25, 2015 19:02:30 GMT -5
No offense taken here. I long ago gave up on the idea that everyone should agree with me, and I don't disagree with much that you say, Jan. The welfare of the animal is primary to me, too. I would not trade any of the birds that I have had or do have for anything, but it is a moral dilemma for me. And I think when we do something like take an animal's offspring away for hand raising, we have an even higher obligation to them. Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying Siobhan, or any other individual, should bear the burden of that. I mean we humans, in general. It is an untenable situation with Rocky, and options were exhausted. But, he's not exhibiting wild behavior. He's exhibiting the same behavior that you can see in many parrot species, when they are raised to believe that humans are their mates, their friends, their rivals, etc. My grey could be quite vicious with my husband in the first few years. He quit trying to interact with her, which is a shame, but I can't blame him. Rocky's biggest drawback, though not his only one, is the size of his beak. I'm just saying, I hope the rescue org doesn't just automatically hang an "unadoptable" sign on him. Someone with a lot of experience with the big birds, who can really devote serious time to him, might be able to help him become a good bird. But nobody has to agree with me. |
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Post by siobhan on Jul 25, 2015 19:07:15 GMT -5
He has an extremely large cage. We're in the U.S. and there just isn't anywhere with wild birds like him to put him in this country. The closest approximation would be to donate him to the zoo, if they would accept him. It's a nice zoo, as zoos go, and he would likely live in an aviary with either the resident B&G macaw or alone. And I don't know that the zoo would take him. I did once consider asking them and I know they would do their best by him, but living outdoors in this climate (except in really harsh winter, when they take them inside) would be very hard on a 'too, especially one who is so easily terrified by so many things, not all of which we've been able to pinpoint as yet. In order to put him back with his own kind, he would have to be shipped internationally and frankly, I don't trust airlines to treat animals properly. I've read too many horror stories.
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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 25, 2015 19:38:22 GMT -5
Siobhan, you can contact Mollywood, if you want, and ask if he can join a flock at the sanctuary. They don't rehome their birds, or interact with them, really. They live in small flocks, in aviaries. Volunteers clean the aviaries and feed and water the birds. I've never been there, but I have heard great things about them.
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Post by cnyguy on Jul 25, 2015 20:14:14 GMT -5
As I said already, it was a tough decision for you to make, but what is ultimately the right thing to do can often be the hardest. You did your best to make things work with Rocky, and it seems that it wasn't going to happen. I'm sure that the rest of the flock will be a comfort to you, and will certainly keep you occupied, as always.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 25, 2015 22:13:51 GMT -5
The one thing we have done is to give Siobhan some options to ease her upset at having to hand Rocky on. We all respect each other's opinions whether we agree or not. (Glad you didn't take offence Easttex  I also know that we are all putting the welfare of the bird first but are taking into consideration how Siobhan might be feeling about it. Good luck Siobhan - whatever decision you make will be the right one for Rocky. |
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I also know that we are all putting the welfare of the bird first but are taking into consideration how Siobhan might be feeling about it. Good luck Siobhan - whatever decision you make will be the right one for Rocky.