New member of our family?

[Kim S]

A couple of weeks ago we went to help backstage in the largest parrot rescue centre in Holland (the NOP for the Dutch and Belgium people among us). Through my bf's work we have built a friendship with the son-in-law of the owner of the park. So we got to help out for a day and get to know him and his gf better. They are both lovely people and we get along brilliantly. My bf and his colleague already have a friendship going, but its nice to know that we girls get along well too.

Besides the rescues, abandoned parrots and confiscated birds there's also a large private collection of parrots scattered across the park. Most of these private birds are allowed to breed and some of them are really rare species like the redtailed black cockatoo. Most people dont know they are privately owned becourse the live in the park, and they are upset that the 'rescued' birds are being used to breed even more.

But to cut a long story short. My bf caught the son-in-law saying that they were handrearing some baby parrots at the park, and that the daughter wanted to give one of them to us. I have no idea what species we are talking about or where she came up with the idea that she wants to give one to us. I might have told her that I wanted to get Kika a friend somewhere in the future. Maybe she just happened to have a young senegal?
My bf and I really dont know what to think about this, and since we are not supposed to know this we cant really discuss it with them either.

I guess theres nothing more for us to do but wait and see??

[Jenny]

wow, that rescue center sounds like something. Do they have a website?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I'd be tempted to forget about that side comment to the best extent possible... you know the game of telephone? That's at least 3rd hand, the message could be pretty mangled. But if you are really interested you could drop appropriate hints anyway.

Sounds like a very neat place!

[Kim S]

Yeah well, the telephone has been put on speaker and the message is loud and clear.
They have a 3 wk old baby african grey with our name on it....

I am not sure what to think. We will probably stop by the parc this weekend. But we need to make up our minds about this. Do we want another bird? It has always been our intention to get another large parrot, but my bf really wanted a macaw. But the grey has always been my dream bird.

We kinda need to think this through. A grey is not exactly a budgie.

[a.susz]

yes definitely think it through!!! it will be a great experience having one though. You will know what to do, just follow your instinct.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I say both go meet the bird, then go home and sleep on it. Hopefully you'll KNOW if it is the right bird, and hopefully you'll both feel the same way. But it is a big decision.

[pchela]

Wow! Did you find out why they want to give you one? That's amazing!

I personally love Greys and would rather have a Grey than a Macaw by far but everybody has different tastes. Greys are a lot of fun but so intelligent, they really need that extra attention.

When you meet the baby, I'm sure you'll fall in love, but do lots of research on Greys (which you probably already have) and do sleep on it.

This is very exciting though! It's very flattering when somebody trusts you enough to give you a parrot.

[Kim S]

Well... We decided not to get the bird. Kika has been with us for a couple of months now and he is doing absolutely brilliant, but I'm no sure how he would react if we would bring another bird in.
The grey is a very young bird and would be needing alot of attention and upbringing. All that attention would take away time I should spend on Kika.
Besides, I will be starting a new studie for work in januari, so I wont have that much time for the next year.

I do feel awfull about this. I really wanted that bird, but I think its for the best...

[pchela]

Only you know what you can handle right now. I'm sure you've made the right decision for you and you know that you can always adopt a Grey in the future.