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asterrocI'm really torn on this bird thing. Every 12 hours I go back and forth between Barney the IRN (her info's here, though that's not a picture of her), and holding out for a GCC, even if that means going through a breeder. Last night my whole drive home I was thinking I wanted Barney, so I called my parents for advice.
Strangely for them, they weren't very helpful for the most part (my best friend afterwards said that could be b/c their cat is having health problems, so they could be thinking about his mortality and what they want in their next pet), instead of asking me probing questions that get to the heart of what I actually want, they were just telling me what they thought I should do. My mother told me I should get a sweet loving bird, that's what she'd want. My father said I should get a baby that would grow up with me and that I could mold into the perfect bird. (I'm not going to get into his idealism and whether or not that's realistic now.)
There was just one thing good that came out of my conversation with my Dad. He kept saying that I was too generous to want a rescued bird, too idealistic, and that I should be more selfish. He asked me whether, when I eventually have kids, if I'd want to adopt or have my own biological kids. And I replied "first one biological, second one adopted" - that's what I've thought for a while now, though I'd be fine with doing it differently. Dad: "Well, isn't having your own child kinda selfish? Why don't you do that with a bird?" Me: "Because I already was selfish with Peeper." I (with lots of help from my parents) did pick out Peeper. She was MY bird. But then I continued "I already did that with Peeper, but with Gabe I was entirely altruistic, accepting a bird that was dumped on my lap. If I wanted to be entirely selfless, I would've taken Piddle and Paddle. Now I'm looking for a compromise." So yeah, I ideally I do want a rescue bird that I choose.
And then I called my best friend JT b/c my parents weren't all that helpful. I feel a bit bad, I didn't even think to ask about her chocolate sales on V-day until the very end, but she didn't mind at all. She's awesome. ^_^ So, we talked forever as usual, but what came out of it is that she thinks I should go for a conure. Her reasoning is twofold: every since she met me, less than a year before I got Peeper, whenever we visited a petstore she says I gravitated straight towards the larger louder bolder birds, be they cockatoos or macaws. She feels it's always been my dream to have an outgoing bird, and while I might be satisfied with less, it's not what would make me happiest.
And second, she asked me "Could you have lived with another bird like Peeper for another 50 years?" My reply was "Of course I could, it's a lifetime commitment so if I did get Barney no matter what I would love her and care for her forever. But I might get bored and need to get a second bird that was more lively. If T$ would allow that." My reply wasn't "Of course I'll love her forever PERIOD." It was "I'm a responsible person so I'll do what I have to do, but I don't think it'll satisfy me and I'll have to get that elsewhere."
So for this 12-hour period I'm thinking conure. JT pointed out that even if I go with a breeder it will take time to find a good breeder that has a clutch ready for me or on its way, so it doesn't hurt to start looking now, and if in the meantime a rescue gets in a good bird for me, it's not like I committed to the breeder so I could get that bird instead. (But Barney talks! It's so cute!) (But talking isn't the most important characteristic in a bird, it's just a bonus on top of a bird if I already like him/her. I can't save them all.) And I'm hoping to spend some time with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rumorofrain's caiques in the meantime too so I can get some firsthand experience with the delight and mania that is a playful bird. If I really do decide that's not for me, I can turn around and back out and get Barney or a similar bird, but if it entrances me, I know what to do.
Okay, now it's time to go to work.Maybe I'll stop by the Crystal Parrot on my way home I will not! If I do I'll just want to buy a dozen babies.
Strangely for them, they weren't very helpful for the most part (my best friend afterwards said that could be b/c their cat is having health problems, so they could be thinking about his mortality and what they want in their next pet), instead of asking me probing questions that get to the heart of what I actually want, they were just telling me what they thought I should do. My mother told me I should get a sweet loving bird, that's what she'd want. My father said I should get a baby that would grow up with me and that I could mold into the perfect bird. (I'm not going to get into his idealism and whether or not that's realistic now.)
There was just one thing good that came out of my conversation with my Dad. He kept saying that I was too generous to want a rescued bird, too idealistic, and that I should be more selfish. He asked me whether, when I eventually have kids, if I'd want to adopt or have my own biological kids. And I replied "first one biological, second one adopted" - that's what I've thought for a while now, though I'd be fine with doing it differently. Dad: "Well, isn't having your own child kinda selfish? Why don't you do that with a bird?" Me: "Because I already was selfish with Peeper." I (with lots of help from my parents) did pick out Peeper. She was MY bird. But then I continued "I already did that with Peeper, but with Gabe I was entirely altruistic, accepting a bird that was dumped on my lap. If I wanted to be entirely selfless, I would've taken Piddle and Paddle. Now I'm looking for a compromise." So yeah, I ideally I do want a rescue bird that I choose.
And then I called my best friend JT b/c my parents weren't all that helpful. I feel a bit bad, I didn't even think to ask about her chocolate sales on V-day until the very end, but she didn't mind at all. She's awesome. ^_^ So, we talked forever as usual, but what came out of it is that she thinks I should go for a conure. Her reasoning is twofold: every since she met me, less than a year before I got Peeper, whenever we visited a petstore she says I gravitated straight towards the larger louder bolder birds, be they cockatoos or macaws. She feels it's always been my dream to have an outgoing bird, and while I might be satisfied with less, it's not what would make me happiest.
And second, she asked me "Could you have lived with another bird like Peeper for another 50 years?" My reply was "Of course I could, it's a lifetime commitment so if I did get Barney no matter what I would love her and care for her forever. But I might get bored and need to get a second bird that was more lively. If T$ would allow that." My reply wasn't "Of course I'll love her forever PERIOD." It was "I'm a responsible person so I'll do what I have to do, but I don't think it'll satisfy me and I'll have to get that elsewhere."
So for this 12-hour period I'm thinking conure. JT pointed out that even if I go with a breeder it will take time to find a good breeder that has a clutch ready for me or on its way, so it doesn't hurt to start looking now, and if in the meantime a rescue gets in a good bird for me, it's not like I committed to the breeder so I could get that bird instead. (But Barney talks! It's so cute!) (But talking isn't the most important characteristic in a bird, it's just a bonus on top of a bird if I already like him/her. I can't save them all.) And I'm hoping to spend some time with
rumorofrain's caiques in the meantime too so I can get some firsthand experience with the delight and mania that is a playful bird. If I really do decide that's not for me, I can turn around and back out and get Barney or a similar bird, but if it entrances me, I know what to do. Okay, now it's time to go to work.
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no subject
Date: 2008-02-15 02:01 pm (UTC)Have you ever considered a Quaker? They are talkers, playful, loud and boisterous, but not as goofy as Caiques or GCC. They are also really sassy, but at the same time they can be sweet and cuddly...but not overly so. And not as loud as most conures.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-15 02:36 pm (UTC)Quakers are illegal to own, sell, or transport into PA (among many other states) and will be euthanized on sight. [Source 1, Source 2] It may be a bit bizarre, but I'm 100% serious about this being the reason I will not even consider a Quaker. Ellen at Beaks and Noses tried to get me to look at a Quaker, and I posted on Craig's List to see if anyone would give up a bird and the only person who contacted me had a Quaker, and I had to say absolutely no, I will not even look at them. Sad.
Even if I didn't want to live in PA, if I ever moved out of New England it's easiest to do so if I drive through PA, and that alone could spell the death of a Quaker traveling with me. Not worth the risk. Imagine having to plan a trip from New England to anywhere else without driving through PA! It's pretty hard to do.
ETA: It's not clear to me that I could drive through NY or NJ w/ a Quaker either, so it might not be possible for me to drive out of New England w/ a Quaker, I might have to go international (which also isn't worth it) or fly. Bizarre.
Yes, these are the sorts of things that keep me up at night. :-P
no subject
Date: 2008-02-15 02:41 pm (UTC)I totally understand your reasoning though...if you plan on living there you can't take the chance.
Good luck on your search, the right bird will show up :)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-15 02:58 pm (UTC)http://theaviary.com/qpage/restrict.html
no subject
Date: 2008-02-15 04:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-15 04:54 pm (UTC)Interesting. In the bird world it's the other way around - when you get a bird from a rescue, you have to prove you're safe and fill out a lengthy application and do a home visit and sometimes even volunteer for X-many hours. But if you get from a breeder they just sell it to you, no questions asked. Well, maybe some, but not as rigorous. Pet stores are the lowest common denominator though, cash up front is all you need. Or plastic even.
My parents have a breeder cat, an Abbysinian (sp?) and are somewhat regretting it as he has all sorts of health/behavioral problems. Make sure whatever you get isn't too inbred...