Go with your  and give a pet shop bird a break...They can end up staying in pet shops forever

My macaw was 6--sitting on consignment when he grabbed(yelled) at me! I was on my way to buy an EGG! He was bought that night-came home two weeks later--we have been together many years and I have never regretted listening to the heart!    Katz

I raised an unweaned baby African grey.  In my opinion, you would be far ahead of the game to go with the weaned 11 month old that is already tugging at your heart.  Hand feeding is extremely risky and stressful and full of uncertainty.  If you have a bird that is calling to your heart, grab him quickly and love him and enjoy him.  It is so hard to deny a match when a bird picks your heart.  There is something magical about it and the bond seems to be lasting.  di

I reccomend follow your hearts. If you and the bird are hitting it off, go for it. You really have no idea if the baby if ti ever comes along will pick you for a flock mate.  Louise

Hi Danielle

 

We were waiting on a B & G baby from our breeder friend. Everyone told us that a bird will socialize  & bond better if you get them when they are young and finish hand feeding them. After a year or so of waiting we were offered to adopt a 3 yr. old macaw from an elderly lady. We were hesitant but when we went to see her ( Her name is Molly Macaw)a B & G, she stepped right up on my arm and gave me kisses. I simply melted right then and there.Then  she start preening my hair ever so gently. Well, we ended up taking her home and she has filled our hearts with so much joy. Every one was right when they say the bird picks you. Go with your heart and you won't be sorry!!

 

Marti

 

follow your heart and go get that bird it calling you

Thank you all for your replies.  i`ll need to think this trough cause i`m getting conflicting opinions. From you guys and from people i chat with, everybody vote `go for it`` but from the breeder and the person in charge of weaning (who is a very respected member of this area`s Parrot community and highly recommended by our avian hospital) say i`m better to wait, in the long run i`ll be better with a bird that i know how it`s been feed, handled, socialised etc than a bird who is almost 15-16 months old (she think that`s is right age and this bird may actually come from the same parents i`m waiting the egg from).  The Pres of our Parrot club went to see this bird for me and says the bird seems fine  although a bit excitable (she thinks it may be due to store environnement) with lots of TLC he could be a  good pet.

so it`s reflexion time for me...

sorry for the lenght of this message and thanks for you help

 

 

I still say go with your  :)

Meee toooooooooo!!!!!!!

Of course some people that haven't been 'chosen' will say that!  It's ALL about you, and that beautiful bird that asked for your heart (blink blink).

of course the breeder going to tell you that, i dont care how respected and honest that breeder is if you go with your heart they lose a sell and that means they loose money and if they say anything different they are lying
if the bird your falling in love with is friendly go for it. there no guaranteed that by waiting for a bird from the breeder that it will be tamed. a lot of handfeed babies have bad dispositions. their character is effected by genes not hand feeding

so you take a risk with a handfeed baby too

your in love with this bird  and waiting for a breeder egg that may or may not hatch  then the very long wait for the baby to beed feed and weaned which can take up to 5 months or more depending on the breed and the individual bird does not necassayly makes sense if you will like the other bird

again the breeder going to say anything to you in order not to lose a sale