View Full Version : home for our bird afer we die
DH and I had an arrangement with people across the country who wanted our little African Grey Parrot, Cochiti, after we die. But they split up and we were wracking our brains because these birds only thrive with a lot of attention and care. Finally it occurred to me that a woman at the farmer's market here had been loving toward Cochiti for years--holding her, talking to her, giving her wheatgrass the woman sells. Last year I found our from the woman's husband who happened to be there that they used to have a parrot and loved her. This woman's little girl also loves Cochiti.
So yesterday I asked the woman if she would like to inherit Cochiti, and the woman said, I'd be honored, I love Cochiti! I'm as sure as one can be that hers will be a good home for Cochiti, and this appears to be a huge blessing for everyone involved.
I would like to put a photo here but don't know how.
Lark: That must be a big relief for you!
Are you and your husband ill larknm? Or is it that you are just making sure when it happens that your parrot will be taken care of?
I'm so glad you found someone. If you'd like to pm me, I'll give you my email and you can send me the picture and I'll post it for you.
what a great deal. i know that my ex wanted a bird like that. they live for a very long time and you need to deal with their next home. So we got a different one for a few reasons and that worked out. i am glad we did some research, really great companions but they do tend to outlive their humans.
Kids, it's my understanding that some exotic birds usually have very long life spans, sometimes comparable to horses or monkeys. So, if you are say--in your 50's, and you acquire a very young Parrot or Cockatiel or whatever, it might be good to keep in mind that at some point, the bird will have to be rehomed by someone, to someone. Bird owners can become very attached to their pet; so they would have piece of mind knowing someone they trust will attend to the birds welfare, should they pass on, unexpectedly. See?
Very cool, Lark!
I have a good friend who got tired of having loved pets die after only a few years. In 1985, he got himself an African Grey Parrot, which has been his constant companion since. He's 72 years old now, so the parrot will outlive him by decades, and he has several different people already lined up to take the really awesome bird when he passes on.
It's a huge relief--this has been heavy on our minds for years. These birds are so vulnerable. Cochiti has never lived in a cage but uses a network of rope ladders and sticks across the ceiling that DH and I devised. She has very distinct preferences (is 12 years old), like she loves to sit in the window and watch the street doings, she listens to classical music all day, she loves African American voices singing or speaking--chirps richly and thrillingly when hears them on the radio. She loves being outdoors in a tree or hiking in the mountains on my shoulder or head. She loves our dogs (and they her) and if they're out of sight or gone from home for even a couple of hours, she starts calling them by name. If one of them is out of sight for too long on a hike and I can't find them, she knows right away and whistles for them. She says hello to many of the cars and trucks (and the intersections themselves) when riding in the car on my head. She has friends all over town from meeting them at the farmers market or in the plaza or anywhere. In mating season she gets on my stomach between sections of the newspaper and tears them up for a nest. She lets anyone hold her and likes men best and climbs up their arm to sit on their shoulder.
As for DH and me, we had the flu this winter and have never gotten our energy back, plus have serious ailments, like I have atrial fibrillation and polymyalgia rheumatica and he has COPD. We have slowed down a lot this past year. So we're in that place where we realize we might live another 10 years or maybe another day, it's dicey like that. We still climb in the mountains for two hours a morning, but go to bed early. High altitude is harder on the body as you get older; we're at 6,000 feet in town and in the mountains. So we need to get our wills right so we don't worry about our dogs and bird, and get our lives set up so we have choices about health care as we age. This winter was the first time we both were very sick at the same time and it was frightening. Our town doesn't have good medical care--apparently a lot of the doctors etc. moved here because NM is wonderful, and medicine is secondary to them.
gimmethesimplelife
4-5-15, 9:05pm
What a nice story! Thank You for posting this and I'm glad that whenever the time comes Cochiti will be passed along to good people. Rob
I love hearing about this parrot. So I'm wondering ... You go outdoors with the bird and she doesn't fly away from you? How do you deal with bird feces in your house without a cage? Did you have to train your dogs not to attack a bird?
On another note, my husband had pneumonia at the same time I had bronchitis this winter. We're in our 50s. It was the first time we felt old. We both missed work at the same time. I was less sick, but it was all I could do to make trips to doc and pharmacies for the two of us and keep us fed and rested. He was exhausted just walking from bed to bathroom. It was really rough and I felt like our home was a hospital. With no staff except me. Wow. That was an eye opener.
I hope you both get all your strenght back. It's quite impressive that you walk two hours daily at that altitude.
Your parrot sounds so amazing, larknm! I'm so glad you've found a good home for her in the future. I certainly hope you and your DH both get your energy back. It's so hard I know. I'm in my late 50s and was hit really hard this winter by both the flu and a major surgery. I haven't bounced back yet. I'm barely walking, much less hiking in the mountains, and so larknm, I'm really impressed with your level of activity...
That's very good of you larknm to have been concerned about her after you're gone. I've thought about that too.......not getting any more pets after these die. It's sad.....but you do have to think about it.
What a relief for you to have found someone to care for your pet when that day comes.
I'm glad you found a good home for your bird to go to. I have a Senegal parrot, and while they usually live 20-30 years, they can live up to 50 years in captivity. I often wonder what will happen to him. He's been a little cage-bound since my daughter brought home a cat years ago. We still have cats, and I like cats, but I feel horrible for my parrot. I let him out occasionally, but the cats watch him like, well, like cats watch a bird. I'm worried they're going to sneak up behind me one of these days. It's nerve wracking.
iris lilies
4-6-15, 10:46am
Our friends have big birds, all rescue birds.
their African grey was snatched by a hawk a few years ago, snatched off their deck. It was horrible. They have had other birds with permanent injuries that are now dead.
their youngish macaw has a deformity in his beak that has to be ground down periodically and that,s very painful for him. They did a nice job at socializing him in his early years for the purpose of him living with other people when they die. But unfortunately, he has become very centered on his mom,and he now bites everyone else. I don,t see a good outcome for him decades down the road. His mom is in her 70's.
You know what? Someone I know has a crested cockatiel or whatever.. One time I went out to their place, waaaaay out in the country, where they lived in a mobile home, to do some work on their AC. While I was there, the Bird sat on a window sill with their cat, and watched me work. The bird was commenting. The cat was quiet. Apparently, they coexisted pretty well.
Yeah, I would worry about hawks/owls too. I saw a video once where someone was holding their pet chicken and a hawk swooped down and took it out of her hands. :(
Darlene at Feathered Friends told me that her cat and parrot get along well together. I simply do not trust my cats. They stare at my parrot and make that chattering sound cats make when they watch birds. Someday, maybe, I'll figure out how to train my cats not to be so predacious in regards to our feathered pets.
iris lilies
4-6-15, 6:00pm
Darlene at Feathered Friends told me that her cat and parrot get along well together. I simply do not trust my cats. They stare at my parrot and make that chattering sound cats make when they watch birds. Someday, maybe, I'll figure out how to train my cats not to be so predacious in regards to our feathered pets.
I am guessing it depends entirely on the cat. We have a fat buddha-type cat who is at the extreme low end of the predator scale. She would likely coexist happily with a big bird.
I'm posting these pics for larknm of her parrot, Cochiti.
One is with Cochiti and a friend, one is with her doggie, and one is of her with Cochiti on her shoulder, in front of an alligator juniper tree. Great pictures of your little friend, larknm!
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/Parrot%20and%20friend_zps0mr50eyd.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/Parrot%20and%20Tony_zpsk721a6vp.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/Parrot%20and%20larknm_zpshonf75y9.jpg
Tussiemussies
4-6-15, 9:58pm
Such a wonderful situation that has worked itself out. Sounds like your bird would receive much tender, loving care...I would imagine you have less of a weight of worry now. Glad for you...Beautiful pictures of your bird. I especially like the one with you...
Thanks for sharing photos.
Great photos! Such a pretty and sociable parrot!
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