A very hard decision

[bonnie]

As all of you know, Sunshine is supposed to be my bird. I would absolutely love to bring him home and begin working with him to teach him colors and shapes and everything else I KNOW he is capable of learning. This, however, is not my reality. I am a full time student and a part time employee at a convenience store. I already have a Moluccan and I am spread rather thin. Sunshine needs WAY more attention and interaction than he will be able to get in my care. I could bring him home and hope for the best, or I can go with what my gut is telling me and decide not to bring Sunshine home. Well, I have decided not to bring him home.:(
As Anna has said, he is an above average Grey. I think he needs a stay at home parront. That is not something I can be for him. It would not be fair to him or Chicken to bring him home. I'm a bit disappointed, but I feel like I'm making the best decision for Sunshine as well as my family.

[FoxersArtist]

Bonnie...
I just want to let you know that I think you are one of the most selfless people I have ever met and you are making a very well thought out decision about Sunshine. How awesome of you to put this bird's needs in front of your own. I agree that sunshine's needs are a bit above average, even if he does lose most of his daily routine. He really WANTS someone who will be around a lot and because of his amazing ability to communicate, it would be a little sad to see him by himself a lot.

All of that being said, now I'm not really sure who to place Sunshine with. I am sort of toying with the idea of finding him a handler who is studying parrots, but his owner would have to approve of that kind of home. Otherwise I just want to find him a loving, clean home with someone who stays at home most of the time. If any of you know of a good home or think you would be a good home, let me know.
-Anna

[too&me]

You are proving just what a good Mommy you are Bonnie. Not every one would be able to make such a tough decision even when they had reached the same conclusion. What a wonderful human you are. :hugs: Give Chicken a reminder what a good home he has now!

[CrystalinNC]

Wow...
Anna, I wish I could fold Sunshine up and take him to my place...but I would be putting him in about the same position as Bonnie..
I work full time...and I've always wanted an African Gray...I'm sure the right parront will come along for this loving guy...and until then, you're going to be awesome for him!
Bonnie...i know that was a tough decision to make....as i said, I've always wanted one too...but had to control the urge for a lot of the same reasons you stated...knowing what we know about the intelligence and needs of these guys is a bit intimidating isn't it?
However...I know you're a great parront from what I've read, and ya never know...yo may one day find yourself loving one of these grays sooner than you think! =)
Good luck and prayers for all of you in this situation! Especially Sunshine.

[Julie]

Bonnie,

I know this hurts so badly to even say, so big huge huggs, but know that you are only giving him your biggest gift ever by doing this for him.... The right Grey will come along into your life, it just may need to wait a little while longer till school is done....

Lots of love!

PS: Larry, Larry, LARRY>>>:D

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

I thin k it was a wise decsion ear even though I know you are very sad..that was good you did that...hugs

[Evelyn]

Bonnie -

I know how disappointed you are, but you did the right thing for Sunshine. As somebody else said, it was a very selfless thing to give him up, especially after hearing how remarkable he is. :(

I've asked Anna to consider placing him with me and am waiting with bated breath. I know she will do what is right for him, even if it isn't me, but I will be disappointed if I don't get him.

If you are meant to have a grey, one will come along when the time is right. There is nothing else like them. I think my Tamar is smarter than I am sometimes (altho she doesn't have nearly the vocabulary that Sunshine has, but then she is only a year old). She likes the toos and they like her. She is pretty much fearless, so I have to watch out for her more so than the toos.

At this point she is still very cuddly. She likes to snuggle on my chest when I am watching TV or reading. I believe she would stay there for hours as long as I kept skritching her. I expect that she will become more independent as she gets older, but for now she is still a cuddlebug. :hart:

My LSC is becoming more and more attached to my husband, and he to her. They spend part of the evening with Betty snuggled up to her neck, pressing as hard against him as she can. She then preens him (which isn't easy because he doesn't have much hair left). He wasn't particularly interested in the birds at first. Now he talks about how entertaining and loving they are, how much personality they have, and he is amazed that all three have such different personalities. He is the one who has taught Tamar the words she knows that she didn't pick up from listening to me. When she repeats his words, they are in his voice; and when she says what she has learned from me, she talks in my voice.

Plato, my E2, is very active, altho not especially noisy. She will walk up and down the back of the sofa, playing with the newspaper (she likes to hide under it, attack it, tear it up, take it to her perch). Every few minutes she climbs onto me for a cuddle, but after a few minutes she's ready to go again.

Of course, I am not at all obsessed with my birds. :haha:

How is Chicken? Have I told you how much I like that name? (Probably only a dozen or so times.)

Evelyn

[Chrissy and Flock]

I hope Anna does place him with someone in the family here so we can continue to hear about him.... I would love to have him also... but I have 4 birds already... hubby would never come home again ....

[birdie]

Bonnie, that must have been a hard decision to make, but it was what you felt is right for Sunshine, wanting the best for him. A good parront wants what is best for their flock. :hgz:
I would love to have a grey, & so would hubby but I know that I wouldn't be able to fulfill the needs of one as smart as they are. Someday when it's right for you you'll have your grey.

[bonnie]

Thank you everyone! It feels SO good to have support from my birdy family! He IS an absolutely wonderful bird and I know that he will make a parront proud. It took everything in me to make that call to Anna and tell her I don't feel right taking him. I really appreciate you all!

Evelyn, Chicken just gets better everyday. I wouldn't trade him for the world. He is the most wonderful bird. I'm so blessed to have him in my life.
And, it would be WONDERFUL if Anna placed him with you... I'd love him to still be in the HB family so we can watch him grow!